Get down from there, snapped McCready. Denison pulled down his head but stayed in a crouch below the window. Hows Harding?
Harding answered. The bone is broken, he said. Can someone get my black box? Its in my pack.
Ill get it, said Lyn.
McCready crawled over to Harding and inspected his arm. Diana had torn away the shirt sleeve to get at the wound, a small puncture. Hardings arm was a curious shape; it seemed to have developed an extra joint. It was a pistol shot, said McCready. If youd have been hit by one of those rifle bullets at that range youd have no arm left.
Again came the sound of automatic fire but from a greater distance. It sounded like a noisy sewing machine and was interspersed with other single shots. It stopped as quickly as it had begun.
Sounds like a battle, said McCready. What do you think, Denison?
I think its time to leave, said Denison. Weve had one bullet in here we might get more. You and I will go down to the punt; Diana and Lyn can help Harding along as soon as weve made sure its safe. We leave the packs and travel light. Bring a compass, if you have one.
Ive got one in my pocket. McCready looked down at Harding and saw he had filled a syringe and was injecting himself in the arm. How are you, Doctor?
That will keep it quiet, said Harding, taking out the needle. If someone can slap a bandage around it.
I can do better than that, said Diana. I can make splints.
Good, said Harding. I have a broken arm not a broken leg. I can walk and Ill be ready to move in five minutes. Did you say something about going by punt?
Denisons idea.
Then why dont we take the gun?
Haul that bloody great...! McCready stopped and glanced at Denison. What about it?
Denison thought of two pounds of birdshot. Might give someone a fright.
Tie that tighter, said Harding to Lyn. Then bring me those cartridges from the table. He raised his head. If you are going scouting well have the gun loaded when you get back.
All right, said McCready. Lets go. All the frustration had dropped from him now that he had something to do. When we go out of the door we go flat on our bellies.
He opened the door and wreaths of mist drifted into the hut. When he put his head around the corner of the door at floor level he found the visibility to be ten to fifteen yards, shifting in density as the mist drifted in from the marsh. He wriggled out and waited until Denison joined him, then put his mouth to Denisons ear and whispered, We separate but keep in sight of each other ten yards should do it. We go one at a time in ten yard runs.
At Denisons nod he went forward, then dropped to the ground ten yards ahead and, after a moment, waved Denison on. Denison angled away until he was parallel with McCready; he lay and stared into the mist but could see nothing. McCready went ahead again and dropped and then Denison followed, and so on until Denison put his hand wrist-deep in cold water. They were at the edge of the marsh.
He lay there, turning his head from side to side, trying to penetrate the pearly mist, his ears strained for the slightest sound. When he looked up he could see the tops of the stiff reeds, and all he could hear was a rustling as the lightest of airs brushed through them. From the marsh came the occasional call of a bird.
McCready edged up next to him. Wheres the punt?
To the left a hundred yards.
They went slowly and separately, McCready leading because of his experience. At last he stopped and when Denison drew up with him he saw the loom of the boathouse through the mist. McCready put his lips next to Denisons ear. There could be someone in there. Ill take it from the other side. Give me exactly four minutes then close in from this side. He wriggled away and was lost to sight.
Denison lay there watching the sweep second hand on his watch. Four minutes seemed a hell of a long time. At exactly two minutes there was a renewed burst of firing which made him start; it seemed to come from the direction of the hut but he could not be sure. He found he was sweating despite the cool clamminess of the mist.
At four minutes he went forward carefully and looked into the dimness under the roof of the boathouse. He saw no one until a movement on the other side made his stomach roll over until he realized it was McCready. All safe, said McCready.
Wed better take the punt out and ran it up on to the beach, said Denison in a low voice. He waded into the water, trying not to splash, and floated out the punt. Between them they ran it up on to the shingle which crunched loudly. For Christs sake, be quiet! whispered McCready. Did you hear that last lot of shooting?
I thought it came from behind me.
I thought it came from the marsh, said McCready. You cant tell with mist, though. It distorts sounds. Lets go back and get the others.
They made it back to the hut uneventfully. McCready closed the door and said, There doesnt seem to be anyone out there not towards the marsh, anyway. That idea of yours might be a good one.
I wouldnt go in any other direction, said Denison briefly. Ready to move, Lyn?
