The trident was stuck. The cutlass lay at my feet. I knelt, scooped it up and slashed at him. No nonsense playing fencer this time; I just struck out with my best squash-player’s back-hand.
He must have thought I was cowering. He didn’t stop to raise his guard. The impact was jarring, the sound … horrible. The thudding chop you hear from the back of a butcher’s shop, muffled by wet meat. The cutlass flew out of my hands again, and the Wolf reeled, gaped, clutched frantically at his upper arm. A slight ripping of cloth and it came away, entire, in his hand. A dark rush stained his side. Eyes glaring, foam and slaver pouring from his lips, the Wolf loomed over me like death incarnate; then suddenly his eyes wandered, he gave a high-pitched womanish shriek and staggered. Still shrieking insanely, he fell down at the feet of his fellows and died. That broke them, and they turned to run. Not far. I grabbed the trident, and this time it tore free, but I didn’t need it. Only one escaped and bolted down the aisle, but Jyp launched himself like a leopard onto his back and slashed his throat as he ran.
I pressed face and stomach to the planks, shaking with fright and reaction, struggling hard not to throw up. I couldn’t believe what I’d just done. The sight of death in there was revolting, the reek was worse; not even the spicy fragrance of the planks could drown it. It didn’t seem to bother the woman. When I looked up eventually I saw her perched casually on a packing-case, breathing deeply. It would have been eye-catching if her top and trousers hadn’t been spattered with blood, though none of it seemed to be hers. As my sickness subsided the implications sank in; this big blonde amazon had just butchered maybe a dozen strong men, or whatever, bigger than herself, and suffered no worse than a scratch or two. For a moment she seemed as inhuman as the Wolves; but I couldn’t look at her that way. She’d saved me, gratis and for nothing; she’d saved Jyp …
A hand fell on my shoulder, and the light of a lantern blossomed around me. Ye’ve no hurt?’
I blinked. She looked different, close to; and younger. She was taller than me, but not by so very much, and though her features were too large and strong to be really pretty, they were by no means rough or mannish. Her face was oval and regular, clear-skinned and creamy, her nose long but tip-tilted; full shapely lips made up somewhat for the slight trace of jowl at her jaw. The effect was slightly coarse, but sensual. Her heavy-lidded green eyes were surprisingly mild and sympathetic.
‘No worse than a few bruises … and maybe an old cut opened. But that’s all thanks to you – stepping in where you’d no need –’
She waved a hand; that at least looked raw-boned and strong. ‘Ach, think no more on’t, boy! Always my delight to scotch that stinking Pack in their dirty businesses! And since it was to help Master Jyp here, I’m well repaid!’
‘You’re a friend of his, then?’
‘Hey, that’s right!’ chuckled Jyp. He was wiping off his clothes with a Wolf’s long overcoat. He bounced up and draped his arms around our shoulders. ‘You two don’t know each other! You made such a good team I clean forgot! Steve, this is Mall, an old drinking buddy of mine –’
‘That’s a stale honour!’ she grunted sardonically, scratching her bare shoulder. ‘So’s every sot in the Ports – the more so an they’re lechers also.’
‘Known to her victims as Mad Mall,’ continued Jyp smoothly. She tossed her mane, revealing a band of something like rich brocade around her brow, but the nickname didn’t seem to displease her – rather the reverse. ‘She’s in the same line of work I am – everything from manning your ship to guarding your cargo! And that’s her specialty! She’s the best damn help you could have brought back.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Hell, that’s three, Steve! The other night, the warning, and now you pull me out of this. You’re my lucky charm; I’ve got to see you’re okay! Keep this up and I’ll never get quit!’
I groaned. Disgrace came flooding back. ‘Christ, Jyp – if you only knew – I just buggered off. I’m sorry – I was scared sh –’
He cut me short, chuckling. ‘What else could you do? You ran in the right direction. I don’t care much for coincidence, not in these parts. And you came back; and it’s thanks to that I’m still here. Counts for one hell of a lot with me, does that. It’s your play, pal; you chalk up the point.’
I wasn’t so sure. ‘Jyp, – look, I wasn’t thinking of fetching help, I just –’ His gesture was so sudden, so savage, it shocked me into instant silence. He listened an instant, took two soft padding steps – then sped and pounced like a panther. A frightened shriek split the air, and something heavy was knocked over. I heard Jyp chuckle, and it was not his usual open laugh. ‘My, oh my!’ he said. ‘What’ve we here? Seems there’s mice about as well as rats! Say, Steve – mind seeing if Frederick’s okay? I’ve something here’ll drive him wild!’
Frederick was all right. In more sense than one; for as I got back to the warehouse door he was just tiptoeing up to it, with the jack handle from my car clasped in a pudgy fist. He leaped like a hare when I emerged, but he didn’t drop it. ‘Oh, my dear sir!’ he said, and rolled against the wall. ‘Most awfully sorry – so cowardly of me – saw you go for help – but simply lacked the nerve –’
‘Oh no?’ I grinned, which seemed to unnerve him all the more. I must have looked pretty ghastly, and I was thinking how I’d behaved. Courage came late to us both; to him it had come unaided. ‘I left the keys, Frederick. And I know you can drive.’
He mopped his face with an enormous silk handkerchief. ‘Indeed, sir! But would you believe it never once occurred to me?’
‘Frankly, no. Put that thing back and come along; Jyp wants you to meet somebody …’
The old man’s face could hardly darken with anger, but it looked as if it did, his smooth brows knotting and his whiskers quivering with the strength of his feelings. Neither could his neighbour turn pale, exactly; but the fat man Jyp had hauled out of his hiding place had gone a strange shade of grey, and was quivering like a jelly. Small wonder, with his late employers lying in assorted pieces around him, and Jyp’s sword resting idly on his shoulder.
‘This is absolutely monstrous, sir!’ puffed Frederick. ‘Nay, outrageous! I demand an explanation, Cuffee! To make me a dupe, to involve my long-established business as an unwitting party to some low deceit – some common fraud –’
‘Seems pretty uncommon to me!’ interrupted Mall cheerfully. ‘Thought I’d played the gamut of cozening and coney-catching, but this one’s left me dry!’
‘An explanation, Cuffee!’ persisted Frederick. ‘Or I shall have to take steps! Severe ones! What will you tell the Invisibles, man? Think! You can’t argue with Ogoun!’
‘Maybe I’ve a better idea,’ drawled Jyp. ‘Our late friends here didn’t have time to get anything away, now, did they? So if there was something here, chances are there still is! So we should take a good look – get to the root of all this, if you’ll pardon the expression!’ Mall groaned. ‘And Mr Cuffee here can do the work!’ Jyp was watching the shopkeeper closely; and I was a little surprised at the man’s reaction. He went even greyer and got up enough nerve to start blustering; but Jyp jabbed him with the sword, and he slouched to his feet, still protesting. I didn’t like that. It suggested we’d hit on something he was more afraid of than Jyp. And that didn’t make sense; for two pins Jyp would have cut Cuffee’s throat there and then.