Passage by Night - Jack Higgins [57]
'Perhaps they intend to plant a mine in the channel. That would fit in with her remarks about not being there when it actually happened.'
'But plenty of craft use that channel,' Morrison said. 'I've never heard of a mine yet that could select its victims.' He jumped to his feet. 'God, it makes me go cold all over just to think about it. Don't these crazy fools realize what they're doing? Lighting the fuse to another war. No one's ever going to believe the Cubans pulled this one on their own.'
'Perhaps that's exactly what they want. It would certainly force Russia's hand.'
'And we're cooped up here,' the American said. 'What I wouldn't give for a gun right now.'
'Anna's got one,' Manning told him. 'I saw her take my Smith and Wesson from the chart drawer when we were on the boat.'
'Then why in hell hasn't she used it?'
'I'm glad she's had the good sense not to try. It wouldn't go very far against a submachine gun, or would you like to try your luck?'
'Under the circumstances, I believe I would.'
Manning turned to Orlov, who had been keeping the guards under constant observation. 'What's happening out there?'
'Nothing much. They've got a bottle of whiskey. Must have drunk half of it between them. The native can stand it better than Paco.'
'Have they said anything interesting?'
Orlov shrugged. 'The usual things. Their experiences with women and so on. Paco seems to have taken a fancy to Anna. Charlie's just been pointing out how unpleasant the consequences would be if the colonel ever found out he'd touched her.'
'Thank God for that,' Manning said and at that moment, a step sounded on the stairs.
As he went to the grille and peered out, Viner entered and spoke to Charlie, who hastily picked up his submachine gun and went upstairs. The German walked across and stopped just outside the door.
'I thought I'd let you know that we're leaving now, Harry. No need to worry. We'll be back before noon.'
'I wouldn't count on that,' Manning said and the German chuckled and walked away.
A few minutes later, Manning heard the dull rumble of diesel engines breaking into life. When the muffled throbbing faded into the distance, a sudden unnatural quiet descended. Paco produced the whiskey bottle which he had hurriedly hidden on Viner's entrance and held it to his lips.
Manning turned and sat down beside Morrison. 'For God's sake give me a cigarette.'
As they sat there in the darkness, he felt the strength drain out of his tired body. There was nothing they could do. Nothing at all - and then Paco started to sing.
He was very drunk. As they crowded the grille to watch him, he placed the neck of the bottle to his lips and laughed as whiskey slopped over his face and shirt.
When the bottle was empty, he smashed it against the wall, staggered across the floor and stood swaying in front of Anna's cell.
'Querida, my little darling. Be nice to Paco. Come out.'
Manning's hands gripped the bars tightly and he struggled to hold back his rage. Sweat mingled with the whiskey, trickling over the fat, foolish face. Paco laughed suddenly, fumbled in his pocket and produced the bunch of keys.
'But of course. How foolish of me.'
Anna hadn't uttered a sound and he lurched forward to unlock the door. It crashed against the wall, the iron facings ringing against the stone and he moved inside.
Anna called out something unintelligible and he gave a cry of rage. A moment later, she stumbled out of the cell. Her dress was torn from the shoulder to the waist, but she held the Smith & Wesson in her right hand. As Paco came after her, she turned, flung up her arm and shot him through the head.
He must have died instantly and she stepped over his body without looking down and pulled the bunch of keys from the door. It took four attempts before she found the right one and her fingers trembled slightly. As the lock clicked, she glanced up. For one brief moment Manning looked through the grille into her eyes and then he was outside and running across the cellar.
He picked up the submachine gun, cocked it and