"Kenneth Robeson - Doc Savage 137 - The Man Who Was Scared" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

“I'm afraid.” The word seemed to crawl around like snakes in the man's throat before he got them to
come out as sounds.

“Yeah?” The policeman was very suspicious now. “What're you afraid of?”

“Did you see that taxi a minute ago?”

“Which one?”

“It almost ran me down.” The man pointed. “Right there, at the corner.”

The officer shook his head. “I didn't hear any brakes squealing, or anything.”

“They didn't use the brakes. They were trying to run over me.”

“Who? Who done that?” The officer was interested. “Say, what's going on here, anyway?”

The man looked worried as he said, almost pleadingly, “Officer, please walk as far as that building with
me. That's all you need to do. Just walk—”

A young man is not a policeman in downtown New York very long before he loses his diplomacy.

The cop gripped the man's arm. “Buddy, I asked you what gives here!” he said ominously. “Answer the
question!”

The man was not accustomed to having anyone grab his arm and demand answers to questions. His
manner now, the tone of his voice, the way he disengaged himself, showed that.

“Take it easy, officer,” he said. “This whole thing is a little extraordinary. A man named Clark Savage,
Jr., has headquarters in that building yonder. I am trying to reach him. Attempts are being made to
prevent me doing so. I want your help, your protection. I could give you a full explanation, but believe
me, it would not be wise to stand here on the street and talk. Once I safely reach Clark Savage, I assure
you there will be a full explanation.”

The cop said, “Clark Savage? You mean Doc Savage?”

“Yes.”

The officer was impressed. “You know Savage? Can he vouch for you?”

“Of course. I work for him.”

The cop frowned. “Doc Savage has five assistants. You're not one of them.”

“Naturally not. I'm the president of a company which Doc Savage owns.”

“You are. Well, that's different. Come on, then.”

They set out together, moving with the crowd. The policeman was very self-conscious, very much the