She went closer and peered at the rat, then drew away with a shudder.
‘It’s enormous. Let’s get out of here.’
‘I’m chained to the wall. Barratt’s idea of getting even.’
While she examined the chain, I told her briefly what had happened.
‘I have a gun, Vic. Do you think you could shoot up one of these links?’
‘We can try. Here, give it to me, and get out of the way. The slug may ricochet.’
She put a .25 into my hand and went a little way down the tunnel. The third slug cut the link. The noise of the shooting deafened me.
Slowly and painfully I crawled to my feet. She came back and supported me.
‘I’ll be all right in a moment. I’m stiff, that’s all.’ I began to hobble up and down, restoring my circulation. ‘You haven’t told me how you got here. How did you know I was down here?’
‘A woman phoned. She wouldn’t say who she was. "If you want to save Malloy, you’d better hurry," she said. "They’ve taken him to the Monte Verde Mine." She hung up before I could ask her who she was or how she knew. I just grabbed a torch and a gun and drove like mad to the mine.’ Paula shook her head ruefully. ‘I ought to have got Mifflin. I really lost my head, Vic. I don’t know what I was thinking about.’