ron Goulart - Challengers of the Unknown Read Online Free PDF

think he ever had any chains," said Yewell. "Well, I'm certain you people will like the house. It really is a nice house. Soon as you're ready I'll drive you over to—"
    "We'll follow you," said Red. "We brought our own vehicle."
    A hatch in the cargo end of the Challenger ship was sliding open. A ramp swung down and, with Rocky at the wheel, a small van came rolling out. Rocky grinned at them, beeped the horn twice.
    "Equipment." Prof tilted a thumb at the emerging van.
    "Oh, right, right." The young man began frisking himself. "I was alerted about that; got your temporary license and insurance certificate here someplace. Yes, here we go." He handed Red a wad of papers. "You being specialists, I imagine you carry a . . . Hi, I'm Denny Yewell."
    June had come down out of the ship. She shook the hand the American agent offered. "Pleased to meet you."
    "I've rented you, as I was telling the guys, a very nice house to stay in."
    "In a nice neighborhood," said Prof.
    "That's nice." The girl was turning her pretty head from side to side, watchful.
    There were no other people or planes in this section of the airfield.
    "Calm yourself, Juney," said Red. "They won't try the same stunt twice."
    "So you say," she said. "But maybe they're the kind who believe in trying until they succeed."

    They weren't expecting the president.
    The walled-in garden of the large house they were staying in was thick with bougainvillea and geraniums; there were explosions of red blossoms all around. Dusk was filling up the garden and the slanting street beyond the garden wall; the wrought-iron lamps hanging from the pink and white house walls were glowing on.
    Rocky took a bite out of a cucumber. "Too quiet," he observed. He was standing beside a large, oval fishpond, absently watching the multicolored fish within it.
    "No doubt," said Prof, stretched out in a wicker chair and watching the stars commencing to appear high above, "we're experiencing the proverbial calm before the storm."
    "Right," put in Red from his perch on a wooden bench surrounded by bright red blossoms. "Wait till we hit Lake Sombra and you and that ancient monster meet face to face, Rocksie."
    Scratching at his head, Rocky said, "Aw, I got a hunch there ain't no monster in that puddle at all. There's something else afoot."
    "Could be," Red agreed. "Our thrifty, loyal, reverent and brave NEA agent, young Master Yewell, sure hinted as much."
    Rocky surveyed the darkening garden. "Nice joint he fixed us up with. You got to give him that."
    "He'll probably go into the real-estate line when his government days are over," said Prof.
    "Cars stopping." Red jogged across the garden and, aided by a conveniently placed birdbath, boosted himself up to peer over the top of the seven-foot wall. "Official-looking bunch, long black cars, a trio of those, and everybody in a sincere dark suit."
    Prof didn't move. "Probably a funeral in the neighborhood."
    "Hope not, since they're coming here," Red said. "Marching right up to our front door, ringing the chimes. The heavy guy they're clustered around looks a heck of a lot like President Chanza."
    Prof swung off his chair. "President Chanza of this very country?"
    "That President Chanza, yeah."
    "Kee-rist," remarked Rocky. "Why's the pres of Ereguay dropping in on us?"
    "Let's," suggested Red while dropping from his viewpoint, "go inside and find out."
    Three large men met them in the main corridor of the house. "One moment, por favor," said the largest one, making a polite, stop-right-there gesture.
    His associates were consulting a packet of papers and photos. "Esta bien." They passed some pictures to the largest.
    He nodded. "You seem to be Red Ryan, Rocky Davis and Prof Haley."
    "Seem to be and are," Prof assured him. "Reading from left to right. Who might you lads be?"
    "We are part of the president's security detail, sefior. My name is Del Rio. His Excellency would like to talk with you four as soon as the living room has been gone over."
    "Gone