The Mysterious Ambassador (6 page)

"Be quiet," whispered the stranger, and then he was gone. He had dropped directly upon the man below, a uniformed soldier with a rifle, who fell to the ground without a sound. The pilots, watching from above, could not see how this had been accomplished, but in a split second the masked man had disappeared into the thicket. There was a short yelp, and the body of a second soldier flew out of the thicket, landing heavily on the ground, where he remained. Two other soldiers, carrying rifles and long knives burst out of the bushes and ran toward the fallen pair. They exclaimed excitedly, then one looked up into the tree and saw the two pilots. He raised his rifle toward them, but at that moment, the masked figure leaped out of the thicket upon them. The force of his leap carried both soldiers to the ground. They scrambled to their feet, clutching their knives but had no chance to use them. A fist moving as fast as a hummingbird landed like a piledriver against both their jaws. The pilots watching from above could hear crunches, and they winced. One soldier dropped to the ground like a stone, the other one wavered, knife raised. Another crunch, and he flew off his feet, landing in a heap ten feet away.

The masked man stood quietly, listening for a moment. Then satisfied, he looked up at the pilots.

"It's safe. You can come down now," he said. In telling about this later, Tom remarked, "I never saw such power in a man. He hit so hard I thought their heads would fly off their necks. And when he called to us, he wasn't even breathing hard."

When the Phantom saw that the men, because of their injuries, were having a hard time descending, he climbed up to help them. Two big hands closed around Tom's waist and he was lightly placed, feet-first, on the ground. Jim followed the same way. "I weigh one hundred ninety pounds," said Tom later. "Jim's about the same. But that guy plucked us out of the tree like we were a couple of apples."

On the ground, they looked at the evidences of the recent mayhem around them. The four soldiers hadn't moved.

"Are they dead?" asked Tom.

"No," said the masked man. "I don't kill. Besides, we need them, for witnesses."

"Witnesses? Who are they?" asked Jim.

"Bababu's men, with orders to shoot you down. I heard them talking. They were coming to get your heads."

"Our heads?" gasped Jim.

The masked man nodded. "Those were their orders."

"Bababu did this? Why the low-down cheating "

said Jim using a few choice expressions.

"But we saw him. He gave us permission to make this flight," said Jim. "Why did he do this?"

"Probably has to do with Luaga," said the Phantom.

"Whatever the reasons, we have to move. These woods are full of deserters, as well as Bababu's men. I believe he sent out a dozen anti-aircraft teams to stop you."

"To get our heads!" said Jim. "He means business."

"Yes he does. So do we," said the Phantom.

"Mind telling us who you are?" said Tom.

"Later," said the Phantom. He picked up two rifles and examined them briefly.

"Loaded," he said. "You two know how to use them?" he added, handing each a rifle.

The men chuckled.

"We both had basic training," they said.

"Wait here. We need some help to move these soldiers. I don't think they'll be moving without help for a few hours."

"Wait here? Where are you going?" said Tom.

"To get help. Keep an eye on these soldiers. Watch out for any others. If anyone in uniform shows up, shoot. This is war. Understand?"

The two men nodded. The masked man whistled, a sharp blast. A few moments later, there was a sound of hooves and a magnificent white stallion raced toward them with a large animal at its side. It looked like a dog; it was a wolf. The masked man swung easily into the saddle.

"I won't be long. Stay alert," he said, and galloped away.

"How about that?" said Jim.

"Wow," said Tom. "He said this is war. He's a one- man army. Did you ever see anything like what he did here?"

"These guys are no creampuffs. Tough, all of them, with guns and knives."

"Those knives were for our necks," said Jim, shuddering.

"Yes. I think that's why he hit them so hard. He got sore."

"He didn't say who he is."

"I'm glad he's on our side," said Tom.

"Yes," said Jim.

General Bababu sat at his table, puffing impatiently on a cigarette. Butts littered the table and the floor around his chair. He paid no attention to ashtrays. Colonel Mokata was holding the field phone nervously.

"Tell the switchboard to ring!" shouted Bababu.

"They are ringing, sir. No answer," said Mokata.

A junior officer was at the door.

"The reporters from the airport are outside with Ambassador Cari," he said. "They wish to interview you, sir, about the missing helicopter."

"They got the news at the airport," said Mokata.

"Obviously, idiot. Where else?" said Bababu. "Are you ringing?"

"Yes sir, ringing, but no answer."

"They should have those heads by now! What's taking them so long?"

"The press corps, sir?"

"Tell them to wait. I want the word first. Keep trying, Mokata!"

The persistent shrill ringing from the field phone on the ground vibrated through the trees. It was an incongruous sound in this place and the birds and monkeys watched it curiously from a safe distance. Several hundred yards away, Lanston and Osborne heard it too.

"A phone here?" said Osborne. "Can't we ever get away from the blasted things?"

"The telephone company, telling you your bill is perdue," said Lanston.

One of the fallen soldiers lifted his head weakly at the sound. He sat up, looking around in a daze. Then his eyes focused on the two men and he stiffened in surprise.

"Sit still, buster," said Lanston.

"Think he understands?" said Osborne.

"He understands this," said Lanston pointing the rifle at him. "Probably his rifle."

The phone continued, persistent and tinny, an alien sound from another world.

