The guy behind that muzzle came immediately into full view, pitching sideways and down and out of the picture.
Bolan bobbed up again, and another exchange of fire produced a like result.
It was a hell of a grim way to play Russian roulette.
Somebody else out there was getting the same idea, and they were losing. There was movement out there a shifting about.
Then a rattling burst sounded to Bolan's rear. He was swinging about to give the shortarm sniper a sniff of the situation when a guy fell away from the side of a rock, up on his flank, and the China doll stepped out from behind the van to sweep that entire side with a blazing machine-pistol.
It was too late to do anything but try to cover her.
Bolan rose to full height and extended the Auto Mag in a firing-range stance. The big piece boomed and belched fire in a rapid unload and when the clip was empty Mary was up in the rocks on his exposed flank, in good cover now and firing selectively at specific targets.
She was good, she was damned good, and Bolan knew that the tide of battle had turned.
There was considerable movement out there now, quick movements in the direction of the boat.
Many heads were now visible in the water, Bolan reckoned about a dozen in the quick scan, and it seemed that Cynthey's buddies had joined her for the swim.
He called up to Mary, "Okay! Hold it!"
She called back, "Okay!"
The woodchucks were bailing out, and Bolan counted them as they scampered out of the woods and scurried across the gangway onto the houseboat. Eight left. Great. He let them go, giving them the boat, his mind already drawing upon a certain way to cut short the stalemate.
"Stay alert!" he warned Mary Ching.
She waved at him.
He thrust the Auto Mag into his belt and scooped up the burper, then moved into the trees and worked his way downrange toward the boat.
It wasn't really a boat, at all. It was just a big square raft with walls and a roof, a small porch which overhung the water in the gangway area, and a narrow walkway around the sides.
The idea was firmly crystallized now and, from a range of about ten yards, Bolan opened fire on the nearest mooring tree.
The big hawser popped dust and fuzz, then threads and strands; finally the cable parted with a groan.
One end of the houseboat immediately swung away from the shore and stretched itself toward the open bay, dragging the gangway with it.
Mary Ching, the China gunner, let out a whoop of delighted encouragement.
Concerned faces appeared at the windows of the boat, and someone in there yelled, "What the hell is this?"
Bolan was already circling toward the other mooring tree. He let it have another clip from the burpgun. This time the rope cable parted with a twang and an explosive pop, and BAYSAVERS quickly drifted away in an idle exploration of that which it would save.
A youthful voice from the water yelled, "Our boat, our boat!"
Another shouted, "Let it go! Bon voyage, freaks!"
Bolan didn't feel too badly about the kids' boat. The Coast Guard would drag it back to them... if something more disastrous didn't occur before they made the scene.
And there were more immediate problems.
A distant siren was wailing down on them, descending from the direction of Sausalito.
The crew of BAYSAVERS, now at a relatively safe distance from the fire zone, were manning the rail and staring back at the receding shoreline.
Bolan met his lady gunner at the van, and they quickly stowed their weapons with a stony silence.
Bolan moved to the driver's side while Mary crawled in through the rear gate and secured that end, then she slid in beside him as he cranked the engine.
The van had taken numerous punctures but, miraculously, all the glass was intact.
She said, "Well. It still runs."
Bolan replied, "You see, we have this understanding."
He was see-sawing about in the turnaround when a glistening and shivering pair of porno girls descended on them.
Bolan poked his head out the window and strove to keep his gaze at eye level as he told them, "Sorry to hit and run, but it's time to buzz. The fuzz, you know."
Cynthey showed him a pained smile. "Just wanted you to know," she panted. "I recognized some of those hoods. Two of them... I've seen several times with Thomas Vericci. He's a director of..."
Bolan said, "I know, Baysavers Ink. He's also a Mafia honcho, Cynthey. Don't let people con you like that."
She jerked her head and told him, "I'm just getting that idea. I think I've been conned about a lot of things." She screwed her battered face around and said, "Listen. I didn't know about this. I think they just collaborated on this thing. You know? While they pushed us around on Geary, these others came out here to cover all possibilities."
Bolan smiled soberly. "That's the way I figure it." The siren was getting louder and Mary Ching was beginning to fidget. He said, "You kids better buzz out of here. There could be a return visit."
"What do we tell the fuzz?"
He handed her a marksman's medal. "Give them this. It's all the explanation you'll need."
Panda the Bare blurted, "Bolan! Mr. Bolan! Thanks!"
He grinned. "Stay cool and lay low. For awhile, anyway."
He dug the wheels in and burned away from there. They made it to the bridge approach seconds ahead of the official vehicles, and he turned a tight smile to the fastest gun in Chinatown.
"I guess we made it," he told her.
"Is that all you have to say to me, Mr. Taciturn?"
The smile loosened somewhat as he replied, "We're alive, aren't we? What can I add to that?"
She leaned against him and hugged his arm.
"You're right," she murmured. "What is there to add."
He relented. "Okay. You were great. You're welcome to cover my flank any time."
"Gee," she replied with a wry face. "You just made my whole day."
"Not quite." They were rolling with the traffic now, crossing the big span. "It's time for that call to Barney Gibson. You remember what to say?"
She twisted the rose-petal face into a disgusted scowl. "Of course I remember what to say."
"Okay. I'll drop you at the marina. Make the call and then get clear."
She growled, delicately, way up at the top of her throat, and told him, "And I get screwed without even a kiss."
He grinned at her and said, "What?"
"Damned if I will. That phone call, old heart of rocks, is going to cost you one hellish kiss."
Bolan chuckled, and a minute later he pulled out of the traffic from the bridge and nosed into a little observation area.
She got her hellish kiss, then a couple more, then he gruffly shoved her toward the door and told her, "Make the call."
Her eyes were all deep pools of understanding and tender concern.
"You feeling better about everything now?" she huskily asked him.
He nodded and replied, "Some."
A procession of police cars screamed past, headed for the bridge and reflecting the setting sun off their windshields.
Bolan thought he spotted a black face in the lead car.
Mary watched the procession pass, then she slipped outside, leaned back in for a final look, and told him, "That was quick. I'll bet they're barricading the Golden Gate. Doesn't that make you feel important?"
He told her, "Not exactly. Uh, if I get lucky, lady gunner, let's meet you know where."
She said, "A thundering herd of dinosaurs couldn't keep me away. Mack... dammit... don't be so wild. Take care of yourself."