The Avenger 30 - Black Chariots Read Online Free PDF Page A

not about aliens from another planet but from another country, mayhap.”
    “The possibility that these chariots are involved in some kind of spy operation does arise,” said the Avenger.
    “How about Smitty’s friend?” asked Nellie. “How does his death tie in?”
    “He may have, by chance perhaps, got too close to one of these chariots,” said Benson. “Smitty was allowed to view the body; he says there were no marks on it. So far, Early hasn’t told him the results of the autopsy.”
    “Ray guns,” said Cole. “That’s what Martians use.”
    Nellie scowled at him.
    The Avenger said, “This affair interests me. We’ll go out to California.”
    “Agent Early will nae like that,” said Mac.
    “You and I, Mac,” said Benson, “will check into the place where Smitty is staying, in Manzana. Cole, you and Nellie book yourselves into one of the desert resorts, someplace out of town.”
    Mac stretched up. “Ye heard Josh’s news, Richard?”
    “Yes, so we won’t include him on this excursion.”
    “It’s going to be a girl,” Nellie said, still scowling at Cole.
    “Would you care to make a small wager?”

CHAPTER VIII

The Mirage That Wasn’t
    Another breakdown brought Smitty a little closer to the solution.
    It was late afternoon. He and Dipper, with the small young man at the wheel, were driving across the desert.
    “Another couple miles,” said the giant, who had a large ordnance map spread out on his knees.
    “We really ought,” said his friend, “to let the authorities handle this business.”
    “Handle? All they want to do, those birds, is sweep the whole thing under the carpet. I want to know who and what killed Ralph.”
    “He’s dead,” said Dipper. “He’s going to stay dead, no matter what you find out.”
    “Maybe I’m a lot simpler than you, Dipper,” Smitty told him. “When somebody kills a buddy of mine, I go after that somebody.”
    Dipper didn’t say anything for a moment. “Look, Smitty, don’t get the idea I don’t care about what happened to Ralph,” he said finally. “The thing is, we’re bucking some very important people.”
    “Early? What’s so important about him? He’s only a cop with some hush-hush Washington agency.”
    “But I work for the government myself, Smitty,” Dipper reminded him. “If I keep on—”
    “Okay,” said the giant impatiently. “I won’t drag you along on any more of my wild-goose chases. Maybe you ought to go back home, make like you was never here.”
    “No, I’ll stick a while longer.”
    The bright hot desert shimmered all around them. Today there was no wind, only dry flickering heat.
    “Taking a look at the place where Ralph stopped his car probably won’t . . . Holy smoke!”
    “What is it?” asked Dipper, automatically slowing their car.
    “Must be a mirage,” said Smitty. “I think I see a blonde in a polka-dot bathing suit standing up there beside the road.”
    “Where? Oh, yeah, I see her, too.”
    “Well, if this ain’t an example of mass hysteria, we better stop.”
    “It’s probably only an example of an overheated radiator,” said Dipper. “There’s her car off by the side of the road.”
    “Yeah, and spouting steam like Old Faithful.”
    The blonde in the polka-dot swimsuit waved hopefully as their car slowed to a stop. “I’m afraid I’m not used to driving in this kind of country,” she said, pointing at the steaming hood.
    “Common occurrence in these parts, miss,” said Dipper. “I’ll take a look, but I think the best thing to do is going to be to let the car sit for a spell.”
    “I don’t know,” said Jennifer. “I don’t really know much about machines.”
    The two men alighted. Dipper gingerly lifted the hood. While he squinted at the radiator and engine block, Smitty said, “My name’s Smitty, and he’s Charles Willet.”
    “Better known as Dipper.”
    “I’m happy you came along,” said the girl, “my name is Jennifer Hamblin.”
    Dipper turned his head