The Secret People by John Wyndham

Author:John Wyndham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Published: 1934-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

Mark looked up at Smith.

“It must be several days since that second attack. Do you really think they’ll come on again?”

“Sure thing,” Smith nodded emphatically. “Why else’d I have gotten the wall mended?” He looked across at Gordon, who agreed.

“They’re sure to try to get us one way or another. They can’t afford to let us escape at any cost in casualties.”

“But it’s so long since that puff-ball business. They may have given up.”

“Not they. I reckon they’re putting their heads together and thinking up a new dodge.” Smith paused. “What gets me is the ingenuity of ’em last time,” he continued. “Another few minutes and there’d have been hundreds of ’em through the wall. Didn’t guess the little guys had it in them to think up a stunt like that.”

“They haven’t,” said Gordon. “I’ll bet anything you like that Miguel or one of his crowd put them up to it; what’s more, its ten to one that whoever did it is putting them up to another one now. Don’t forget, this means a lot to them – just as much as it does to us. They are out to nail us, and as a matter of fact, if they do give Miguel the run of the outer caves, he stands a better chance of getting out than we do.”

“Well, in that case,” said Mark thoughtfully, “what are we here for?”

The others stared at him.

“I mean if we surrender and Miguel gets out, he won’t keep quiet about this place. There’ll be an expedition down here – just as there will be if we get out – so if he’s got a better chance, why not let him go willingly?”

“You’re forgetting something.”

“I don’t see – ”

“You’re forgetting that Miguel made a bargain with the pygmies. I don’t know what pygmy morals on a point like that are, but why should they keep it? He’s got no way of making them keep it that I can see. Suppose they’re just using him? They must know what his little game is, sure enough, but they won’t let him play it.”

“Besides,” Gordon broke in, “if they can beat a hundred and fifty of us, they’ll ask themselves why they should kowtow to Miguel and his lot – and they’ll find there’s no reason why they should. The thing I don’t understand is his falling for their promises. It’s not like his kind to do a deal without guarantees.”

The three were silent for a time. It was Mark again who spoke first.

“I should have thought,” he said, “that it would have been a good move from their point of view to put those lights out.” He looked up at the blue-white globes, shimmering unharmed in the rocky roof. “The confusion would just about put paid to our defence: they’d be almost certain to break through somewhere.”

“Several reasons,” Gordon explained. “For one thing they’re not easy to break. They may look like glass, but they’re tough. And, for another, these pygmies are more scared of the dark than any kid.

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