Vince flung himself into the struggle. His hands found and closed with a vice-like grip upon a massive throat.
There was a hammering of feet in the corridor.
“Quick,” screamed Vince, “The trick Kan taught us.”
Like a flash Vernon was on his feet. With a thud he placed his left knee into the small of Robinson’s back, bearing down with his entire weight. Up and back Vince forced the upper part of the body and then, with his fingers still wrapped like tentacles of steel about the pirate’s throat, put his full strength into a final thrust. There was a sharp snap as the vertebrae slipped out of place.
Vince released his grip and the body slumped to the floor.
The door burst inward. The brothers vaulted the desk as one man and were in the center of the dozen members of the crew before a gun could be used. With fists working like driving pistons the two went to the attack. Back and forth the fight surged across the room, with the pirates afraid to use their guns at such close quarters.
Vince accounted for his first opponent with a clean smash to the temple, but fumbled the second blow when his fist slid off the granite chin of the second man. Someone hit him hard over the heart and he retaliated with a blow that lifted the man off his feet and sent him staggering. A monstrous fist lashed at his head and almost floored him. Groggy as he was, he failed to duck another fist that smashed him against the wall. A face appeared in front of him and he flailed at it. A red smear appeared on the face as it slumped out of his line of vision. Then there were other fists hitting him… hitting hard.
He caught sight of Vernon in the center of the melee in the middle of the room; saw a man wilt as his brother drove his fist into his throat; saw his brother topple as someone struck him from behind. Then a fist he could not duck, hard as he tried…..a moment of dull pain, of flashing lights within his head and then…..nothing.
He awoke with the glare of electric bulbs in his eyes and a throbbing pain in his head. Weakly he gained a sitting position and glanced about him.
Members of the crew thronged the room, all of them clutching weapons. A short distance away Vernon was struggling to his feet.