There was a dead silence, and then the flashlights converged on him. Somewhere in the group, a woman screamed.
"They're after us! They're going to put us on the ships and take us away!"
"Kill the bastard, knock him down!" yelled a raging voice.
Wales, too astounded to defend himself, felt a sudden shower of clumsy blows that sent him to his knees.
CHAPTER II
It was the very number of Wales' attackers that saved him. There were too many of them, they were too eager to get at him. As he hit the pavement, they dropped their flashlights and crowded around in the dark, getting in each other's way, like frantic dogs chivvying a small animal.
