Bahama Crisis

I needed no urging. Already I was heading for the bank and standing, ready to jump. Our feet hit the ground simultaneously, and Billy said, "We'll tackle him from two sides." He gestured with his pistol.

"You go that way and keep your head down." He ran in the other direction.

I ran to the nearest heap of limestone and dropped flat before peering around it cautiously. There was no sign of Robinson. From behind I heard the sound of engines so I looked back to see the Customs launch coming up the canal, fairly boiling along at top speed. Deane must have heard the shots and decided to come in.

I ignored it and turned again to look for Robinson. We were quite close to the house and there were now two men on the roof, and one of them was pointing at something. I followed the direction of his arm, got to my feet, and began to run. Skidding around another heap of rubble I came across Robinson about ten yards away. He had his back to me, and beyond him I saw Billy come into sight.

I was late in the tackle. Before I could get to him Robinson fired and Billy dropped in his tracks. But then I was on to him and I had no mercy. His pistol went flying and it took Deane and two of his men to prise my hands from Robinson's neck.

Deane hauled me to my feet and pushed me away, standing between me and Robinson.

"That's enough!" he said curtly.

I heard a car door slam and saw Perigord walking over from a police car near the house. I regained my breath, and said, "Then get the bastard out of my sight before I kill him." I turned and walked towards Billy.

He was sitting up, his hand to his head, and when he took it away it was red with blood.

"He creased me!" he said blankly. Jesus, but it hurts! " There was an unfocused look to his eyes, a sign of concussion. I stooped, picked up his gun, and walked to the water's edge and tossed it into the canal. Then I went back and helped him to his feet.

"You're lucky you're not dead," I said.

"Be glad it hurts; it means you'll live."

Already he was looking better. He glanced across at Deane and saw Robinson still prostrate on the ground.

"Well, we've got him."

"Yes," I said shortly. Deane would not now need any excuse for holding Robinson. Any man who popped off a gun was automatically his prey including Billy. Still, Deane had not seen Billy shoot, so, as we walked towards him, I said, "I ditched your gun in the canal."

"Thanks."

Robinson sat up and Deane was addressing him in fast, fluent Spanish.

Among the spate of words I heard the name Perez, repeated several times. Robinson shook his head and replied in Spanish, and then switched into English, with the same plummy accent I had come to know in Texas.

"I'm a soldier of the revolution," he said pompously.

"And now a prisoner of war. I will answer no questions." He got to his feet.

"Prisoner of war? " said Billy unbelievingly.

"The guy's nuts!"

"He's a bloody murderer," I said.

"But that's for a court to decide, Mr. Mangan," said Perigord.

Deane took out handcuffs and then paused, looking at Billy expressionlessly.

"Search this man," he said.

Billy grinned widely as Perigord's hands expertly patted his body.

"What gun?" he said.

"I took your advice. It was good."

It was then that Robinson made his break. He thumped the nearest Customs officer in the gut, sending him to the ground writhing and retching, and took off, running towards the house. He took us all by surprise. Deane dropped the handcuffs and broke into a run, with me at his heels.

The builders at the house had stopped work and were now all on the roof, a good vantage point to view the morning's unexpected entertainment. The sole exception was the driver of a truck which had just arrived. He had got out, leaving the door open and the engine idling, and was calling to the men on the roof. Robinson clouted him in passing and he staggered back to collide with Deane and they both went down in a tangle of arms and legs.

By that time Robinson was in the cab and the engine of the truck roared. I leaped over the sprawled bodies of Deane and the driver and jumped for the cab, but it was too late and the truck was moving. I missed and fell to the ground. By the time I had picked myself up the truck was speeding up the road.

I saw Perigord getting into his car so I ran and piled in next to him just as he drove off with a squeal of rubber and a lot of wheel spin.

He drove with one hand while unhooking the microphone of his radio from its bracket. He began to give brief but precise instructions, and I gathered that he was re marshalling his forces.

The truck was still in sight and we were gaining on it. It turned left on to East Sunrise Highway, and I said, "He'll be going on to Midshipman Road, by the Garden of the Groves."

"Yes," said Perigord, and spoke into the microphone again.