Part 17 (2/2)
”I can guess where Manny Resnick and his friend are headed,” I said
”Big Gull Island?” Sherry asked, and when I nodded she went on, ”He'll need a boat and divers”
”Don't worry, Manny will get them ”And e do?” ”We?” I asked
”A form of speech,” she corrected herself priet about it all - or I can go back to Gunfire Reef and try to find out what the hell was in Colonel Goodchild's five cases”
”You'll need equipht not be as elaborate as Manny Resnick's will be, but I could get enough together”
”How are you for money, or is that a rude question?”
”The answer is the saether” ”Blue water and white sand,”shein the trade winds”
”Stop it, Harry”
”Fat crayfish grilling on the coals, andin the wilderness,” I went on re,” she said
”If you stay here, you'll never know if it was dirty socks I pressed her
”You'd write and tell me,” she pleaded ”No, I wouldn't”
”I'll have to coirl” I squeezed her shoulder
”But I insist on paying uessed how hard pressed I was financially
”I should hate to erode your principles,” I told her happily, andto be a near-run thing to mount an expedition to Gunfire Reef on what I had left
There was much we had to discuss now that the decision had been made It seeentleht,” I warned Sherry ”I don't think we should chance it Upstairs I have a very comfortable room with a fine view--_2 ”Come on, Fletcher” Sherry stood up ”You had better walk me home, or I shall set my uncle on to you”
As alked the half block to her uncle's apartreed to meet for lunch next day I had a list of errands to perfor the airline reservations, while Sherry had to have her passport renewed and pick up the photostat drawings of the Dawn Light
At the door of the apartment we faced each other, suddenly both of us were shy It was so terribly corny that I alers at the end of our first date - but soht, Harry,” she said, and with the age-old artistry of womankind she showed
Her lips were soft and waroodness,” she whispered throatily, and dreay at last
”Are you sure you won't change your mind - it is a beautiful roohed shakily and pushed ht, dear Harry,” she repeated, and left me
I went out into the street and strolled back towards my pub The wind had dropped but I could s from the river close by The street was deserted but the kerb was lined with parked vehicles, bumper to bu the pave with the idea of a stroll down the Embankment first My hands were thrust deep into the pockets of ht about this woman
There was a lot to think about Sherry North, much that was unclear or not yet explained, but ht that perhaps here at last was soht, a week, or aand that would not be like the others, dirow ever stronger
Suddenly a voice beside e voice, and I turned instinctively towards it As I did so I knew that it was ain the back seat of one of the parked cars It was a black Rover The as open and his face was merely a pale blob in the darkness of the interior
Desperately I tried to pull my hands out of my pockets and turn to face the direction from which I knew the attack would co whiffed pastblow
I struck backwards with both elbows, connecting solidly and hearing the gasp of pain Then , for I knew they would use the cosh again
They were justIt seeion of them, but there were only four - and one in the car They were all big ain I hit hi his head backwards and I thought I ht have broken his neck, for he went down hard on the paveht it on the thigh, using the i me to the shoulder, and the man took it in the chest, and was thrown backwards, but i it and a fist caught me in the cheek under the eye I felt the skin tear open
Another one was onether, we surged around the pavement
”Hold hiet a shot at him”
”What the bloody hell do you think we are trying to do?” panted another, and we fell against the side of the Rover I was pinned there, and I saw the one with the cosh was on his feet He swung again, and I tried to roll ht me in the temple It did not put ht out of me I was instantly weak as a child, hardly able to support et him into the back” They hustled me into the centre seat of the back of the Rover and one of theine whirred and caught and we pulled aiftly
My brain cleared, but the side of my head was numb and felt like a balloon There were three of them in the front seat, one on each side ofheavily, and the one next to the driver was ht had been eating garlic, and he panted heavily as he searcheddied in your o, and it's still there,” I told hiue and an ache in n of having heard, but continued doggedly with this task At last he was satisfied and I readjusted
We drove in silence for fivethe river towards Hammersmith, before they had all recovered their breath and tended their wounds, then the driver spoke
”Listen, Manny wants to talk to you, but he said it's no big thing He was ave us a hard tin you off and toss you in the river” ”Char chap, Manny,” I said
”Shut up!” said the driver ”So you see, it's up to you Behave yourself and you get to live a little longer I heard you used to be a sharp operator, Harry We been expecting you to show up, ever since Lorna missed you on the island - but sure as hell we didn't expect you to parade up and down Curzon Street like a brass band Manny couldn't believe it He said, ”That can't be Harry He hty fallen Tell it not in the streets of Ashkelon,” he said”
”That's Shakespeare,”said the one with the garlic breath ”Shut up,” said the driver and then went on ”Manny was sad but not that sad that he cried or anything, you understand”
”I understand,” I mumbled
”Shut up,” said the driver ”Manny said, ”Dont do it here Just follow him to a nice quiet place and pick hi hih then toss him in the river”
”That sounds like my boy, Manny He alas a softhearted little devil” ”Shut up,” said the driver
”I look forward to seeing hiet lucky”