‘It does,’ Noddy said, grinning. ‘I plan to buy me a turkey farm. I’m about sick to the guts working in this goddamn swamp. Five grand’l be a life saver.’
‘Make sure you earn it,’ Baird said softly.
‘Sure,’ Noddy said carelessly, but his eyes went shifty. ‘When does the balloon go up?’
‘Tomorrow, midday,’ Baird said. ‘Let’s get this straight. Each of us has his own special job: I take care of the guards. Rico creates a diversion. You grab Hater and bring him to us. Okay?’
‘Sure,’ Noddy said. ‘That’s the way it was arranged.’
‘What diversion?’ Rico said, alarmed.
‘Smoke bombs,’ Baird said. ‘All you have to do is to toss the bombs at the big dredge. As soon as we have a blanket of smoke you make your way back here. Noddy and I will join up and bring Hater here.
Noddy goes back to the dredge with his dough. You and I and Hater will take the boat and get the hell out of it. That’s the set-up.’
Rico immediately saw a number of snags to this. How could he be sure Baird and Noddy would come to the cabin? Suppose they planned to double-cross him? They could make for the boat and leave him to get out the best way he could. Suppose Hater resisted? How could they hope to control a struggling man in such a frail boat?
‘How far do you think we’l get if they come after us?’ he asked, looking uneasily at Baird.