The jetty lay quiet and deserted in the diffused, yellow light of a solitary lamp. There was no one to help him. now, and then, somewhere in the shadows, a can was knocked on to its side and rolled across the deck with a clatter.
As Lomax twisted to look behind him, Nikita hurried aft, a frown of alarm on his face. “What the hell’s going on?” he demanded, and then a large, black-and-white cat moved out of the shadows and rubbed itself against his leg.
He picked it up and shook it affectionately. “Old devil, you had my heart in my mouth.”
As he put the cat down again and turned away, the engine burst into life, shattering the calm of the night, and the boat moved away from the jetty. A few moments later they passed the light at the end of the pier and turned out to sea.
Fog lifted from the water, giving it a peculiar luminos- ity and the sky was a jewel-studded delight As Riki increased speed, his brother moved to the rail and stood there, allowing the spray to fall across his face.
He stayed there for quite a while and then turned and lit a cigarette, the match flaring in his cupped hands, momentarily illuminating the strong-boned face.
He flicked it into the sea and looked down at Lomax. “A night to thank God for, Englishman. A fine night for dying.”
His teeth gleamed in the darkness and he walked away, humming to himself, and disappeared into the wheel-house. In spite of the gag Lomax heaved a sigh of relief. For quite some time he had been aware that the cat had not been responsible for knocking over the can as they left the jetty and that someone crouched in the darkness behind the pile of nets.
He started to push himself backwards, and as hands started to untie the knots of the bandanna, Yanni Melos whispered into his ear, “Take it easy, Mr. Lomax. Let’s get this off first.”
Lomax spat out the gag and gulped in a mouthful of fresh salt air. He didn’t waste tune on pointless questions. “If you’ve got a knife, you’d better move fast, son. He’ll be back any minute.”
There was a sharp click as the boy pressed the button of a spring knife, and a second later Lomax was rubbing his wrists, wincing with pain as the blood started to move again.
As Yanni sliced through the rope which bound his ankles, the engine was cut and the boat started to slow down. The boy moved back into the shadows and Lomax said quietly, “Stay out of this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
There was a burst of laughter and Nikita emerged from the wheelhouse and came towards them. He squatted beside Lomax and grinned. “Not long now, Englishman.”
He stiffened suddenly, the smile leaving his face, and as he leaned forward Lomax slashed him across the windpipe with the edge of Ms hand.
Nikita gave a terrible, choking cry and went over backwards to writhe on the deck, hands tearing at his throat. Riki emerged from the wheelhouse at the same moment, the Beretta ready in his hand. He loosed off a quick shot and Lomax did the only possible thing and went over the rail in a shallow dive.
As the water closed above him he was already turning to swim down and under the boat, the keel scraping his back painfully. He surfaced on the other side beside a short ladder of the type used by sponge divers and hung there for a moment to catch his breath.
The water was surprisingly cold and he was shivering as he went up the ladder. Riki stood with his back turned peering down into the sea, and as Lomax started to climb over the rail, Yanni moved from behind the pile of nets.
His arm rose, the blade gleaming like silver hi the moonlight, and Riki chose that precise moment to turn. He swayed out of harm’s way then twisted the knife from the boy’s hand and threw it into the sea. As Yanni backed away, he went after him, face contorted with rage, the Beretta extended threateningly.