Just my point, said McCready. Its as useless as a 16-inch gun would be if we had one. The powder is something else; maybe we can do something with that.
Like making hand grenades? queried Denison sardonically. What do you want to do? Start a war?
We have to find a way of leaving here.
Well leave when the Czechs let us, said Denison. And nobody will get hurt. Theyve fallen for your fake treasure map, so whats the hurry now? There was a cutting edge to his voice. Any fighting you do now will be for fightings sake, and thats just plain stupid.
Youre right, of course, said McCready, but there was an undercurrent of exasperation in his voice. Your watch, Harding; then Denison and then me.
You dont mind if I mess about with the gun while I keep watch? asked Harding. Its of personal interest, he added apologetically. I am a wildfowler.
Just dont cause any sudden bangs, said McCready. I dont think my heart could stand it. And no one goes outside that door except on my say-so.
Denison stretched his arms. I think Ill try to sleep for a while. Wake me when its my watch. He lay on his side on the bunk and for a while regarded Harding who had struggled in with the punt gun. He had some paper and appeared to be making small paper bags.
Denisons eyelids drooped and presently he slept.
He was awakened by Harding shaking his shoulder. Wake up, Giles; your watch.
Denison yawned. Anything happening?
Not a thing to be seen.
Denison got up and went to the window. Harding said, I think Ive figured out the gun. Ive even made up some cartridges. I wish I could try it. There was a wistful note in his voice.
Denison looked about the room. The others were asleep which was not surprising because it was midnight. Youd better rest. When we move well probably move quickly.
Harding lay on his bunk and Denison inspected the view from the window. The sun shone in his eyes, just dipping over the horizon far over the marsh; that was the lowest it would set and from then on it would be rising. He shaded his eyes. The sun seemed to be slightly veiled as though there was a thickening in the air over the marsh, the slightest of hazes. Probably a forest fire somewhere, he thought, and turned to the table to find the results of Hardings handiwork.
Harding had made up six cartridges, crude cylindrical paper bags tied at the top with cotton thread. Denison picked one up and could feel the small shot through the paper. The cartridges were very heavy; he bounced one in his hand and thought its weight was not far short of two pounds. A pity Harding could not get his wish but, as McCready had pointed out, firing the gun was impossible.
He bent down and picked up the punt gun, straining his back and staggering under the weight. He cradled it in his arms and attempted to bring the butt to his shoulder. The muzzle swung erratically in a wild arc. It was impossible to aim and the recoil as two pounds of shot left the barrel would flatten the man who fired it. He shook his head and laid it down.
An hour later the view from the window was quite different. The sunshine had gone to be replaced by a diffuse light and the haze over the marsh had thickened into a light mist. He could still see the boathouse where the punt lay, and the reeds at the marsh edge, but farther out the light was gone from the water and beyond that was a pearly greyness.
He woke McCready. Come and look at this. McCready looked at the mist thoughtfully, and Denison said, Its been thickening steadily. If it keeps to the same schedule visibility will be down to ten yards in another hour.
You think we ought to make a break?
I think we ought to get ready, said Denison carefully. And I think we ought to find out if our friends are still there before the mist gets any thicker.
We meaning me, said McCready sourly.
I think we ought to get ready, said Denison carefully. And I think we ought to find out if our friends are still there before the mist gets any thicker.
We meaning me, said McCready sourly.
Denison grinned. Its your turn unless you think Harding ought to have a go. Or Diana.
I suppose I volunteer but lets wake up the others first.
Ten minutes later it was established beyond doubt that the besiegers were still there. McCready slammed the door. That bastard doesnt like me; I felt the wind of that one.
I saw him, said Denison. The range is a hundred yards not more. He could have killed you, but he didnt.
The mist has thickened, said Diana. Even in the last ten minutes.
Lets get everything packed, said McCready.
They started to repack their gear, all except Denison who went to the window to stare out over the marsh. Fifteen minutes later McCready joined him. Arent you coming?
Visibility down to fifty yards, said Denison. I wonder what would happen if someone went outside now.
If Johnny is still in those reeds he wouldnt see.
What makes you think hes still in the reeds? If he has any sense hell have closed in. So will the others.
Others?
Logic says there are at least four-two to watch back and front, and two to sleep.
Im not so sure of that, said McCready. Its only theory.
