I was pleased about that; it was something I had forgotten.
Coertze examined the picks with a professional air, but found no fault. To me, a pick is a pick and a spade is a bloody shovel, but I suppose that even pick-and-shovelling has its more erudite technicalities. As I was helping Piero put the wheelbarrow into the boot my foot turned on a stone and I was thrown heavily against Coertze.
Sorry, I said.
Dont be sorry, be more careful, he grunted.
We got the wheelbarrow settled although the top of the boot wouldnt close and I said to Coertze in a low voice, Id like to talk to you over there.
We wandered a short distance from the rest of the party where we were hidden in the gathering darkness. What is it? asked Coertze.
I tapped the hard bulge under the breast of his jacket, and said, I think thats a gun.
It is a gun, he said.
Who are you thinking of shooting?
Anyone who gets between me and the gold.
Now listen carefully, I said in a hard voice. Youre not going to shoot anyone, because youre going to give that gun to me. If you dont, you can get the gold yourself. I didnt come to Italy to kill anybody; Im not a murderer.
Coertze said, Klein man, if you want this gun youll have to take it from me.
O.K. You can force us all up to the mine at pistol point. But its dark and youll get a rock thrown at your head as soon as you turn your back and Id just as soon be the one who throws it. And if you get the gold out at pistol point what are you going to do besides sit on it? You cant get it to the coast without Francescas men and you cant get it out of Italy without me.
I had him cornered in the same old stalemate that had been griping him since we left South Africa. He was foxed and he knew it.
He said, How do we know the Contessas partisans arent hiding in these damned hills waiting to jump us as soon as the tunnel is opened?
Because they dont know where we are, I said. The only instruction that the truck drivers had was to go to Varsi. Anyway, they wouldnt try to jump us; we have the Contessa as hostage.
He hesitated, and I said, Now, give me the gun.
Slowly he put his hand inside his jacket and pulled out the gun. It was too dark to see his eyes but I knew they were filled with hate. He held the gun pointed at me and I am sure he was tempted to shoot but he relaxed and put it into my outstretched hand.