The Riddle of the Blue Moon by Leonard Gribble

Author:Leonard Gribble [Gribble, Leonard]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: PFD Books
Published: 2014-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

ESCAPE

HARDLY had she spoken the words than the silence of that crypt-like place was shattered by the explosive roar of a gun. A bullet screamed over their heads and smote one of the brick piles, and a shower of powdered brick dust fell over them.

'Down,' whispered Chips fiercely, pressing Mary towards the ground.

The three lay prone, each trembling and trying to overcome a fresh fear. Was the dark-skinned man bent upon killing them to ensure that they would not escape with knowledge of his secret? The thought filled the minds of each. Chips felt Mary trembling beside him.

'Better come back and give yourselves up without a fuss,' called Hamon's angry voice.

Mary raised her head to shout some hasty words of defiance, but just in time her brother's hand pressed over her mouth, and he whispered with his lips touching her ear, 'Don't say a thing, sis. You'll only give away our position, and we don't want to do that.'

Mary relaxed, pressing herself against the hard cold floor, and her brother removed his cautioning hand from her face.

'If you don't,' Hamon called, 'we shall come and get you, and I promise you won't like that. Now, be sensible, all of you.'

The three did not stir, and as they lay there they heard a droning sound of muttered talk as Hamon and the man Harridge discussed the position in an undertone. Peering ahead, they could see nothing. All was pitch dark.

Chips wriggled silently closer to Mary and leaned across her back, so that he could whisper to Mark.

'I vote we get moving quietly,' he said. 'Keep going in a straight line from where that shot came from. That's our safest plan.'

'Very well,' said Mark. 'Come on, Mary, we're trying an evacuation in good order. Keep your chin up, old girl.'

'I'll be glad to,' Mary whispered back. 'The ground under it isn't exactly a cushion.'

'Whatever you do, don't make a noise,' Chips enjoined, and a few seconds later collided with one of the invisible piles and grunted sharply.

All three crouched low, but this time no searching bullet sped towards them, and after a muttered apology from Chips they started creeping backwards again. They progressed in fan formation, each extending both hands in the darkness to feel that the way ahead was clear of obstacles. When one touched a pile a low hiss warned the others, and they joined hands until the obstacle was safely passed without further mishap.

When they judged they had gone far enough they turned round and proceeded more quickly. They dodged the piles first to the left, then to the right, until at last they brought up against the cold face of another brick wall.

'This will be the end of the foundations,' said Chips.

'Well, we've got to follow it one way or the other,' Mark pointed out, 'and I don't care which. Anybody got a choice?'

'I have,' said Mary. 'Let's turn left.'

'Left it is,' said Mark. 'Any reason for the choice, Mary?'

'I think that way will lead us towards the swimming pool,' said the girl, 'unless my sense of direction is hopelessly wrong.

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