Part 5 (1/2)

It was heavy, I could see by the manner in which they handled it - but it was not bulky, the size of a small suitcase They laid it on the deck and stood around it happily Materson smiled up at me

”Okay, Fletcher Come take a look”

It was beautifully done, he played like a concert pianist on my curiosity Suddenly I wanted very badly to knohat they had pulled from the sea I clamped the cheroot in my teeth as I swarroup in the bows I was halfway across the foredeck, right out in the open, and Materson was still s as he said softly ”Now!”

Only then did I knoas a set-up, and o by in extreme slow motion

I saw the evil black bulk of the 45 in Guthrie's fist, and it co up slowly to aim into ht ar as he screwed up those speckled eyes and sighted along the thick-jacketed barrel

I saw Ji face contort with horror, saw hirinning, shoved hiered aith Dancer's next roll

I was thinking quite clearly and rapidly, it was not a procession of thought but a set of siht how neatly they had dropped the booht how presu to make a deal with the wolf pack For theht that they would take out Jimmy now that he had watched this That must have been their intention from the start I was sorry for that I had coht about the heavy soft explosive lead slug that the 45 threw, about hoould tear up the target, hitting with the shock of two thousand foot pounds

Guthrie's forefinger curled on the trigger and I began to throw myself at the rail beside me with the cheroot still in my mouth, but I kneas too late

The pistol in Guthrie's hand kicked up head high, and I saw the ht The cannon roar of the blast and the heavy lead bullet hit ether The din deafened h in the air leaving a'trail of sparks Then the i the air fro ht me in the se nu shock It was in the chest, I was sure of that, and I knew that it must have blown me open It was a mortal wound, I was sure of that also and I expectedout into blackness

Instead the rail caughtover the side head-first and the quick cold embrace of the sea covered me It steadied me, and I opened MY eyes to the silver clouds of bubbles and the soft green of sunlight through the surface

My lungs were empty, the air driven out by the impact of the bullet, and my instinct told ly my mind was still clear and I knew that Mike Guthrie would blow the top offclus it was a long journey, Dancer's smooth white belly passed slowly above th in ulfedone -- until suddenly I realized it wasthe water Tiny zebrastriped fish darted wildly through the cloud, gulping greedily at it

I struck out, but my left arm would not respond It trailed limply at my side, and blood blew like sht ared on under Dancer, passed under her keel and rose thankfully towards her far waterline

As I caht of it hanging down below the surface and I snatched at it thankfully

I broke the surface under Dancer's stern, and I sucked painfully for air, s felt bruised and nuulped it down

My mind was still clear I was under the stern, the wolf pack was in the bows, the carbine was under the engine hatch in the h as I could and took a twist of the nylon rope around otDancer's waterline

I knew I had enough strength for one atteood I heard their voices fro at each other, but I ignored theathered all s and the one good arm My vision starred with the effort, and my chest was a numbed mass, but I came clear of the water and fell half across the stern rail, hanging there like an empty sack on a barbed-wire fence

For seconds I lay there, whileof blood along alvanized me I realized how little ti into blackness I kicked wildly and tuwith the new pain of it

I lay on lanced down at outs of thick blood, it was forbeside the entrance With another wild effort I pulled s already weak and rubbery

I glanced quickly around the angle of the cabin, down along the foredeck to where the three rouped in the bows

Ji to strap his coain, his face was a e and his voice was strident as he screamed at Materson

”You filthy bloody et his body - and, so help ed,” Even in my own distress I felt a sudden flare of ade I don't think it ever occurred to him that he was also on the list ”It was murder, cold-bloodedthe face-plate over his eyes and nose

Materson looked across at Guthrie, the kid's back was turned to the, but it croaked hollowly in my throat, and Guthrie stepped up behind Jimmy This ti 45 to the base of Jimmy's skull, and the shot was -suit

Jie of the heavy bullet It ca ments The force of it clubbed hiside Then there was silence in which the unfire seemed to echo with the sound of wind and water

”He'll sink,” said Materson calht belt - but we had better try and find Fletcher We don't want him washed up with that bullet hole in his chest”

”He ducked - the bastard ducked - I didn't hit him squarely-”

Guthrie protested, and I heard no s collapsed and I sprawled on the deck of the cockpit I was sick with shock and horror and the quick flooding flow of uises, but Jimmy's hadI wanted to do before an to craards the engine-room hatch The white deck seeinning to feel the leaden hand of a great weariness upon my shoulder

I heard their footsteps on the deck aboveback to the cockpit

”Ten seconds, please God,” I whispered ”That's all I need,” but I kneas futile They would be into the cabin long before I reached the hatch - but I dragged myself desperately towards it

”Then suddenly their footsteps paused, but the voices continued

They had stopped to talk out on the deck, and I felt a lift of relief for I had reached the engine hatch

Now I struggled with the toggles They seemed to have jammed immovably, and I realized hoeak I was, but I felt the revitalizing stir of anger through the weariness

I wriggled around and kicked at the toggles and they flew back I fought ot on toof bright blood fell on the white deck

”Eat your liver, Chubby,” I thought irrelevantly, and prised up the hatch It caly slowly, heavy as all the earth, and now I felt the first lances of pain in my chest as bruised tissue tore

The hatch fell back with a heavy thump, and instantly the voices on deck were silent, and I could iroped desperately under the decking and ht hand closed on the stock of the carbine

”Conized Materson's voice, and i the deck towards the cockpit

I tugged wearily at the carbine, but it sees and resisted my efforts

”Christ! There's blood all over the deck,” Materson shouted

”It's Fletcher,” Guthrie yelled ”He came in over the stern”