Read 19 - The Power Cube Affair for Free Online Page B

at him. "Where did that come from?"
    "The words are W. S. Gilbert, but the sentiment is mine. The pearls were appreciated, but it wasn't the proper time to say so. Not called for."
    "Oh!" Her head went forward again but there was uncertainty in the tone and a slight easing of the stiffness of her neck and chin. "I see!"
    "We were thinking of other things," Solo endorsed. "Not really the right moment to appreciate the finer things of life."
    "Hmmm!" she muttered. "Smart, aren't you. You made Charles lose his temper, which is something I've never seen before, and now you're trying to con me into making an exhibition of myself."
    "We admire pearls."
    "I'll bet you do. Look, we're almost there. You'd better give me a phone number in case I need to reach you."
    Solo gave her the number, noting with appreciation that she made no move to write it down. She gave him one she said was hers, a residence the other side of Norwood.
    "I'll ring you tomorrow," she promised. "You need to learn a few things about the way we work. I'll drop you here."
    "Here," was the same corner where the two had witnessed the murderous assault earlier that same day. Both men felt a tensing of nerves as they got out and started into the dim lit side road. The premonition was accurate. One lone street light left the corners in shadow. From those shadows came lean, black jacketed youths, all unkempt of hair and grin- fling with feral anticipation. They closed in, and the two agents immediately forgot all about Miss Perrell and her moods.
     
     
    FOUR
     
     
    THERE WAS no need for words. With the instant cooperation of long experience, both men moved to get the concrete lamp post base at their backs. They were unarmed, because the law in Britain takes a very poor view of guns, but there are other things than official weapons. As Solo eyed the dozen sneering thugs, their ludicrously long and pomaded hair wisping alongside weakly vicious features, he felt a sudden lifting of spirit at the promise of action.
    "Name of Solo, I hope," said one, stepping just a fraction in front of his fellows. "And Kuryakin eh? Wouldn't want to make another mistake. Missed you this morning."
    "You won't miss us this time," Solo promised, scanning the group with a hard eye. "Twelve against two. Makes it awkward!"
    To his left there came a click and then the glitter of a six inch knifeblade. Its owner sniggered.
    "Going to be more than awkward for you. Going to be dreadful!"
    "Not for us." Solo corrected, talking off the top of his mind while he and Kuryakin eased themselves into the best position for handling. "For you. You see"—he spoke gently, as if lecturing to a class—"if there had been five, say, or six, we'd be able to handle you gently. But with so many, we won't have the time. We'll have to get rough. Of course, you're only youngsters—"
    "Stuff that!" The self-appointed leader abandoned his grin. "You talk too much. Save it for the angels, compliments of Mr. Green!"
    As he lunged, Solo muttered. "Let's go, Illya!" and grabbed the lunging wrist, wrenched and twisted, lashed out with a hard driving foot to a knee, let go and whipped a flailing arm up to meet the agonized face that bent down by reflex. Delete one with a shattered kneecap and broken wrist. All in the same movement he spun to meet the lad with the knife, reached for the wrist that held it, yanked it forward and down across his own knee coming up. The knife wielder screamed, the noise snapping off as Solo's open palm came up all the way from down there under his chin to lift him bodily into the air. Delete two. Catching a flicker of movement from the corner of his eyes, he reversed his spin, bringing his arm around like a club but with wide open palm. It met the face and cheek-bone of a gaping blond youth, the impact sounding like a pistol-shot. Delete three.
    The coldly detached mechanism in Solo's mind counted them off as he came back to a balanced stance and found himself between two attackers, both