The people that lived in fair Nottingham

Andreahe'd come back by this timethought it a sure bet that they'd work right round the square and get here in two or three minutes, so he took off like a bat across the roofs." "Going to draw them off?" Mallory was at Louki's side staring out of the window. "The crazy fool! He'll get himself killed this timeget himself killed for sure! There are soldiers everywhere. Besides, they won't fall for it again. He tricked them once up in the hills, and the Germans" "I'm not so sure, sir," Brown interrupted excitedly. "Andrea's just shot out the searchlight on his side. They'll think for certain that we're going to break out over the wall andlook, sir, look! There they go!" Brown was almost dancing with excitement, the pain of his injured leg forgotten. "He's done it, sir, he's done it!" Sure enough, Mallory saw, the patrol had broken away from their shelter in the house to their right and were running across the square in extended formation, their heavy boots clattering on the cobbles, stumbling, falling, recovering again as they lost footing on the slippery wetness of the uneven stones. At the same time Mallory could see torches flickering on the roofs of the houses opposite, the vague forms of men crouching low to escape observation and making swiftly for the spot where Andrea had been when he had shot out the great Cyclops eye of the searchlight. "They'll be on him from every side." Mallory spoke quietly enough, but his fists clenched until the nails cut into the palms of his hands. He stood stock-still for some seconds, stooped quickly and gathered a Schmeisser up from the floor. "He hasn't a chance. I'm going after him." He turned abruptly, brought up with equal suddenness: Miller was blocking his way to the door. "Andrea left word that we were to leave him be, that he'd find his own way out." Miller was very calm, very respectful. "Said that no one was to help him, not on any account." "Don't try to stop me, Dusty." Mallory spoke evenly, mechanically almost He was hardly aware that Dusty Miller was there. He only knew that he must get out at once, get to Andrea's side, give him what help he could. They had been together too long, he owed too much to the smiling giant to let him go so easily. He couldn't remember how often Andrea had come after him, more than once when he had thought hope was gone. . . . He put his hand against Miller's chest. "You'll only be in his way, boss," Miller said urgently. "That's what you said . . ." Mallory pushed him 'aside, strode for the door, brought up his fist to strike as canon digital cameras web listings hands closed round his upper arm. He stopped just in time, looked down into Louki's worried face. "The American is right," Louki said insistently. "You must not go. Andrea said you were to take us down to the harbour." "Go down yourselves," Mallory said brusquely. "You know the way, you know the plans." "You would let us all go, let us all" "I'd let the whole damn' world go if I could help him." There was an utter sincerity in the New Zealander's voice. "Andrea would never let me down." "But you would let him down," Louki said quietly. "Is that it, Major Mallory?" "What the devil do you mean?" "By not doing as he wishes. He may be hurt, killed even, and if you go after him and are killed too, that makes it all useless. He would die for nothing. Is it thus you would repay your friend?" "All right, all right, you win," Mallory said irritably. "That is how Andrea would want it," Louki murmured. "Any other way you would be" "Stop preaching at me! Right, gentlemen, let's be on our way." He was back on balance again, easy, relaxed, the primeval urge to go out and kill well under control. "We'll take the high roadover the roofs. Dig into that kitchen stove there, rub the ashes all over your hands and faces. See that there's nothing white on you anywhere. And no talking!" The five-minute journey down to the harbour walla journey made in soft-footed silence with Mallory hushing even the beginnings of a whisperwas quite uneventful. 'Not only did they see no soldiers, they saw no one at all. The inhabitants of Navarone were wisely observing the curfew, and the streets were completely deserted. Andrea had drawn off pursuit with a vengeance. Mallory began to fear that the Germans had taken him, but just as they reached the water's edge he heard the gun-fire again, a good deal farther away this time, in the very north-east corner of the town, round the back of the fortress. Mallory stood on the low wail above the harbour, looked at his companions, gazed out over the dark oiliness of the water. Through the heavy rain he could just distinguish, to his right and left, the vague blurs of caiques moored stern on to the wall. Beyond that he could see nothing. "Well, I don't suppose we can get much