Page 21 (1/2)
Bond grinned as he heard a shout drowned by the crash of glass and water
He immediately dropped to one knee and fired two shots at The Robber's legs, but fifty yards for his small-calibre pistol was too much There was the crash of another tank but the second shot clanged eates
Then The Robber was shooting again and Bond could only dodge to and fro behind the cases and wait to be caught in the kneecap Occasionally he fired a shot in return to make The Robber keep his distance, but he knew the battle was lost The other man seemed to have endless aun and one fresh clip in his pocket
As he shuttled to and fro, slipping on the rare fish that flapped wildly on the concrete, he even stooped to snatch ing up heavy queen conchs and hel them towards the enemy Often they burst impressively on top of so racket inside the corrugated-iron shed But they were quite ineffective He thought of shooting out the lights, but there were at least twenty of theive up He had one ruse to fall back on, and any change in the battle was better than exhausting hi end of this deadly coconut-shy
As he passed a row of cases of which the one near him was shattered, he pushed it on to the floor It was still half full of rare Sia Fish, and Bond was pleased with the expensive crash as the rements on the floor A wide space was cleared on the trestle table, and aftertwo quick darts to pick up his shoes he dashed back to the table and juet for The Robber to shoot at there was a moment's silence save for the whine of the pu out of broken tanks and the flapping of dying fish Bond slipped his shoes on and laced theht
'Hey, Limey,' called The Robber patiently 'Co pineapples I been expectin' you an' I got plenty aive up,' answered Bond through cupped hands 'But only because you smashed one of my ankles'
'I'll not shoot,' called The Robber 'Drop your gun on the floor and coe with your hands up We'll have a quiet little talk'
'Guess I got no option,' said Bond, putting hopelessness into his voice He dropped his Beretta with a clatter on to the ceold coin out of his pocket and clenched it in his bandaged left hand
Bond groaned as he put his feet to the floor He dragged his left leg behind hie, his hands held level with his shoulders He stopped half way up the passage
The Robber ca, his rifle pointed at Bond's stolad to see that his shirt was soaked and that he had a cut over the left eye
The Robber walked well to the left of the passage-way When he was about ten yards away fro on a sestured with his rifle 'Higher,' he said harshly
Bond groaned and lifted his hands a few inches so that they were almost across his face, as if in defence
Between the fingers he saw The Robber's toes kick so as if a bolt had been drawn Bond's eyes glinted behind his hands and his jaw tightened He knehat had happened to Leiter
The Robber ca the spot where he had paused
'Christ,' said Bond, 'I gotta sit down My leg won't hold me'
The Robber stopped a few feet away 'Go ahead and stand while I ask you a few questions, Limey' He bared his tobacco-stained teeth 'You'll soon be lying down, and for keeps' The Robber stood and looked hied Behind the defeat in his face his brain wasin inches
'Nosey bastard,' said The Robber…
At that old coin out of his left hand It clanged on the cement floor and started to roll
In the fraction of a second that The Robber's eyes flickered down, Bond's right foot in its steel-capped shoe lashed out to its full length It kicked the rifle almost out of The Robber's hands At the saer and the bullet crashed har, Bond launched hi
Both hands connected with soh Bond's left hand and he winced as the rifle crashed down across his back He bore on into thewith both hands, his head down between hunched shoulders, forcing the man back and off his balance As he felt the balance yield he straightened hiain with his steel-capped foot It connected with The Robber's kneecap There was a screaround as The Robber tried to save himself He was half way to the floor when Bond's uppercut hit him and projected the body another few feet
The Robber fell in the centre of the passage just opposite what Bond could now see was a drawn bolt in the floor
As the body hit the ground a section of the floor turned swiftly on a central pivot and the body al of a wide trap-door in the concrete