High Water

by Douglas Reeman

  `Steady, Morrie!' Mason's voice was harsh. `Don't mark him too badly. I'm not having you hot-headed fools messing everything up now!'

  Watching the other man, Vivian saw a brief shadow of childlike disappointment cross his features, then Morrie dropped his eyes, examining Vivian's body, as a dog examines a bone before taking the first bite. With a great sigh, he drew back his fist. Vivian gritted his teeth, feeling his stomach muscles bunching to take the blow. But when it came it was like a rod of hot steel, smashing down on to his unprotected skin. The lights were dancing again and there was a great roaring in his ears. Cooper was laughing, as the next blow landed beneath his heart. He heard his own voice cry out in agony, but it didn't seem to belong to him any more. He slipped to the floor and rolled on to his side.

  Only dimly now, the voices, the faces, swirling round in a great vortex of pain and fire.

  He saw the two gigantic feet by his face, and then he saw one of them swing back. He heard Karen scream from a long way away, and then the boot struck him behind the ear.

  The all-engulfing blackness was almost a pleasure, as he plunged down into nothingness.

  The great, black waves surged and roared in angry torment, vying with each other to drag his body deeper, pulling and sucking his sodden limbs until he could feel his lungs choking and his heart beginning to burst.

  One final effort to get to the surface, one last feeble struggle to beat the savage shock of each throbbing pain in his racked body.

  He became dimly conscious of a soft, continuous movement across and around his body, stroking and probing at the fire in his limbs, and bringing relief at each gentle touch. It was essential that it didn't cease, and his subconscious mind sweated with fear lest it should suddenly depart and leave him in the grip of the hot claws which tore at his inside.

  He opened his eyes, the very effort making his throat constrict, and his brain spun dizzily at the vision of swirling lights and mists which danced before his eyes. It all seemed to have a pattern, a pattern centred around a pale, shining shape, which floated above him like a pure, untroubled planet.

  He moved his parched lips painfully, feeling his tongue lolling against his teeth.

  Immediately the pale shape floated nearer, and he felt a strange sense of elation. As he strained his eyes again, the shape became clearer, and before he plunged down once more into the sea of blackness and delirium, he saw the blue eyes and felt the soft, gentle hands moving and massaging his body, but he was still too far under the waves to feel the girl's tears against his feverish skin.

  For some moments he could only gasp for breath, the sour taste of vomit in his throat, while the two small, soft hands held him firmly as each fresh tremor shook him from head to toe.

  He found that his own hands were untied, and as he tried to raise himself he felt the rasp of the dirt floor against his bare skin. He threw back his head, gulping in the hot, heavy air, trying to ignore the great throbbing in his head. Gingerly he explored the skin behind his left ear and winced as his fingers contacted a ragged bruise where the boot had struck home.

  `Oh, Philip! What have they done to you?' Her eyes were watching him fearfully as she pillowed his head on her knees.

  He swallowed hard, and grinned crookedly. `I'll be all right in a second or two.' A fresh dart of fire coursed through his ribs, and he grimaced. `How long have I been out?'

  She shook her head. `It's seemed like an age.' Her voice trembled. `They've left us alone. I have been watching you!'

  He stared down at the bright red marks on his body and watched her hands resting on his chest. They fascinated him, and through the intermittent waves of pain he felt content just to stare at them, content to lie in a semidazed state of helplessness.

  Then, like a man recovering from amnesia, his memories came flooding back, and a stream of pictures flashed across the darkness of his mind. Morrie, with his fists raised; Mason with the gun; and Cooper - he went cold - Cooper - he saw Karen struggling in his grip, saw him pawing her lovely body, while all the time he jeered at him, his uneven teeth twisted into an expression of sadism and real enjoyment. Vivian felt the mounting sweat cool on his skin, and twisted round into a sitting position, gritting his teeth.

  `Karen, you're all right? He didn't touch you any more?' His eyes explored her face desperately.

  She smiled down at him, her features melting gently into a quiet mould of trust and affection. `He has been too busy. He has been repairing the damage you did to his face!'

