III
My mind came fumbling out of a dark pit. Consciousness returned like a hangover on a foggy morning. First, I became aware of a throbbing pain in my head, then, as I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on my back, the beam of a flashlight playing on my face. I grunted, turned my head and tried to sit up. A hand on my chest shoved me back.
‘Stay parked,’ Dedrick growled. ‘I’m just bedding you down.’ His fingers picked the end of the tape loose that bound my mouth. When he had enough purchase, he gave it a quick hard pull, skinning it off my mouth. That hurt, and I grunted again.
The light was bothering me, but the dank, cold air and the darkness beyond the beam of the flashlight bothered me more.
‘What’s going on?’ I growled.
‘You’ll find out.’
I felt something tight around my waist. Bending my head I could see Dedrick fastening a thick chain, looped round my middle, with a padlock. I looked beyond him at the rough-hewn walls, supported by blackened props of wood.
‘Where’s this—the mine?’ I asked.
‘Yeah; a hundred feet below ground.’ He snapped the pad-lock shut and stood away. ‘This isn’t my idea, Malloy. You heard what he said. I’ve nothing against you. I’d put a slug through your head if it wasn’t for him. He’ll come and look at you tomorrow.’
‘Is he going to leave me here to starve to death?’ I asked, testing the tape that bound my hands. There was no give in it at all.