'What are you going to do?' asked Slim. He lingered over the words as though enjoying the situation.
'Do?' There was an excited gleam in Manack's eyes. 'This is what we're going to do. We'll wall the Arisaig's cargo up for a start. By tonight there'll not be a trace of our activities in the whole of Wheal Garth. Pryce, you'll get right ahead with breaching the Mermaid gallery. And you'll live underground. We'll fix you with a bed in a dug-out down the mine. It's quite dry there. It's our bolt hole — concealed entrance and everything. Before you leave I want the Mermaid operating as an underwater passageway to connect up with shipping.'
'What aba't the Ardmore?' Friar asked. 'She's doo in on Sunday or Monday.'
'I'll look after that,' Manack answered. 'In the meantime we run no more cargoes until the undersea route is open. You're working on kerb stones, if anyone asks you — understand? Both of you. And if the police come around and ask for your identity cards and ration books tell 'em I've got them. You needn't worry. They can't touch you.'
'Wot aba't the ol' man?' Friar asked. 'Suppose the police start questioning 'im?'
'He'll not talk about anything but the mine. He never does.' He looked at Slim and Friar. 'You two get to work walling up that cargo. The sooner that's done, the safer it'll be if the police come round with a search warrant.' Then he turned to me. 'You get shaved now, Pryce. As soon as you're ready I'll take you down to the Mermaid gallery.'
'And when I've done the job?' I asked.
'You'll leave for Italy on the Arisaig. I'll hold her until you've finished.'
'But I don't want to go back to Italy,' I said.
'You'll go where you're sent.' His voice was brisk and confident. 'You ought to be grateful to me for getting you out of this mess.' Damn him! He knew I had no choice.