Figure it Out For Yourself

We could make out six or seven moving figures, running across the floor of the valley. We all fired as fast as we could pull our bolts. Two of the figures fell. The others drifted back again under cover of the opposite bank.

'Get the rope,' I said to Mary. 'And get that trap open. We may have to leave in a hurry.'

'What are you two whispering about?' Joe demanded suspiciously.

'We're preparing a get-away,' I told him. 'By way of the roof.'

'Fat chance you have,' he snorted. They'd pick you off like a sitting rabbit when the moon's up.'

'We may have to,' I said, seeing the first rays of the moon appearing over the hill top. 'Here it comes.'

Two or three minutes later the floor of the valley was flooded with white light.

'Well, at least, it's as bad for them,' Mac said, sitting back on his heels. 'We can't miss them from here.'

'What do you think they're playing at?' Joe said, uneasily. 'They haven't let off a heater for the past five minutes.'

'Why should they?' I said. 'They're waiting for the moon to pick this joint out, and it will. They'll be able to see in through the windows.'

'I have the rope,' Mary called from an adjoining room. I'm going up on the roof,' I said. 'Keep an eye on them.'

'You better keep an eye on yourself,' Joe said sarcastically. 'Don't expect flowers for your funeral.'

I went into the inner room.

Mary held a flashlight in her hand, and as I came in she swung the beam to a short ladder that led to a trap door in the roof.

'You'd better not go up there,' she said. 'They're certain to see you.'

'Hey, you two; give me some covering fire,' I called into the outer room. 'I'm going up on the roof.'

'Hope it keeps fine for you,' Mac said and laughed.

They began firing down into the valley. I waited, listening, but there was no answering fire.

'I wonder what they're playing at,' I muttered. 'Well, here goes. Let's see what's up there.'

I mounted the ladder and very cautiously lifted the trap-door. I slid it to one side and peered around the flat roof that spread out before me.

Moonlight fell directly on it, and it was nearly as light as day up there.

Above me the hill went up steeply, offering little foothold and not much cover. To try and scale the hill from the roof in this light would be asking for trouble. The only chance would be to wait until the moon moved round and the hill face was in the shadow. I didn't know if we had the time wait.

I slid down the ladder again.

'Not much good. A rope won't help. It's too light. In another hour it might be done, but not now.'

'In another hour we'll be pushing up the daisies,' Joe said cheerfully from the other room.

'How about some coffee?' I suggested to Mary. 'We might be stuck here for some time. I'll go back and keep watch while you get it'

I returned to the outer room.

Mac was chewing an unlit cigarette, staring down into the valley. Joe sat on the edge of a chair, and peered around the window-frame.

'You didn't see a girl in the quarry, did you?' I asked Mac.

'No-why?'

'I had a girl with me when you spotted me. I sent her for the cops.'

'That's not going to help us. You'd never hear gunfire out of the valley. I don't know how it is, but it's a fact. Unless they come here to look for us, they won't know a battle's going on,' Joe said. 'Besides, it would hurt my pride to be rescued by a cop.'

'I reckon I could sink my pride,' Mac said and laughed. I'd sooner be pinched by a cop then fall into Barratt's hands.'

'Think it's safe to smoke?' Joe asked.

'Go and sit on the floor if you must smoke,' I said. 'I'll take your place.'

'You're a pal, pally. I'm glad I didn't shoot you.'

'So am I.'

He lit a cigarette while he sat on the floor.

'These punks don't show much initiative, do they?' Mac said. 'Maybe they've scrammed.'

'Go out there and find out,' Joe said. 'I bet they're cooking up something.'

I had an idea they were, too. So long as the floor of the valley lay in the moonlight, I could understand them not showing themselves, but, once the light had shifted, they would probably make a rush.

Mary came in with cups of coffee. Joe laced his from a pint flask he hauled out of his pocket

'Anyone want rum?' he asked, waving the flask.

Mac helped himself, handed the flask to me, but I shook my head.

'Just coffee for me.'

'Fancy your chances getting out of here?' Joe asked as he sucked up the rum and coffee noisily.

'I don't see why not.'

'Shut up, Joe,' Mac said curtly. 'You're creating despair and depression. No one would miss you if you were shot.'

'That's a lie!' Joe said hotly. 'My old mother would.' He got to his feet to cross the room for another cup of coffee. 'I've a flock of judies too. They'd all miss me.'

There was a sudden, steady rattle of gunfire. One of the distant bushes seemed to burst into flame as a Thompson-gun chattered its song of death.

'Down!' I bawled, and flung myself flat.

Joe took two lurching steps to the door, turned slowly on his heels and dropped.