The Unknown Shore by Donald Malcolm

Author:Donald Malcolm [Malcolm, Donald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 037372019X
Publisher: Laser Books (Harlequin Enterprises)
Published: 1976-02-02T14:31:13+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Templeton strode to the weapons locker as Rangone snapped, “Someone has taken advantage of Essenden’s absence to cut down the odds against survival by destroying the tanks.”

He took the gun Templeton handed him, thinking that he and the engineers, who were looking warily at their weapons, had little chance of hitting anyone. They’d all had small-arms training at one time or another, but markmanship was for the soldiers.

Brandt’s voice broke in again over the communicators. “I’m actually in the tank area, so I can cover them whichever side they come from. Whoever planned this knows that four of you are in there, so someone will be watching, expecting you to come.”

There was another shot.

“We’ll get there as soon as we can, Commandant.” Rangone closed the channel.

When Templeton opened the cabin door, he was greeted with a shot. He shut the door hurriedly. Rangone went into the communications room, just off the bridge, and told the operator to inform Essenden of the situation.

Rejoining the group Rangone said, “They’re clever. They’ve got four of us caught in here and five men outside the ship who can easily be kept out. Various others are incapable of resistance. It must have been quite a shock when they discovered that Brandt was missing, but they might have assumed that he was here. Their mistake. But for that, they would probably have accomplished their task and finished us off at leisure if we didn’t agree to their terms.”

Templeton said, “We’re not going to get out of here by the front door. Durbin, you know the ship well. Is there a service hatch or anything like that?”

The engineer thought for a second. “There’s one in the observation bubble. It connects with the stern of the ship by a catwalk and there are other hatches at various intervals.”

“That’s our way out, then,” Rangone said. “Templeton, you and Hertz stay here and keep our friend out here occupied. Durbin and I will see if we can reach the tank area. We won’t use the communicator again. The mutineers would be able to hear all that we said.”

Rangone followed Durbin into the bubble and the engineer opened the hatch, which was about the width of a man’s shoulders. Durbin led the way. “Better keep quiet from now on. They could hear us if we make too much noise and we don’t want a reception committee waiting for us.”

They heard sporadic shooting as they went. Rangone had suspected there would be trouble of some kind, but not so soon nor so violent. An opportunist had seen a chance and taken it. He might intend to kill everyone who stood in the way of his plans. He would have to kill any dissenters or be killed. Rangone hoped that Barbara, Laura, and the others were safe. Perhaps the mutineers had thought of hostages, which would complicate matters. What did they hope to gain? The salvation of everyone depended on pooling skills and resources. Yet here he was, a gun in his belt, on his way perhaps to kill.

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