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'llngrateful bastard, ain't he?" said Kelso. 'We risk our necks so as

he can join the best bunch of breakers this side of the Rockies and he

comes on like someone who's been handed a plate of lumpshit."

'Give him a chance, Kelso. He needs time to get adjusted." Jodi

turned to Steve. 'Malone agreed to let you join us provided I was

willing to come and fetch you,' she explained. 'Kelso and a couple of

other guys offered to backtrack with me in case I needed some help."

'Worse decision I ever made,' grumbled Kelso.

'Why?" asked Steve.

'Because we're up to our asses in trouble, good buddy!

Didn't you hear 'em? We got a big posse of Mutes on our tail!" Before

Steve could reply, the door flap was pushed roughly aside for a third

time. Kelso and Jodi whirled round to cover the stairway, then lowered

their rifles as two more renegades leapt down the steps and promptly

sank to their knees. The younger of the two looked a few years older

than Steve, the other had a weathered face framed by a short, iron-grey

beard and was wearing a green command cap with a red cross on the

front. The white circle, framing the cross had been darkened down with

mud.

Jodi introduced the elder renegade first. 'This is Medicine-Hat, and

that's Jankowski - Jinx for short.

Steve Brickman."

Both renegades answered with a nod.

'How does it look?" asked Kelso.

'Not too good,' said Medicine-Hat. He paused to catch his breath.

'They're coming along both sides of the valley."

'They see you come in here?"

'Can't say,' gasped Jinx. 'Nearest one I saw was down by the

stream."

'Well, it's not gonna take 'em long to work out where we are,' grunted

Kelso. He turned to Steve. 'This is your neck of the woods. You got

any bright ideas?"

'We could always try the back way out." Steve scraped the dirt from

the centre of the plug to expose the piece of wood that served as a

handle and opened up the bolt-hole.

Kelso hunkered down and peered inside. He gave a low whistle. 'How

far does this go?"

'It runs about eighty yards into the ridge. Comes up amongst a pile of

rocks in the middle of some thick scrub. The other end is covered by a

rock slab laid on a log frame. You just lever it up."

Kelso looked at the others. 'What d'you think?"

Medicine-Hat turned to Steve. 'Have you used this?"

'No, but I have checked the exit. I was planning to climb inside when

I heard you guys coming - only I didn't have time."

Medicine-Hat exchanged glances with Kelso then said.

'Let's do it."

'Okay, on your way, Brickman."

'I need a torch."

Medicine-Hat handed one over. Kelso produced a ball of twine and

tossed it to Jodi. 'Go with him. Tie that on you. I'll reel it out

as you go. When you get there, give two tugs. I'll acknowledge with

one. If the route is clear, reply with another three then tie the

torch on the end so that we can pull it back down. Mutes, or no Mutes,

I ain't going' in there without a light."

Steve paused by the entrance. 'Anybody have a spare pair of boots?"

'You can have your own,' said Jodi. 'I brought 'em with me."

'Later,' said Kelso. 'We ain't got time to frig around with that

now.

He's caused enough trouble. Oh, and Brickman ' 'Yeah?"

'I'll take care of that crossbow..."

'Steve showed Kelso how the last person through could close the

bolt-hole behind him, then began to work his way along the tunnel. It

was just high and wide enough for an average size person to move

forward in a ground-hugging tiger crawl. The place was swarming with

bug-uglies and the air inside felt stale and clammy on the tongue. The

tunnel came up at an angle into the side of a small pit some four f