Part 27 (1/2)
There were tools enough While the Ifugao warriors argued aolat, somewhat calmed down, tried to work the Within a few minutes there was a very respectable earthen berm across the front of the recess The riflemen could lie behind it and be reasonably protected froaos were steadying down and Nangolat had a spear in his hand once more
”I'll start the truck,” Scotty said quickly ”Head for the it in first Don't start the jeep until I' We should be able to hold theon”
Rick suddenly realized that the steel poles for the pickup cable ith the gear on the truck He reht out of your hands,” he said ”That will take some of the heart out of them”
”Or make them madder,” Scotty added They hurried to unload the truck
Chahda checked his rifle
”Make or break,” Rick said ”If I make it, fine If not, that breaks our chances down to zero But I'll make it”
Scotty ran for the truck cab, cliaos stopped their yelling to look For a moment they ear and started directly for them
Rick and Chahda juine and pulled out the choke slightly to avoid a possible stall Scotty leaped fro the unmanned vehicle to bounce across the aos! They hesitated, then scattered--and Rick stepped on the gas
He angled the jeep across theno attention to ruts or bumps From beside him came the sharp crack of Chahda's rifle Once a spear passed overhead and dug into the rice beyond
Then Rick slowed for the stone blocks at the edge of the meadow and let the jeep clied off the rear and another ripped the rear-seat cushi+on Chahda fired one shot after another,to hiave the jeep all it would take In his rear-viewhie of the meadow, then they were around the curve of a terrace wall, free
Rick kept the accelerator to the floor except on the worst curves They clied at their cah to yell instructions to strike the tents and cooking gear, and load them in the jeep and be ready to leave on a moment's notice, then they drove down theon for dear life Fortunately, they had to pass through only one gate, and the gatekeeper waved thees, narrowly s, then bounced across a river bed and into Bontoc
The trip had taken one hour The boys pulled up in front of the road commissioner's office and ran in De los Santos ?”
”Very wrong,” Rick replied ”We et it for you Who do you want?”
”The constabulary!”
Santos looked startled, but he cranked the phone several times, talked in Ilokano, and finally handed the phone to Rick
A voice at the other end said, ”Constabulary detachment Corporal Alvarez”
Rick said quickly, ”We need help at Banaue A party of Aet help quickly, they'll all be killed!”
Corporal Alvarez replied, ”There aos are peaceful”
”Not anyspears They mean business!”
Suddenly the corporal was unable to understand Rick yelled, begged, and threatened, to no avail At last he hung up, defeated ”So's fishy,” he said ”Very fishy The corporal knehat I meant, I'm sure
He treated it as a joke Chahda, Lazada is behind this!”
Santos coughed Rick whirled on hi, I assure you”