"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 007 - The Lost Oasis" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

five.

A man of mystery, the newspapers called Doc Savage. This was because it was next to Impossible to
interview Doc. To the reporters, he was one of those rarities - a man who really did not want to see
himself splashed all over the front pages.

Rumors about Doc's feats were plentiful, however, and from these some of the most inventive scribes
had turned out yarns which, although a bit careless of the facts in spots, made interesting reading. They
ascribed to Doc the ability to do almost anything. Since the bronze man was something of a phantom,
about whom few facts were obtainable, the writers let their imaginations run riot.

Few knew it, but the laugh was on the reporters. This man of mystery, this strange giant of bronze, was a
personage every bit as remarkable as they depicted. The truth would have surprised nobody more than
the reporters.

Doc Savage was, had the facts been published, a man of wonders, as well as probably being the
supreme adventurer of all time.

RENNY, SEATED in the cab, was not thinking of these facts. He was straining his ears to understand
the headlines the distant newsboys were shouting. The words were loud enough, but the newsies needed
a few lessons on how to speak distinctly.

Renny at length ascertained what they were shouting.

"W-u-xtra! P-oi-per!" they bawled. "Advertisement offers one million dollars reward for information
leading to location of Doc Savage!"

Renny had a sober, puritanical face which habitually bore the expression of a man who greatly
disapproved of the world in general. But now a wide grin warped his features.

"A million reward!" he chuckled. "I don't wonder that the crowd came down here to get a look at the
party who would offer a reward like that!"

Renny was not exactly awed at the size of the sum - he was considerably more than a millionaire himself.
However, the idea of a million-dollar reward was astounding. It was somewhat unbelievable. Privately,
Renny thought there must be a joker somewhere.

His ears suddenly caught a new headline, one which the newsboys were not yelling very much.

"Ghost Zeppelin sighted in Maine!" was the cry.

Thoughtfully, Renny's big knuckles tapped the steering wheel.

"A ghost airship!" he muttered. "That's almost as fantastic as this million dollar reward business! I wonder
if the two can have any connection? Probably not! Anyway, somebody up in Maine must have seen a
cigar-shaped cloud and let their imagination get the best of 'em!"

This explanation of the spectral Zeppelin seemed the most likely one. Indeed, several newspaper
reporters standing on the end of a pier were echoing exactly the same idea.