THE LOST OASIS by KENNETH ROBESON
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THE LOST OASIS A Doc Savage Adventure by Kenneth Robeson Originally published in Doc Savage magazine September 1933 From the bosom of the jungle comes a call for help. Weird creatures, ruthless enemies, seek to halt the avenging hand of Doc Savage and his companions. Thrill to this most amazing exploit of this band of scrappers! By KENNETH ROBESON Chapter I and the watchers bought numerous newspa- A MILLION-DOLLAR MYSTERY pers. Perfect strangers argued over the THE New York water front was in the headlines as though they had been lifelong grip of excitement. Expectant, curious crowds acquaintances. These discussions always milled in the district, and more were arriving. ended with both participants fixing intent Nearly every pier end—these offered stares upon the bay surface. the best views of the harbor—held a cluster The absence of a moon made the of staring individuals. There was much talk, early evening darkness rather murky. Many spectators secured binoculars and tele- 2 DOC SAVAGE MAGAZINE scopes from hawkers who offered these arti- stated uncertainly. “No one has been able to cles for rent. Newsboys were yelling them- find you!” selves hoarse. Peanuts, pretzels, hot dogs, “I returned to the city less than an hour and soft drinks were selling fast. But even the ago.” The mysterious man in the cab had a peddlers frequently took off long enough to remarkable voice. It was pleasant, yet it pos- scamper out on the piers and gaze at the sessed a quality of vibrant power which was bay. instantly impressive. Taxi aft er taxi crowded down to the The cop saluted again. “If I can tell you water front, horns blaring, and unloaded pas- anything about this strange business, I’ll be sengers. Often as not, the drivers deserted glad to do it!” their machines and hurried out on the “Do you possess any information the wharves to watch. newspapers have not published?” Many of the taxi riders were newspa- “No, sir. The darn newspaper report- per reporters and cameramen, the latter bur- ers know as much as we do, and they’ve dened with equipment for taking flashlight smeared it all on the front page. That’s why pictures. there’s such a crowd down here.” In the general hubbub, it was doubtful “I have read the papers,” said the per- if any one noticed one cab which behaved sonage in the taxi. differently than the others. For one thing, this The officer shifted uneasily, then finally machine did not head for the center of ex- mastered the determination to suggest, “The citement, but made for a spot where ware- police are naturally curious about this affair, houses cast deep shadows. so we’d be mighty glad to know anything you Once, in signaling a turn, the driver can tell us.” held out his hand. The hand was enormous. A pleasant laugh came from the man Indeed, it was such a huge hand that a mo- in the cab. “This is as much a mystery to me torist, an observant fellow, who chanced to as to anybody, officer.” be driving behind, blinked in amazement. The cop offered: “I thought perhaps The cab pulled to a quiet, furtive stop your five associates—” in the gloom. The driver—he of the enormous A traffic cop hurried up, calling: “Hey, hand—interrupted in a voice so deep it al- fella, who d’you think you are? This is no- most sounded as if a lion had started roaring. parking zone along here!” “We don’t know anything more than The amazingly big hand of the driver the newspapers!” he declared. “A radio mes- swung out of the window, the massive thumb sage came from the steamer Yankee Beauty, jerked expressively at the rear of the cab, in mid-ocean, seeking to get in touch with which was in darkness. Doc Savage. It was signed simply, ‘Imper- The cop was puzzled, but he obeyed iled!’ We radioed back that Doc was out of the invitation to inspect the taxi passenger. town, and that nobody could locate him. The He tugged the door open, and used his flash- next thing we knew, this ‘Imperiled’ person light. When he saw who occupied the cush- had gotten in touch with the newspapers and ions, his eyes flew wide. He stepped back offered the reward.” and executed a smart salute. The officer peered at the big-fisted “Begging your pardon, sir!” he ex- driver. “You are Renny—Colonel John Ren- claimed. “I didn’t know who it was! You can wick, the engineer, aren’t you? I should have park anywhere, of course!” recognized those fists.” “That’s right,” said Renny. Once more the policeman addressed THE mysterious