12 Chinks and A Woman

     Glancing up, Fenner could just make out Scalfoni crawling down the slope, clutching his chest with one hand. He looked very much exposed as he moved on down, but Fenner could imagine his triumphant grin. He must have been spotted coming down, because someone started firing at him with an automatic rifle. Scalfoni didn't lose his head. He put his hand inside his shirt, pulled out a bomb and heaved it at the cabin. Fenner followed the bomb in flight, then flattened himself in the sand. He had a horrible feeling that the bomb would fall on his head.

     The bomb struck the cabin and exploded with a tearing, ripping noise. A long flash lit up the sky and then the roof of the cabin caught on fire. Scalfoni came down fast without drawing any more shooting. Bent double, he ran past the cabin and joined Fenner behind the drum.

     “Jeeze!” he said excitedly. “They work! What a night! I wouldn't've missed this for all the janes in the world.”

     Fenner said, “Watch out! They'll be coming out.”

     Scalfoni said, “Lemme give 'em just one more. Just one more to make up their mind for them.”

     Fenner said, “Sure, enjoy yourself.”

     Scalfoni slung the bomb into the open doorway. The explosion that followed was so violent that although they were crouching down behind the drum, they both suffered a little from the concussion.

     A moment later someone screamed, “I'm done. I'm comin' out. Don't do any more—don't do any more.”

     Fenner didn't move. “Come on out, with your mitts high.”

     A man came staggering out of the blazing cabin. His face and hands were cut with flying glass, and his clothes were almost all torn off. He stood swaying in the flickering light of the flames, and Fenner saw that it was Miller. He came out from behind the drum, his lips just off his teeth.

     Schaife came running up, his thin face alight with excitement. “Any more of them?” he asked.

     Miller said, “The others are dead—don't touch me, mister.”

     Fenner reached out and grabbed him by his tattered shirt. “I thought I settled your little hash a while back,” he said unpleasantly.

     Miller gave at the knees when he recognized Fenner. “For God's sake, don't start on me!” he blubbered.

     Fenner curled him with his free hand. “Who else's in there?” he said. “Come on, canary, sing!”

     Miller stood trembling and shuddering. “There ain't any more,” he whined. “They're all dead.”

     Alex came running up. Fenner said to him, “Take care of this guy. Treat him nicely. He's had a nasty shock.”

     Alex said, “Yeah?” swung his fist and knocked Miller down, then he booted him hard.

     Fenner said, “Hey! Don't get too tough. I want to talk with that punk.”

     Alex said, “That's all right. I'll have him in the right frame of mind.” He went on booting Miller.

     Fenner left them and went down the wall towards the boats. Scalfoni was waiting for orders.

     Fenner said, “Scuttle 'em. Keep one. We'll go round the island an' pick Kemerinski up. It'll save walkin'.”

     He went back to Miller, who had dragged himself off the ground and was imploring Alex to let him alone. Fenner told Alex to go and help Scalfoni. Fenner said to Miller, “I told your little louse what would happen. This is only the start of it. Where's Thayler?”

     Miller didn't say anything. His head was sunk on his great chest and he made a strangled sobbing noise. Fenner rammed the Thompson into his ribs. “Where's Thayler?” he repeated. “Talk, you punk, or I'll spread your insides.”

     Miller said, “He don't come here. Honest to God, I don't know where he is.”

     Fenner showed his teeth. “We'll see about that,” he said.

     Scalfoni came running up. “They're fillin',” he said. “Suppose I toss in a few bombs to make sure.”

     Fenner said, “Why not?”

     A few minutes later the shattering roar of the bombs exploding filled the silent harbor, and clouds of dense black smoke drifted from the boats.

     Fenner said to Miller, “Come on, punk, you're going for a ride.” He had to shove Miller in front of him at the end of the Thompson. Miller was so terrified that he could hardly walk. He kept on mumbling, “Don't give it to me. I want to live, mister, I want to live.”

     The others were already in the boat waiting for them.

     When they got on board, Schaife started the engine. “Gee!” he said. This is the grandest night's work I've ever done. I never thought we'd get away with it.”

     Fenner groped for a cigarette and lit it. “The fun'll start as soon as Carlos hears about it,” he remarked. “I said shock tactics would succeed and they have. Now Carlos knows what he's up against, the rest isn't going to be so easy.”

     They ran the boat round the island and signaled to Kemerinski, who started up his boat and joined them outside the harbor. They all got into Kemerinski's boat, Alex dragging Miller along with him. Scalfoni was the last to leave and, before he did so, he opened the cocks and scuttled the boat.

     As he climbed on board Kemerinski's boat he said, “I guess it's tough sinkin' these boats. I could have done with one of them myself.”