Part 9 (1/2)
Angel said no more, and Rick wondered for a moment What had Nast really said? He decided that it wasn't of any importance Perhaps Nast was one of those Americans who always talk to people of other lands in a half-insulting way Rick had hty poor advertisements for America they were
They parked the truck behind the hotel and took Angel to their rooet help and have the crates carried down for you” Rick said
Angel grinned ”Why bother? You two take one and I'll take the other”
The boys looked at each other True, the crates weren't huge, but each was a hefty load for two ,” Scotty said The jocular tone of his voice el took the challenge He went to the largest crate, swung it easily to his head, and balanced it with one hand ”Let's go,” he said, grinning
Scotty stepped forward, blood in his eye, and tackled the second crate
He got it up, but it was obvious that it was too th Rick lent a hand and they carried the crate along behind Angel, alked as though he had a feather pillow balanced on his head
”Manotok the Mighty,” Scotty said, and there was genuine awe in his voice
Angel pronounced his na-hel_, but now he shi+fted to the English pronunciation and said, ”I'th of ten, because hed ”That was first applied to Galahad, wasn't it?” Rick asked
”Don't know,” Angel replied ”But I like it, anyway”
The crates took up little rooel lashed the roolass of limeade before the scientist showed up He came to the table and asked, ”Do you know a man by the name of Nast?”
Rick's eyebroent up ”Yes Met hie at the desk Wants you to call him”
Rick rose and went to the lobby, puzzled What could Nast want? He got the nuht office at the airport Then there was a hile the ed At last he came to the phone
”Brant? Nast here Look, I'm terribly sorry to impose on such short acquaintance, but I want to ask a favor My shi+pet a truck The one I usually shi+p on has a regular run, and the driver took off for Baguio without checking So I'm stranded If you haven't toowith your Filipino driver? My shi+phs only two hundred pounds”
Rick considered Nothing in the truck would be in any danger The earth scanner was safely stowed in the luggage colad to pay for the trip It will saveover until tolad to acco up, very thoughtful Why should his instincts rebel against doing Nast such a sain he told hier- except clothes and ordinary, easily replaced tools And it was ridiculous to i True, he was not an educatedEducation, as such, has little to do with honesty No, Nast was just an American sailor who had decided to stay in the tropics, and apparently was o of it in a business way
”Let hie, I guess”
CHAPTER VI
Chahda Checks In
Rick had expected the flight to Baguio to be a snap, but as it turned out, he had to call for help Angel Manotok carried the three Spindrifters to the airport in the truck, Rick and Scotty riding behind, then Angel departed for Baguio with Nast and his bundle of silks
Rick checked in at the Philippine Aeronautics Couio He took one look at the approach pattern and gulped The approach was between high mountains, down a valley, and then up a mountainside What made it worse was that one raphicalfield to find!”
The Filipino official s experience?”
”No Why?”