Ron Goulart - The Curse of the Obelisk

88 RON GOULART
CHAPTER 22
Harry tugged, left-handed, his revolver out of his belt. "Give me a diversion, Lorenzo."
Yanking off his yellow slicker hat, Lorenzo started hopping on the beach. "El Carim Zanzibar
Zatara!"
Purple smoke commenced pouring from the hat, great thick clouds of it. The smoke engulfed
the circus wagon, covered a long stretch of the lakeshore and surrounded the lodge. It hid Harry
from the gunmen in the woods and from those still inside.
"Excuse my using the same trick twice," called the magician.
Harry went sprinting for the house, revolver in his left hand. He could barely make out the
steps, but he went charging up them and shoved on into the lodge.
Just inside the front door he collided with a large coughing man. The man was heavy set,
puzzled and carried a .45 revolver absently in his hand.
it.
"The whole place is on fire," warned Harry. "Get all the women and children out fast."
"To be sure, sir . . . what children?"
Smoke came spilling into the rustic living room, blurring everything.
Harry dodged the distracted guard, ran up the wooden staircase to the second floor.
Purplish smoke was forcing itself in through the open windows and the hall was clouded with
"Fire!" yelled Harry. "Fire and pestilence!"
"How's that again?" A bald-headed man, cradling a shotgun, stepped out of the room where
Belphoebe Stowe was being held.
"This whole lodge is going to blow sky high," explained Harry. "Get out while you can."
"A moment, sir. I recognize you as Harry Challenge, a fellow who's opposed to our . . . oof!"
Harry hit him hard in the midsection with his cast. He punched him twice more in the temple
and stepped clear as he slumped to the hardwood floor and was covered by billowing smoke.
"Belphoebe?"
"Mr. Challenge." The blonde young woman appeared in the doorway. "Whatever is going on?"
"Essentially, this is a rescue." He took hold of her arm. "Your nitwit father seems to have
murdered Orchardson and that's meant a bit of improvising."
"What is the cause of all this dreadful smoke?"
"Lorenzo. He had some left over from a stunt he pulled the other night," he answered, heading
her toward the back stairs. "C'mon. Run."
"I truly appreciate your efforts on my behalf."
They hit the stairs and went rushing down.