'Every time she bucks, she bounces, hooted Haig, and every time she
bounces you win a coconut. Let her rip, old fruit.'
'Hendry, stop that,' snapped Bruce.
'Go and get mucked,' answered Hendry and fired. The rifle kicked back
over his shoulder and he fell against the wall. The pyramid of glasses
exploded in a shower of fragments and the room was filled with the roar
of the rifle.
'Give the gentleman a coconut!' crowed Mike.
Bruce crossed the room with three quick strides and pulled the rifle out
of Hendry's hand.
'All right, you drunken ape. That's enough.'
'Go and muck yourself,' growled Hendry. He was massaging his wrist; the
rifle had twisted it.
'Captain Curry,' said Haig from behind the bar, 'you heard what my
friend said. You go and muck yourself sideways to sleep.'
'Shut up, Haig.'
'This time I'll fix you, Curry,' Hendry growled. 'You've been on my back
too long - now I'm going to shake you off!'
'Kindly descend from my friend's back, Captain Curry,' chimed in Mike
Haig. 'He's not a howdah elephant, he's my blood brother. I will not
allow you to persecute him.'
'Come on, Curry. Come on there!' said Wally.
'That's it, Wally. muck him up.' Haig filled his glass again as he
spoke. 'Don't let him ride you.'
'Come on then, Curry.' 'You're drunk,' said Bruce.
'Come on then; don't talk, man. Or do I have to start it?'
'No, you don't have to start it,' Bruce assured him, and lifted the
rifle butt-first under his chin, swinging it up hard.
Hendry's head jerked and he staggered back against the wall.
Bruce looked at his eyes; they were glazed over. That will hold him, he
decided; that's taken the fight out of him.
He caught Hendry by the shoulder and threw him into one of the chairs. I
must get to Haig before he absorbs any more of that liquor, he thought,
I can't waste time sending for Ruffy and I can't leave this thing behind
me while I work on Haig.
'Shermaine,' he called. She was standing in the doorway and she came to
his side. 'Can you use a pistol?' She nodded. Bruce unclipped his Smith
& Wesson from its lanyard and handed it to her.
'Shoot this man if he tries to leave that chair. Stand here where he
cannot reach you.'
'Bruce-' she started.
'He is a dangerous animal. Yesterday he murdered two small
children and, if you let him, he'll do the same to you.
You must keep him here while I get the other one.' She lifted the
pistol, holding it with both hands and her face was even paler than was
usual.
'Can you do it?' Bruce asked.
'Now I can, she said and cocked the action.
'Hear me, Hendry.' Bruce took a handful of his hair and twisted his face
up. 'She'll kill you if you leave this chair.
