I dodged Gus’s rush and yelled, “It’s a bluff… yell out of the window… don’t open—”
Again Gus’s fist smashed into my face and this time I went over. I was quick enough to jerk my head away from the kick he aimed at me.
Mardi opened the door and came out.
The fat guy and Gus stood motionless staring at her. I saw Gus’s eyes open and he pursed his mouth.
She stood framed in the doorway, one hand hanging by her side and the other holding the door handle. Her face was pale and her eyes were wide, but she held her head up and she wasn’t looking scared.
“What do you want?” she said, her voice steady and cold.
I felt mighty proud of the way she faced up to these two thugs. The fat guy came forward, his face beaming, but his eyes very mean.
“Well! Well! Ain’t she a peach?” he said, standing in front of her. “We’re all goin’ for a little ride. Get your wrap, will you? An’ make it fast.”
I struggled to my feet. “Listen,” I said, keeping an eye on Gus, who was beginning to sidle towards me, “you won’t get anywhere on a gag like this. Drop it, will you?”
The fat guy glanced at Gus. “If that punk opens his trap any more, shut it for him and shut it for good.”