Part 34 (1/2)

”I want that bullet!”

”Come take it.”

”I'll do just that.”

Ted balanced on the b.a.l.l.s of his feet, a grin of sheerest delight on his face. Thornton was bigger than he--and heavier--and he was moving like a trained boxer. But because his back was turned, he did not see Tammie burst from the scrub beech and race him down. Tammie went into the air.

His flying body struck squarely and Carl Thornton took two involuntary forward steps. He fell face downwards and rolled over to s.h.i.+eld his throat with his right arm. Tammie's bared fangs gleamed an inch away and Thornton's voice was m.u.f.fled.

”Call him off! I'll give you a thousand dollars for the bullet!”

”No, thanks,” Ted said evenly, ”and I wouldn't move if I were you.

Anyway, I wouldn't move too far or fast. Tammie might get nervous.” He raised his voice. ”All right, Loring, I think he'll tell you the rest now.”

Ted scarcely noticed when Loring Blade came out from behind Glory Rock because his whole attention was centered on the man who emerged from the beech scrub. Al Harkness was lean as a wolf. His ragged hair had been hacked as short as possible with a hunting knife and his beard was bushy. His tattered clothing was held together with strips of deerskin, fox pelt, wildcat fur and fis.h.i.+ng line. But his step was lithe and his eyes were clear and happy.

”Hi, Ted!”

”h.e.l.lo, Dad!”

They came very close and looked at each other, saying with their eyes all that which, for the moment, they could find no words to express....

Then Al asked, ”How you been, Son?”