“But the general, he’s pretty heavy,” Stan said.
“The boys are boosting him up right now.” Allison was dragging Stan across the room.
They went through the window and saw the stars above. Dark shapes loomed against the wall of the house where vines climbed up to the eaves. Stan and Allison started up the trellis. They could hear General Bolero puffing and grunting as Tony and Arno helped him climb upward.
Stan looked down and saw the top of the garden wall. “I’m going down after some grenades and a submachine gun,” he hissed. Before Allison could stop him he had swung over the wall and was dangling in space. The vines ended at the wall and Stan could not see what was below. He took a chance and cut loose.
Stan was lucky. He landed on top of a canvas-covered van. The padding dulled the thud of his landing. He sat up and listened. The yard below was filled with shouting and yelling. Boots pounded as men ran across the hard ground. Doors slammed and someone fired a pistol. Stan whistled but got no answer. Then he spotted his gang. They were crouching on the roof above. Stan whistled louder and saw a shape detach itself and slide down toward the edge of the roof. He was sure it was Allison. When the dark shape loomed directly above him he called up cautiously.
“There’s a canvas-covered van right here. Get the men and have them drop off on top of it.”
“Pretty far down, isn’t it, old man?” Allison called back.
“Not too far,” Stan answered. “We’ll get to our car and blast our way out of here.”
Allison moved back up the roof. In a minute he was back with the general and his sons.
“General Bolero coming down first,” Allison called softly.