  Vivian gripped her by the arms. `It's been hell for you, and I let it happen,' he said thickly.

  `Always we worry about each other, Philip. That is good. But now we must try to think of what to do next. Please, Philip, do not keep blaming yourself for all this. They are bad men. You are not used to dealing with such men, I think.'

  He nodded. `You're about right there.' He cocked his head at the closed door. `I must have a word with Mason before anything else happens. I must tell him that I've still got half the plates.'

  Her eyes widened. `Half the plates? Were you going to try to make a bargain with that-that beast?'

  He nodded. `It was just an idea I had. If Lang has gone back to the boat and I send Mason running back for the rest of the plates, well, it might keep us safe for a bit and he'll run straight into trouble.'

  She regarded him sadly, and then dropped her eyes. `I'm afraid he's gone.'

  `Gone? Who d'you mean?'

  `Mason.'

  Her voice brought another chill of angry helplessness to his feverishly working brain.

  `He drove off in a car immediately after they had dragged you back here.' She let her hand rest lightly on his shoulder. `He is coming back, I think, to pick up the others.'

  He shook his head, his face dark. `I suppose all this really is happening? It's more like a mad dream.' He slid his arm about her shoulders and she nestled against him.

  `Tell me, Karen, what made you leave the boat? Who came for you?'

  `It was Morrie. He told me that unless I came at once,' she paused, `they would kill you. 1 was so confused, I just followed him.' She shuddered. `As we turned behind those big sheds something was thrown over my head and I was pulled into a car. They held me on the floor until we got here. You know the rest.'

  `If only--' He stopped, listening. `Someone's coming!' In a flash he was up on his feet, facing the door, and although his body ached in a hundred different ways his mind was clear and his eyes were steady.

  Karen rose lightly and stood behind him.

  Carefully the door opened and Cooper peered into the room. He stood well back from the entrance, and he held his gun straight in front of his blood-stained jacket.

  `So you're all fixed up, eh?' As he bared his teeth, Vivian felt a momentary stab of pleasure at the sight of the gaps in his lower jaw. `Well, I guess this is the end of the road for the pair of you.' There was something different in his manner, a new hardness in his whole appearance which made Vivian stiffen into fresh caution.

  `Why, what's the little man got planned now?' asked Vivian coolly.

  A momentary flash of fire showed in the deep-set eyes, but again Cooper controlled himself. `Well,' his voice dropped to a soft drawl, `I guess there's no harm in knowing what's to become of you.' He darted a quick glance from

  one to the other, his gun never wavering. `We've got your car outside,' he nodded at Karen, `and you two are goin' for a ride together.' He chuckled. It was not a nice sound. `Only a' short ride, I guess.'

  A shadow fell across the door, and Morrie's face, still grey with pain, appeared over his shoulder. His features were working in dumb anxiety.

  `Boss said no talk. He .....'

  'I don't give a damn what he said, see? He ain't here, so I'm the boss now-got it?' His words ended in a shout.

  Morrie seemed to shrink from the fury of the little man, and he nodded his great head obediently.

  Cooper turned back to the others, his face flushed with triumph. He was beginning to extract real pl
easure from his little act.

  `Oh boy! You sure made a big mistake when you tangled with this outfit!'

  `You can cut out the Chicago manner for my part,' said Vivian wearily, `and get down to what you're trying to say.'

  Cooper grinned slowly. "Kay, I'll tell you. You saw the big gravel pits around here? Well,' his face hardened, `the car'll be found in one of 'em, with you two inside!'

  Vivian felt his body grow cold, and behind him he heard the girl give a little cry.

  Cooper warmed to his story, his lips growing moist.

  `It'll seem as if the bridge has collapsed under the weight of the car, d'you see?'

  `You're mad!' Vivian shouted. `How do you propose to explain all this when people start asking questions?'

  `Simple. I forgot to mention that the little girl here will be in the back of the car, sort of tied up. Folks'll think that you'd kidnapped her, and you were on your way somewheres, when Pfft!' He snapped his fingers. `Bridge collapses, and you an' victim take a bath!' A horrible giggle escaped his lips. `Neat, eh?'