personage in the a salute to the personage in the rear of the rear of the cab did not speak. cab. “Anything you wish me to do, Mr. Sav- Shifting his flashlight from one hand to age?” the other, the officer seemed to be striving to “Just don’t advertise the fact that I’m swallow an overpowering curiosity. But it got around here!” the best of him. “Very well, Mr. Savage!” “I thought—that is, the newspapers The cop drifted away. have been saying you were out of town,” he THE LOST OASIS 3 Here is the tale of the dire plot which brings forth this amazing appeal. What tremendous stakes must exist to warrant so great a reward for the connection with Doc Savage, bronze man of marvels. Where is Doc Savage, that such an amount must be offered to reach him? And who is offering that sum? THERE was some movement in the It was only a few seconds later that taxi. Then the remarkable passenger got out. Renny glanced around, some question on his From time to time, the headlights of distant tongue. But he did not ask it. He blinked. cars splashed faint luminance over the vicin- Doc Savage was gone—swallowed si- ity. These sporadic glows disclosed the figure lently by the evening darkness. There was no of Doc Savage. sound, no stir, to show what direction he had A great man of bronze! His appear- taken. After the one blink of slight surprise, ance was the more striking because, having Renny settled back to wait. He was accus- shucked off a robe, he stood clad only in a tomed to the uncanny silence with which Doc bathing suit! Savage moved. The muscular development of the Long association with Doc had made bronze man was such as to command atten- Renny—and also the other four men who tion anywhere. Sinews wrapped his form like comprised Doc’s group of five aides— great cables. Their size, the way they accustomed to the unusual things which the seemed to flow like liquid bronze, denoted a giant bronze man did. Feats which, if given strength little short of superhuman. Yet, be- publicity, would have been good for newspa- cause all the muscles in his giant figure were per headlines, were taken without undue developed to an equal degree, Doc’s form surprise by the five. possessed an unusual symmetry. There was A man of mystery, the newspapers none of the knotty, bull-necked look of the called Doc Savage. This was because it was professional strong man about him. next to impossible to interview Doc. To the Perhaps the most impressive thing reporters, he was one of those rarities—a about him were his eyes. They resembled man who really did not want to see himself pools of fine flake gold. And there was in splashed all over the front pages. them a quality of power and determination. Rumors about Doc’s feats were plenti- They seemed to radiate limitless energy. ful, however, and from these some of the Doc took from the cab a bag which most inventive scribes had turned out yarns was fitted with a waterproof fastener. which, although a bit careless of the facts in Renny, still seated in the cab and with spots, made interesting reading. They as- both big hands resting on the wheel, asked: cribed to Doc the ability to do almost any- “Want me to wait here?” thing. Since the bronze man was something “That’s right,” Doc told him. of a phantom, about whom few facts were 4 DOC SAVAGE MAGAZINE obtainable, the writers let their imaginations “W-u-x-tra! P-o-i-per!” they bawled. run riot. “Advertisement offers one million-dollars re- Few knew it, but the laugh was on the ward for information leading to location of reporters. This man of mystery, this strange Doc Savage!” giant of bronze, was a personage every bit Renny had a sober, puritanical face as remarkable as they depicted. The truth which habitually bore the expression of a would have surprised nobody more than the man who greatly disapproved of the world in reporters. general. But now a wide grin warped his fea- Doc Savage was, had the facts been tures. published, a man of wonders, as well as “A million reward!” he chuckled. “I probably being the supreme adventurer of all don’t wonder that the crowd came down here time. to get a look at the party who would offer a reward like that!” Renny was not exactly awed at the size of the sum—he was considerably more than a millionaire himself. However, the idea of a million-dollar reward was astounding. It was somewhat unbelievable. Privately, Renny thought there must be a joker some- where. His ears suddenly caught a new head- line—one which the newsboys were not yell- ing very much.