‘That’s what he thinks. Come on; let’s get up to the top of the quarry. We have friends up there.’
Keeping on the blind side of the truck, we began to edge silently back the way I had come. When we were half-way up the side of the quarry there came a sudden yell behind us that froze us to a standstill. We looked back. Barrett was staring into the tunnel. The three men working by the truck also stared towards the tunnel. The frantic, blood-curdling yell came again. Barrett suddenly fired into the tunnel, shouted and began to run frantically down the path towards the trucks.
‘The rats!’ I said and grabbed Paula’s arm. ‘Up as fast as you can.’
Both Mary and Mac began firing into the quarry as we scrambled up the steep slope. We heard shots and yells below us, but we didn’t look back nor pause until we flung ourselves, sobbing for breath, into the scrub overhanging the edge of the quarry.
Mac came charging round to join us.
‘Rats!’ He was pointing, his fleshy, red face tight with horror. ‘Look at them! Those guys down there haven’t a chance.’
I looked down into the quarry. It was alive with rats. They swarmed round the five men, who bad come together an were shooting at them. I could see Barratt waving his arms and screaming. Three enormous brutes sprang at him and he disappeared beneath a heaving sea of sleek, brown bodies. The other men were dragged down as more rats came rushing down the path from the tunnel, squealing and fighting to get at them.
I caught hold of Paula. ’Let’s get out of here.’ The four of us ran across the sand towards the Highway.