"Maybe I should go and take it off the hook. It might attract more of these guys," said Osborne.

"I'm not sure what's best to do," said Lanston.

As they looked at each other uncertainly, a figure suddenly joined them. The masked man. He had come from behind them without a sound. He looked quickly at the scene, the two pilots with rifles, the four soldiers, one sitting up, the other three still unconscious. The sitting soldier half-arose in obvious terror at the sight of the Phantom, then settled back on his heels when the rifle was pointed at him.

"I heard that ringing from a distance. Must be from their headquarters, asking for a report. They'll get it."

He beckoned to the seated soldier to get up. The man sat as though paralyzed, unable to move. The pilots saw that the sight of the masked man had literally stunned him. The masked man spoke sharply to him, then took him by the collar and pulled him to his feet.

"Watch the others. We're answering the phone," he said and marched off holding the soldier's arm.

They reached the ringing phone. The Phantom instructed the frightened soldier briefly, then took the receiver from its cradle and handed it to him. The man was sweating and nervous, licking his dry lips as a voice bellowed out of the receiver. The Phantom bent close to the receiver so he could hear the voice.

"Got him, at last!" said the voice. There were excited exclamations from the background. Then the voice said, "Where have you been, you
gukaka schuck!'
(the lowest and most vulgar expression in Bangallan.)

"On the mission," said the soldier, his voice quavering as the Phantom pressed his arm.

"Did you get them?" shouted the voice.

The Phantom pressed his arm hard.

"Yes," said the soldier into the phone.

"Are they dead?" asked the voice.

"Yes," said the soldier.

There was a pause on the phone, with excited voices in the background. Then the voice returned.

"Did you get the heads?"

The soldier trembled, staring at the Phantom. The Phantom nodded, grasping his arm so firmly that his biceps ached.

"Yes," said the soldier.

More muttering at the other end. Then the voice.

"You will bring them here, carefully wrapped. Is that clear?"

"Yes," said the soldier.

"You and your squad will receive extra pay and promotions," said the voice. "Now, you have your orders. Proceed quickly." And the receiver at the other end clicked.

The soldier looked at his masked captor and sighed.

"Extra pay, promotions," he said.

The Phantom tore the phone from the box, then marched the soldier back to rejoin the others.

"The deed is done," the Phantom told them. "You are now officially dead."

"Great," said Jim Osborne. "Now what do we do?"

"Get to a safe place so you won't be actually dead," said the Phantom.

"How about Kirk—and Diana Palmer and the others," said Osborne.

"I went to the Oogaan Village to send messages. They will join us at the safe place," said the Phantom. As he spoke, they heard distant drums.

"How about them?" said Lanston, looking at the soldiers. The other three were beginning to show signs of life.

"They go with us. We want them for witnesses."

"You said that before," said Osborne. "Witnesses for what?"

| "They're Bababu's men. At his orders, they shot you down, tried to kill you. You're UN pilots, on a mercy mission, to rescue doctors who wiped out an epidemic among Bababu's people. When we bring him to trial, this testimony will count heavily against him."

"You're going to bring General Bababu to trial?" said Lanston.

"Yes, he's an usurper, and a criminal besides," said the Phantom.

"He's an absolute dictator. He's got the army, fifty thousand men they told us, and you're going to bring him to trial? In the name of God, how?"

"There are details to clear up before that, but it will come. Let's move," he said.

He spoke sharply to the other soldiers who staggered to their feet. He quickly tore vines from a nearby tree, cutting them to short lengths with a sharp hunting knife, then bound the soldiers' hands behind their backs. They all started off, the Phantom leading, the two pilots with rifles bringing up the rear. A few yards away, the white stallion and wolf came out of the bushes and joined them. The pilots noticed that as each soldier came out of his daze, he stiffened at the sight of the masked man. The soldiers muttered to each other, until a sharp word from the masked man quieted them.

"There are more of Bababu's troops in the area— also some roving bands of deserters. We must go quietly until we reach the stream," he explained.

"How about that?" said Jim Osborne. "Bababu has most of the army and half the country—and
he's
going to try him!"

"Somehow, I think he will!" said Lanston.

The Phantom turned and put his finger to his lips.

"Shhsh," he said.

In Bababu's palatial office—a former colonial governor's bedroom, Ambassador Cari, a crowd of newspaper, TV, and radio reporters were throwing questions at the general. Bababu sat back in his big leather chair, puffing slowly on the long ivory holder, relaxed and confident now.

"What happened to the UN rescue helicopter?"

"Shot down, by miserable rebels, guerillas hiding in the woods," said Bababu.

"Are you sure?" asked Cari.

"Established, without question," said Bababu. "Who else? There are no regular troops in the jungle. Is that not true, Colonel?"

Mokata nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir," he said.

"We are searching for those miserable guerillas now. When we find them, they will be executed."

"How can you be searching for them if there are no regular troops in the jungle, sir?" asked a reporter.

Bababu scowled.

"There were none, at the time. Any more questions?"

"The pilots had parachutes. Perhaps they are alive," said Cari.

"Let us hope so, gentlemen, let us hope so," said Bababu, folding his hands together fervently.

"What about the medical team in the jungle?"

Bababu shrugged.

"That is not my responsibility," he said.