IV
We lay in the darkness and thick scrub, well away from the cabin and stared across the floor of the valley. There was no movement on the opposite hillside, no gunfire, no voices. Mac rubbed his face with his hand and hunched his shoulders. The desert was cold now, and the wind, coming of the hills, had a nip in it.
‘They’re keeping quiet, aren’t they?’ he said in an under tone.
‘Yeah.’ I took the half-empty flask of rum from him end offered it to Mary. ‘Have some before this guy drinks the lot.’
She shook her head.
‘I’m all right’
I tilted the flask and let some of the raw spirit trickle down my throat. It wasn’t my idea of a drink, but it was the right stuff to keep out the cold.
‘I think we can go on,’ I said. ‘No point in lying here if they’re not coming over.’ ‘Do you think they’ve gone back to the mine?’ she asked.
‘Maybe. Let’s go and see. He may have decided to go back there and shift the reefers rather than lose any more men. With any luck, the cops will be there to meet him.’
‘Unless he spotted your girl,’ Mac said, getting to his feet.