ron Goulart - Challengers of the Unknown Read Online Free PDF Page B

over?" said Red.
    Del Rio smiled, his thick mustache turning up at the edges. "For listening devices, bombs and related devices, senor."
    "Couldn't be anything like that here," said Rocky. "I mean this joint was picked out for us by . . ." He trailed off when he noticed another security man coming out of the living room with a small disc resting in his outheld hand.
    "In the lamp base," he said to Del Rio.
    "Si, an obvious place."
    "Kee-rist," said Rocky, growling. "Some jerk planted a bug on us and we didn't even tumble. Stupid."
    "Have to agree with you, old man," said Prof with a rueful shake of his head. "We should have found that dingus ourselves."
    "We all of us nod now and again," said Del Rio. "If one is careless too often . . . then we may have no further opportunity of making mistakes."
    Red took the disc from the man who'd found it. "One of those Japanese babies. Very efficient." He handed it back.
    "Let's go in there and see what else we can find," invited Prof. "No use these lads having all the fun."
    The three Challengers went striding down the long hallway and into the living room. Two other security men were searching it.
    President Chanza was a middle-sized man, a bit plump, and about fifty-five. He had wavy hair, a thin mustache. With his hands behind his back, he stood patiently in the center of the room. "Ah, good evening, gentlemen," he said. "I hope, as I was explaining to Mr. Morgan, you don't mind my intruding on your privacy." "Not a bit," said Prof. "It's your country, after all."
    Rocky scanned the room. "What'd they do with June?"
    "The president," said Ace from his armchair, "has the Old World notion women don't belong at meetings."
    Chanza said, "We are not as enlightened in Ereguay as you are in the United States. I appreciate your indulging of my prejudices."
    "Ain't nothing wrong with Juney," Rocky told the president of Ereguay, his big fingers contracting into huge fists.
    "A very attractive young woman," smiled Chanza. "But I feel the business of politics, and the political intrigue which goes with it, is business for men only."
    "Let it ride, Rock," advised Ace.
    While Rocky was defending June's honor, Red and Prof had joined in the sweep of their living room.
    "We used to have Easter egg hunts like this at my great-aunt's when I was a boy," said Red.
    "So did we," said Prof. "I never found a single egg, though I once turned up a fifth of bourbon my great-uncle had stashed away."
    Rocky dropped down on a sofa, causing it to thump. "Them two are a whole lot dopier than June," he said toward Ace. "How come they get to come to this party?"
    "Not a party," said the Challenger leader. "Relax."
    "Kee-rist," Rocky commented.
    Several moments passed, and at last the security men and the two Challengers agreed there were no more surprises in the room. After promising to check out the rest of the house, the security men withdrew, closing the heavy doors.
    President Chanza seated himself in a straight-back
    chair. "Let me begin by informing you that I know what your real reason for visiting my country is," he said, smiling carefully around at them. "That is, I am aware you are not here simply to aid the attractive Miss Robbins in preparing a magazine story about one of our fabled Ereguayan creatures."
    "Wouldn't care to tell us how you came by that information?" said Ace.
    Chanza smiled more broadly. "I have ways of learning tilings," he said.
    "We really are going to track down your damn monster," said Rocky. "That part's not bull."
    Ace said, "Hush up, Rock."
    "It is my belief there is more going on in the Lake Sombra region than the rumored reappearance of Zarpa," said the president. "I have long followed your careers, gentlemen. When I was a professor at San James University, long before my dream of helping my country had begun to come true, I followed the accounts of your adventures. You Challengers of the Unknown have dealt with many strange things, have always triumphed. What is equally