  `And why should I be kidnapping a girl, when everyone knows she was with me aboard my boat? It's no good, Cooper, you'll have to do better than that!'

  `I reckon that a good reason'd be because she's found out you killed her uncle!'

  Although Vivian had been half expecting it, the implication dropped like a bomb at his feet, and he knew he was cornered.

  'Nobody'll believe it!'

  Even as he said it he knew he was wrong. They'd find Jensen's body, eventually, and inquiries would start. Karen would be reported missing, and then so would he. It might be ages before they found the car, and their bodies. His mind reeled. Only Felix knew that he hadn't committed the murder, and he would be as much in the dark as anyone.

  He forced himself to speak calmly. `And I suppose you'll just carry on as if nothing has happened?'

  `Well, maybe we'll take a little sea trip, till it all blows over.' Cooper grinned.

  `And you're going to get me to drive into a gravel pit?'

  `Let's put it another way. You'll be at the wheel, but I guess we'll put you to sleep before you start the journey.' He allowed his gaze to flicker in Karen's direction. `I reckon I'll tame that little bitch before we start, too!'

  `You bastard!'

  But even as he moved, the gun-barrel dropped, until it was level with the girl's stomach.

  `Shouldn't do that!' The tone was sharp. `Pity to spoil such a swell figure.'

  `Look, Cooper, there's something you don't know.' `Yeah?' The voice was almost disinterested.

  `I only brought half the plates with me. I guessed you'd try something like this, so unless you think you are going to make a fortune one dollar at a time, you'd better get hold of Mason, and quick!'

  `A good try, fella. But you'll have to do better than that!'

  Well, tell me, did any one of you check to see if the plates were complete? I'll tell you. Your intelligent boss just looked at the top ones, didn't he?' He waited, watching a shadow of uncertainty cross the ferret-like face. `Well, am I right?'

  `Just supposin' I believed you, where are the others; then?'

  'I gave 'em to one of the harbour officials,' lied Vivian calmly, surprised that his brain was clear, and that Cooper appeared to be swallowing his story.

  `If you're playing for time, sailor, it'll be too bad for the pair of you. Especially the babe here!' He beckoned impatiently to Morrie. `Here, bonehead, tie 'em up with that cord. I'll get on up the road and make a 'phone call. Just to see what the boss has to say.'

  Vivian's heart sank and he cursed himself for not thinking that Cooper would realize the folly of leaving his prisoners untied.

  Morrie stepped heavily into the room, unwinding a length of cord, his small eyes watching Vivian with hatred.

  `Don't forget, one bad move, an' she gets it!' Cooper's voice was edgy. He was obviously taking no chances.

  Vivian bit his lip with pain, as the cord cut into his wrists, pulling his arms behind him. With a final tug, Morrie gave a satisfied grunt and turned to the girl. As he pulled her arms back, Cooper whistled softly.

  `Phew, what a dish! You're sure goin' to be nice to me when I get back.' Then harshly, `Now keep an eye on 'em, Morrie, I'll be about half an hour.'

  `Why not take her car?' Even a short sentence seemed to be an effort for Morrie.

  Cooper looked at him pityingly. `What if I'm seen driving it, bonehead? The sailor there is supposed to have pinched it when he snatched the girl, see? Fine thing if I got nicked in a hot car. I must say!' He lifted his chin, listening to the rattle of rain on the roof. 'Jeez! I'll get goddam wet though!' he added inconsequently.

  Without a further glance at any of them he hurried away, and they heard the door slam in the outside office.

  Morrie gestured towards the bed. `Sit!' he commanded, and when the girl had lowered herself into a sitting position, he turned back to Vivian.

  `You can kneel for a bit!' he growled and jabbed him sharply in the stomach with a half-clenched fist.

  Vivian grunted and pitched awkwardly on to his knees. As he fell, a sharp stabbing thrust in his right leg made him cry out.

  Morrie permitted himself a brief smile.

