‘Aw, shut up!’ Baird said, and staggered back to where he had left the gun and the suitcase.
Rico shouted after him, but Baird didn’t look back. Sure now Baird was going to leave him, Rico started to crawl after him, dragging his broken leg behind him. His body was torn with pain, but somehow he managed to keep moving, digging his fingers into the soft ground to pull himself forward.
‘Baird!’ he shouted. ‘Wait for me!’
Baird looked over his shoulder. He saw Rico crawling after him, and he was tempted to put him out of his misery, but he decided not to risk a shot. The guards might still be near at hand looking for him for all he knew.
He slid down the bank into the water, hoisted the Winchester, then the suitcase on board and heaved himself over the gunwale.
Rico made a desperate effort to increase his speed. He was half out of his mind with pain and fear, and he began to scream at Baird.
‘Come back! Come back!’
Baird dragged himself to the bridge, eased open the throttle and the launch began to edge away from the bank.
Rico pulled out his gun.
‘Come back, Baird!’ he yelled. ‘I’l kil you if you don’t come back!’