Exocet - Jack Higgins [47]
Then far below from the trees beside the lake, a figure in a black tracksuit emerged and started to run up the hill. Raul. She recognised him instantly, watched for a few moments as she had been told and then kneed the horse forward.
There was a movement somewhere on her right and two men came out of the trees. One of them was bearded and wore a reefer coat. The other was younger with long yellow hair in jeans and a patched denim jacket. And they were trouble, she knew that instantly.
The one with the beard ran forward, flinging up his arms, making the horse rear. As he grabbed for the reins, the other reached up and caught her right arm. She cried out in genuine fear as she was pulled from the saddle.
They both had her then, the bearded one holding her arms behind her and the boy with the yellow hair moving in close, reaching under her jacket for the breasts.
As the horse cantered away, the bearded one said, 'Get her into the trees.' She cried aloud again, not in fear now, but in rage at every man who had ever put a hand on her and kicked out savagely.
* * *
Montera, hearing the first cry, paused and looked up in time to see her come off the horse. He didn't recognise her then, saw only a woman in difficulty and ran very fast up the slope, his running shoes making no sound on the wet grass.
She was on the ground now, the bearded one trying to pull her up, the other one watching. Montera descended like a thunderbolt, delivering a terrible blow to the kidneys, knuckles extended. The boy screamed and fell on his knees. As the bearded man glanced up Montera kicked him in the face.
The soft running shoe didn't do much harm and the man rolled over and came to his feet, pulling a knife from his pocket.
In the same moment, Gabrielle turned, scrambling to her feet, and Montera saw her. He paused, total astonishment on his face and reached for her instinctively.
She cried a warning as the bearded man rushed in. Montera shoved her away and swayed to one side like a bullfighter, the man stepping past him.
Raul Montera knew a killing rage now, such as he had never known in his life before. He poised, balanced on both feet, waiting. The man rushed in again, knife extended. As it came up, Montera grabbed the wrist, twisting the arm up and to one side, taut as a steel bar. The bearded man screamed, Montera struck him a devastating blow across the side of the neck with the edge of his hand and he went down.
The boy with the yellow hair was being sick and Gabrielle leaned against a tree, her face pale, streaked with mud.
'Gabrielle. Oh, my God!' Her name burst out of him and suddenly he was laughing as he held her by the arms and looked at her.
She said shakily, 'You don't do things by halves, do you?'
'I could never see the point. In this sort of business, do it properly or run away. I'll get your horse.'
It was grazing peacefully nearby and he caught the reins and brought it over. 'Do you want to ride?'
'I don't think so.'
The bearded man groaned and tried to sit up. The boy was standing now, leaning against a tree.
'What do you want me to do about these animals? The police?'
'No, let it go,' she said. 'You've handed out sufficient punishment for one morning.'
They started up toward the gates. 'This is amazing, truly amazing. I arrived yesterday. I didn't have a Paris address for you, but I did ring the London flat. No answer.'
'Obviously not. I'm here.' And now it was necessary for her to say the right things. 'But what's going on, Raul? You're at war. Why aren't you in Buenos Aires?'
'It's a long story. I'm staying just across the road in Avenue de Neuilly. What about you?'
'My apartment is in Avenue Victor Hugo.'
'Also not too far away,' he smiled. 'My place or yours?'
The joy in her was so great, that for the moment she forgot everything. 'Oh, Raul, it's so good to see you.'
She reached up and kissed him. He held her for a moment. 'Isn't this what the English