  `That'll show you,' he muttered and stamped out, slamming the door.

  `Philip, are you all right?' Her voice was filled with anxiety and fear.

  He nodded, gritting his teeth. He could feel the blood beginning to run across his foot. The paper-knife that he had slipped into his sock and had completely forgotten during the last, nightmarish hours, had pierced his leg as he fell. But he hardly felt the pain any more, and as he reached backwards with his numbed fingers, groping for the hilt, a wild scheme was already forming in his mind.

  8

  SLOWLY and painfully he strained back, cursing the small sharp waves of cramp which took first one finger and then another, until at last he felt the smooth, rounded surface of the metal handle. In his eager excitement he almost dropped the knife, and he sobbed aloud as the thin cord bit into his skin.

  It was a race. Either he cut the cord with the blunt blade, or his -hands would lose all their strength and feeling. Already the circulation seemed to have stopped, and as he crouched on his knees, as if in prayer, he felt rivulets of sweat pouring down his bare chest and his jaws were clamped tight with the frantic exertion.

  `Keep listening, Karen!' he gasped. `Let me know if you hear that big brute coming back!'

  She nodded quickly her body tensed as she leaned forward, as if to encourage his efforts.

  Back and forth, up and down, he sawed with a fanatical desperation. The muscles across his shoulders bulged and writhed and he felt he wanted to scream out with anger and despair.

  Without warning there was a sharp snap and the knife skittered across the floor. For a moment neither he nor the girl moved, and then, as he gingerly pulled at one lacerated wrist, he gave a grunt of triumph, as with a final jerk his hands were free.

  A thousand hot needles pricked his arms as he rubbed urgently to bring back life and feeling to his wrists and fingers, but as he dashed the sweat from his eyes, he shot the girl a twisted grin of satisfaction and mounting excitement.

  Stiffly he scrambled across to her side, and in a few seconds she too was looking in childlike amazement at the red lines on her skin, her eyes shining.

  `Right, now listen Karen.' His voice was short. `Sit just as you are, and keep your hands behind you. Our one hope is that he'll come back in here before Cooper returns. If he does, I'll try to grab him.'

  He studied her face, fixing every detail in his mind, and held her hands in his, feeling their soft warmth.

  `Whatever happens, no matter what I am doing, you must make a run for it!' He emphasized each word carefully, noticing the growing look of alarm on her face. `When you get outside get in your car and drive like hell over that bridge!'

  `But, Philip! I can't....' Her mouth quivered.

  `You must! The car's a real bit of lu
ck. God knows how they got it here, but it's too good a chance to lose.' His voice hardened. `When I've finished in here, I'll come running!' He paused, breathing heavily, the prospect of action again filled him with a sense of savage elation. `But you must do as I say. Do you understand?'

  She bowed her head, bunching her hands until the knuckles showed white. `I will try,' she answered in a small voice.

  He bared his teeth in a grin. `Right then. I'll take up my position.'

  Stooping he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, but as her arms reached out for him he turned away, knowing that it was his only hope. Picking up the knife he squatted down as before, facing the door, his hands hidden behind him.

  He stared at the dark shape of the door until his eyes danced in their sockets, making him imagine that it was stealthily opening, or that a shadow was moving behind it.

  As if at a signal the rain stopped and, but for the heavy drip of water from the edge of the roof, the sudden silence was shattering. The violent pounding of his heart seemed to fill the room, and he licked his parched lips, straining every nerve in his body.

  Once a slight sound in the other room brought him to a point where he almost jumped to his feet and flung himself at the mocking black shape of the door, but as silence fell again, he sank back on his haunches, a sick taste in his throat.

  When Morrie entered the room it was somehow unexpected, and almost as if he had been waiting for Vivian to fall off his guard. But as he stood framed against the watery sunlight, his face in shadow, Vivian could sense that the other man was relaxed, almost to a point of being indifferent. He stared from one to the other, the light catching the gleam of his stone-like eyes. As he turned his gaze back to Vivian, his mouth twisted down at one corner, and they saw the look of hatred, mixed with one of animal pain.