revolver and the lanyard snapped like cotton as he jerked on it.
They stood like that: Bruce holding Haig from behind, and Hendry
crouched at Ruffy's feet. The only sound for several seconds was the
hoarse rasping of breath.
Bruce felt Mike relaxing in his grip as the madness left him; he
unclipped his pistol from his lanyard and let it drop.
'Leave me, Bruce. I'm all right now.'
'Are you sure? I don't
want to shoot you.'
'No, I'm all right.'
'If you start it again, I'll have to shoot you. Do you understand?' Yes,
I'll be all right now. I
lost my senses for a moment.' :You certainly did,' Bruce agreed, and
released him.
They formed a circle round the kneeling Hendry, and Bruce spoke.
'If either you or Haig start it again you'll answer to me, do you hear
me?' Hendry looked up, his small eyes slitted with pain. He did
not answer.
'Do you hear me?' Bruce repeated the question and Hendry nodded.
'Good! From now on, Hendry, you are under open arrest.
I can't spare men to guard you, and you're welcome to escape if you'd
like to try. The local gentry would certainly entertain you most
handsomely, they'd probably arrange a special banquet in your honour.'
Hendry's lips drew back in a snarl that exposed teeth with green slimy
stains on them.
'But remember my promise, Hendry, as soon as we get back to,-'
'Wally, Wally, are you hurt?' Andre came running from the direction of
the station. He knelt beside Hendry.
'Get away, leave me alone.' Hendry struck out at him impatiently and
Andre recoiled.
'De Surrier, who gave you permission to leave your post?
Get back to the train.' Andre looked up uncertainly, and then back to
Hendry.
'De Surrier, you heard me. Get going. And you also, Haig.' He watched
them disappear behind the station building before he glanced once more
at the two children. There was a smear of blood and melted chocolate
across the boy's cheek and his eyes were wide open in an expression of
surprise. Already the flies were settling, crawling
delightedly over the two small corpses.
'Ruffy, get spades, Bury them under those trees.' He pointed at the
avenue of casia flora. 'But do it quickly.' He spoke brusquely so that
how he felt would not show in his voice.
'Okay, boss. I'll fix it.'
'Come on, Hendry,' Bruce snapped, and
Wally Hendry heaved to his feet and followed him meekly back to the
train.
Slowly from Msapa junction they travelled northwards through the
forest. Each tree seemed to have been cast from the same mould, tall and
graceful in itself, but when multiplied countless million times the
