For it was there
before his eyes in that gray, passionless face that was as inexorable
as the face of one of his own stone gods.
As he uttered the words that smashed all that Kao had planned for,
Keith sensed rather than saw the swift change of emotion sweeping
through the yellow-visaged Moloch staring up at him. For a space the
oriental's evil eyes had widened, exposing wider rims of saffron white,
betraying his amazement, the shock of Keith's unexpected revolt, and
then the lids closed slowly, until only dark and menacing gleams of
fire shot between them, and Keith thought of the eyes of a snake. Swift
as the strike of a rattler Kao was on his feet, his gown thrown back,
one clawing hand jerking a derringer from his silken belt. In the same
breath he raised his voice in a sharp call.
Keith sprang back. The snake-like threat in the Chinaman's eyes had
prepared him, and his Service automatic leaped from its holster with
lightning swiftness. Yet that movement was no swifter than the response
to Kao's cry. The panel shot open, the screens moved, tapestries
billowed suddenly as if moved by the wind, and Kao's servants sprang
forth and were at him like a pack of dogs.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220