ron Goulart - Challengers of the Unknown Read Online Free Page B
Author: Ron Goulart
scare the Challengers of the Unknown." Rocky smacked his palm with his fist. "Everybody knows that."
"Not everybody," said Red, "or we'd be out of business."
Hentoff cleared his throat. "Suppose we put all these attempts, and all speculations as to probable motives, on the back burner. I'm due back in Washington as soon as I can get there. I'd like to fill you in on the assignment NEA has for you."
"Fill away," invited Red.
After another throat clearing, the youthful National Espionage agent began. "You'll understand that the United States is anxious to see PetroSur succeed in its development of the oil resources of Ereguay," he said. "A dependable source of oil there will contribute to making us less dependent on the Arab countries. Now, you may not agree with some of the political stands of PetroSur and its parent company, yet I believe you'll agree that PetroSur's activities in Latin America are vitally important to the continued well-being of our own nation."
"Hear, hear," said Prof.
"A few months ago," Hentoff continued, "some very strange things started happening near one of the PetroSur experimental fields, in the vicinity of Lake Sombra. No doubt you are familiar with the legends surrounding this particular body of water."
"We know about the supposed monster," Ace told him. "We've heard the stories of his rising again."
Hentoff said, "There have been several killings, each of which appears to be the work of ... of something . . . something unearthly."
"Appears?" put in Red. "You boys think it's possible the killings have been tricked up to look like the work of some kind of creature?"
"I've brought along all the actual autopsy reports and photos of the victims. Personally, and this opinion is backed by what our own NEA lab people have decided, I favor the theory we're indeed dealing with a very real . . . well, a monster."
"You mean," asked Prof, "a straitlaced outfit like the National Espionage Agency believes a creature called Zarpa has been dwelling in that lake for untold centuries? That he pops up every now and again, rips up a few hapless passersby and then goes back to sleep in the deep?"
Hentoff smiled. "Surely, Prof, after all the odd and bizarre adventures you four have had, you can't still be a skeptic."
"Sure, I'm an eternal skeptic," Prof replied. "The real challenge in any job of ours is to get at the truth. Maybe we'll find a monster down there in the wilds of Ereguay; maybe we'll find a lad in a funny suit."
"Ahum," said June. "Isn't anybody going to correct Alex? He said four of us. Counting me, it's five."
"There's another point," said Ace, "Why do we need a cover story, this business about June doing an article for Newsmag?'
Hentoff pursed his lips for a few seconds. "At the moment Ereguay is enjoying, under President Chanza, a relatively open and democratic government," he said slowly and carefully. "The political situation in Ereguay is, however, very volatile. Therefore, we deem it necessary to have you work a bit more covertly than you sometimes do."
"Darn," said Red, "we'll have to leave the noise-makers and party horns at home."
Hentoff resumed: "We're arranging private lodgings for you in San James, the capital. We'd like you to arrive there no later than tomorrow evening. By that time Holden will have briefed one of our agents there, and the man will work with you."
"Aw," complained Rocky, "we don't need no help." "Let me stress again you must go carefully, keep a low profile," said Hentoff. "Our man will make the necessary arrangements to give your cover story plausibility and set up the necessary transportation and permits."
"Relax, Rocky," said Prof. "It'll be nifty to have an
extra somebody to put between us and the next assassin.
There wasn't another aircraft like it in any hemisphere. A silvery, wing-shape jet, it came knifing through the clear afternoon sky over the Ereguayan capital. Zooming over a city which was a mix of high-rise glass and metal, ancient
"Not everybody," said Red, "or we'd be out of business."
Hentoff cleared his throat. "Suppose we put all these attempts, and all speculations as to probable motives, on the back burner. I'm due back in Washington as soon as I can get there. I'd like to fill you in on the assignment NEA has for you."
"Fill away," invited Red.
After another throat clearing, the youthful National Espionage agent began. "You'll understand that the United States is anxious to see PetroSur succeed in its development of the oil resources of Ereguay," he said. "A dependable source of oil there will contribute to making us less dependent on the Arab countries. Now, you may not agree with some of the political stands of PetroSur and its parent company, yet I believe you'll agree that PetroSur's activities in Latin America are vitally important to the continued well-being of our own nation."
"Hear, hear," said Prof.
"A few months ago," Hentoff continued, "some very strange things started happening near one of the PetroSur experimental fields, in the vicinity of Lake Sombra. No doubt you are familiar with the legends surrounding this particular body of water."
"We know about the supposed monster," Ace told him. "We've heard the stories of his rising again."
Hentoff said, "There have been several killings, each of which appears to be the work of ... of something . . . something unearthly."
"Appears?" put in Red. "You boys think it's possible the killings have been tricked up to look like the work of some kind of creature?"
"I've brought along all the actual autopsy reports and photos of the victims. Personally, and this opinion is backed by what our own NEA lab people have decided, I favor the theory we're indeed dealing with a very real . . . well, a monster."
"You mean," asked Prof, "a straitlaced outfit like the National Espionage Agency believes a creature called Zarpa has been dwelling in that lake for untold centuries? That he pops up every now and again, rips up a few hapless passersby and then goes back to sleep in the deep?"
Hentoff smiled. "Surely, Prof, after all the odd and bizarre adventures you four have had, you can't still be a skeptic."
"Sure, I'm an eternal skeptic," Prof replied. "The real challenge in any job of ours is to get at the truth. Maybe we'll find a monster down there in the wilds of Ereguay; maybe we'll find a lad in a funny suit."
"Ahum," said June. "Isn't anybody going to correct Alex? He said four of us. Counting me, it's five."
"There's another point," said Ace, "Why do we need a cover story, this business about June doing an article for Newsmag?'
Hentoff pursed his lips for a few seconds. "At the moment Ereguay is enjoying, under President Chanza, a relatively open and democratic government," he said slowly and carefully. "The political situation in Ereguay is, however, very volatile. Therefore, we deem it necessary to have you work a bit more covertly than you sometimes do."
"Darn," said Red, "we'll have to leave the noise-makers and party horns at home."
Hentoff resumed: "We're arranging private lodgings for you in San James, the capital. We'd like you to arrive there no later than tomorrow evening. By that time Holden will have briefed one of our agents there, and the man will work with you."
"Aw," complained Rocky, "we don't need no help." "Let me stress again you must go carefully, keep a low profile," said Hentoff. "Our man will make the necessary arrangements to give your cover story plausibility and set up the necessary transportation and permits."
"Relax, Rocky," said Prof. "It'll be nifty to have an
extra somebody to put between us and the next assassin.
There wasn't another aircraft like it in any hemisphere. A silvery, wing-shape jet, it came knifing through the clear afternoon sky over the Ereguayan capital. Zooming over a city which was a mix of high-rise glass and metal, ancient
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