Try climbing out of the back window, said Denison drily. He rubbed his jaw. But youre right in a way; it doesnt make sense, does it? Not when Schmidt could have put two men right here in the hut with us. Hed have saved two men.
McCready shook his head. Hes too wise a bird to fall for that. When you have a rifle thatll kill at a quarter mile you dont guard at a range of three yards. Guards that close can be talked to and conned into making a false move. We cant talk to these jokers outside and they talk to us with bullets.
He tapped on the glass. But Schmidt didnt reckon on this mist. Its thickening rapidly and when the visibility gets down to ten yards I think well take a chance.
Then you take it on your own, said Denison flatly. If you think Im going to go stumbling around out there when there are four men armed with automatic rifles youre crazy. They might not want to kill us by design but they could sure as hell kill us by accident. I dont go nor does Lyn. Nor does Harding, if I have any say.
A chance like this and you wont take it, said McCready disgustedly.
Im not in the chance-taking business, and in this case it doesnt make sense. Tell me; suppose you leave this hut what would you do?
Head back to Vuotso, said McCready. We couldnt miss it if we skirted the edge of the marsh.
No, you couldnt, agreed Denison. And neither could the Czechs miss you. Youd be doing the obvious. Come over here. He walked over to the table and spread out the map, using Hardings cartridges to hold down the corners. Im not recommending leaving the hut at all not the way things are now but if its necessary thats the way to go.
McCready looked at the way Denisons finger pointed. Over the marsh! Youre crazy.
Whats so crazy about it? Its the unexpected direction. They wouldnt think of following us across there.
Youre still out of your mind, said McCready. I had a good look at that marsh from up on the mountain. You cant tell where the land begins and the water ends, and where theres water you dont know how deep it is. Youd stand a damned good chance of drowning, especially if you couldnt see ten yards ahead.
Not if you took the punt, said Denison. The two girls and one man in the punt two men alongside pushing. Where the water becomes deep they hang on and are towed while the people in the punt paddle. He tapped the map. The marsh is two miles across; even in pitch darkness you could get through in under four hours. Once youre across you head west and you cant help but hit the main road north from Rovaniemi. He bent over the map. Youd strike it somewhere between Vuotso and Tankapirtti, and the whole journey wouldnt take you more than seven or eight hours.
Well, Ill be damned! said McCready. Youve really been working all this out, havent you?
Just in case of emergency, said Denison. He straightened. The emergency hasnt happened yet. Were a bloody sight safer here than we would be out there. If there was a life and death reason for getting out of here Id be in favour of it, but right now I dont see it.
Youre a really cool logical bastard, said McCready. I wonder what it takes to make you angry. Dont you feel even annoyed that were being made fools of by those Czechs out there?
Not so annoyed as to relish stopping a bullet, said Denison with a grin. Tell you what you were so keen on the democratic process when you were stringing Schmidt along, so Ill settle for a vote.
Balls! said McCready. Its either the right thing to do or it isnt. You dont make it right just by voting. I think youre right but I dont...
He was interrupted by a single shot from outside the hut and then there was a sustained rapid chatter of automatic fire. It stopped, and McCready and Denison stared at each other wordlessly. There was another report, a lighter sound than the rifle fire, and a window of the hut smashed in.
Down! yelled McCready, and flung himself flat. He lay on the floor of the hut and then twisted around until he could see Denison. I think your emergency has arrived.
Thirty-Six
All was silent.
Denison lay on the floor and looked at McCready who said, I think that was a pistol shot; it sounded different. I hope it was.
For Gods sake, why?
McCready was grim. Just pray they dont start shooting at this hut with those bloody rifles. Theyre NATO issue and they pack a hell of a wallop. In Northern Ireland the army found they were shooting through houses through one wall and out the other.
Denison turned his head. Are you all right, Lyn?
She was flat on the floor by her bunk: I... I think so. Her voice was tremulous.
Im not, said Harding. I think I was hit. My arm is numb.
Diana crossed the hut at a low run and flopped down beside Harding. Your face is bleeding.
I think that was the flying glass, he said. Its my arm thats worrying me. Can you have a look at it?
Christ! said McCready savagely. One lousy bullet and he has to get in the way. What do you think now, Denison? Still think its not time to leave?
I havent heard anything more. Denison crawled over to the window and cautiously raised himself. The mist is much thicker. Cant see a damned thing.