Her face was pale but her chin came up in the resolute gesture he had come to know. Im ready.
McCready and I will go first. You follow and help Harding if he needs it. We wont be going too fast if were carrying the gun.
Its loaded but quite safe, said Harding. His face was drawn. It cant be fired until its cocked and a detonator cap put on the nipple.
Wed better know what were going to do, said McCready. Are you sure this gun will shoot, Doctor? I dont want us to be lumbered with a load of old iron.
Itll shoot, said Harding. I tested the powder and it burns well; and I tested a detonator while they were shooting out there.
Denison did not know what sound a detonator would make but that might account for his impression that a shot had come from the direction of the hut. He said, I think we ought to play safe until we get well into the marsh. Harding ought to go in the punt from the beginning because of his wound and you, too, George, in case theres shooting. The girls and I will tag on behind.
McCready nodded, but Harding said, I want Denison in the punt with me.
McCready stared at him. Why?
Put it down to crankiness or, maybe, loss of blood, said Harding. But thats the way I want it. Believe me, I know what Im doing.
McCready looked blankly at Denison. What do you say?
All right with me. If thats what he wants, thats what he gets.
Good, said Harding. Come over here. He took Denison to where the gun lay. Its all ready for going on to the punt. Therell be no difficulty in fixing it it just drops into place and I have the breech ropes all ready to reeve through the eye-bolts. He paused. There are two important items to remember when you shoot one of these things.
Go on.
First; keep your head well back when you pull the trigger. Therell be a blowback from the touch-hole which could make a nasty burn on your face. Secondly; youll be lying flat on your belly when you shoot, and youve got a limited amount of lateral aim by shifting the butt theres enough play in the breech ropes to allow for that. But just before you pull the trigger raise your knees from the bottom of the punt. Thats important.
Why?
Harding shook his head. I dont think you realize yet what sort of gun this is. If your knees are in contact with the punt when the recoil comes youre likely to have a couple of shattered kneecaps. Watch it.
God Almighty! said Denison. He looked at Harding curiously. Why did you pick me instead of McCready?
McCready knows too much about guns, said Harding. He might fall into the error that he knows about this one. I want somebody wholl do exactly as I say without contaminating it with what he thinks. He smiled wryly. I dont know whether were going to fire this gun under the circumstances I hope not but, believe me when you pull that trigger youll probably be just as surprised as the man youre shooting at.
God Almighty! said Denison. He looked at Harding curiously. Why did you pick me instead of McCready?
McCready knows too much about guns, said Harding. He might fall into the error that he knows about this one. I want somebody wholl do exactly as I say without contaminating it with what he thinks. He smiled wryly. I dont know whether were going to fire this gun under the circumstances I hope not but, believe me when you pull that trigger youll probably be just as surprised as the man youre shooting at.
Lets hope it never happens, said Denison. Hows your arm?
Harding looked down at the improvised sling. Itll be fine as long as the drug holds out. Im leaving my kit but I have a syringe loaded with pain-killer in my pocket. Just one more thing. If we shoot in the marsh its going to be difficult to reload the gun. It will have to be done in shallow water with McCready at the front of the punt with a ramrod. Ill have a word with him about that.
He went to McCready and Denison bent to examine the gun. It was suddenly much more real, no longer looking like an old piece of iron piping but a weapon deadly of purpose. He straightened to find Lyn at his side. An extra sweater, she said, holding it out. Its always cold on the water.
Thanks, he said, and took it from her. Itll be even colder in it. You shouldnt have come, Lyn; this is no place for you. Will you promise me something?
That depends.
If we get into trouble out there shooting, perhaps promise to duck out of it. Get down among the reeds and out of sight. Dont take any chances you dont have to.
She nodded towards Harding. And what about him?
Leave him to the professionals. Theyll look after him.
If it werent for me he wouldnt be here, she said sombrely. And youre a fine one to talk about not taking chances.
He shrugged. All right but there is something you can do for me. Find a ball of string. Harding might know where there is some.
McCready came over. Were ready to move. Help me with the gun. As they lifted it they heard several single shots. What the hells going on out there? said McCready. Were not being shot at so who is?
Denison took the strain at the butt end of the gun. Who cares? Lets take advantage.