'God in heaven!' Captain Manack cried and flung Dave against the rock wall. 'You fool! Why the hell didn't you tell me? At least I'd have known what to expect.' He turned to me. 'Pryce,' he said, 'you've got to be through to the sea bed tonight.'
That's impossible,' I told him.
'Nothing's impossible,' he barked. 'Make the preliminary charges bigger. The Arisaig will be off the adit at four tomorrow morning. If the job's done you sail with her. If not — " He shrugged his shoulders. Then you take your chance in this country. Understand? You'll have Friar to work with you on the drilling. Slim, Tanner and myself will clear the loose rock after each blow. Now get moving.'
I took a can of bully, some bread and a bottle of milk and joined Slim and Friar in the gallery outside. As we went towards the gig I heard Dave's voice, pitched high on a note of fear, cry out, That's not true. I swear it isn't. I didn't want to scare you unnecessarily, look you. It was dark and — "
'Scare me?' Captain Manack laughed harshly. 'I suppose an unexpected visit from the police at four in the morning is one of those little surprises that are expected to act as a sedative Well, now I'm going to do some scaring.' There was a sudden scream and then silence.
'What the hell's he done?' I asked Friar.
He pushed me into the gig. 'You don't want ter worry yer 'ead aba't that,' he said. Slim threw over the lever and we rattled down into the depths of the mine. "E ain't killed 'im, if that's wot's worryin' yer,' Friar shouted in my ear. 'Though Gawd knows it's wot 'e deserves. Four o'clock in the bleedin' mornin' the police turns up. That's a bastard hour fer hinterrogation.'
'How did Captain Manack explain my visit?' I asked.
The gig slowed up and came to rest at the bottom of the shaft 'Easy,' Friar answered as we stepped out. 'Told 'em the truth Said yer was a deserter from Italy wot'd just come into the country. Told 'em you'd come ter 'im fer 'elp because you'd bin wiv 'im fer a short time in Eighth Army. 'E said 'e'd 'ad ter refuse yer and you'd gorn orf in the direction of St. Just.'
'And Dave Tanner?' I asked.