Finally, he twirled the Colts into their respective holsters, shook his blond head, and smiled. “Piece of cake,” he said to himself.
Wolfe was gazing at the gunfighter in awe. “I’ve never seen anyone as fast as you.”
Hickok patted his Pythons. “Lots of practice.”
“You can’t wring water from a stone,” Wolfe observed. “I could practice all my life and never be as fast as you. It takes talent, and you have it.”
“Flattery from you?”
“No. The truth.”
Hickok glanced around the room. “Would there happen to be a knife in the house?”
Wolfe, chuckling, reached into his right front pocket and withdrew a small folding knife. “Will this suffice?”
Hickok moved to the bed and took the proffered penknife. “You do understand I have to do this? Just as a precaution.”
Wolfe nodded. “I understand. Do what you must.”
“Lie face down on the bed,” Hickok directed. After the Mole leader obeyed, Hickok climbed onto the bed and used the knife to cut a two-foot length from the rope Wolfe used to signal Goldman. He was careful not to pull too hard on the rope as he sliced it. No sense in inviting any more Moles to their farewell party.
“Now put your hands behind your back,” Hickok ordered. As he securely tied Wolfe’s wrists, he winked at Sherry. “Hang in there, babe.
Before you know it, we’ll be safe and sound back at the Home.” Satisfied with his knots, he jumped from the bed and began pulling the purple blankets from under the mattresses on the two kingsize beds.
Wolfe, watching the proceedings, nodded appreciatively. “You don’t take chances. I’ll give you that.”
Hickok paused, holding the corners of one of the blankets. “Before I wrap this up,” he said, amused by his pun, “I have a few words to say to you. I don’t know how seriously you took what I said before, but you better. You’ve been lucky so far. The Trolls never found your Mound, or you’d be dog meat by now. Oh, sure, you were able to defeat those who survived their fight with us. But if the Trolls had been at full strength, the outcome might have been completely different. There’s another bunch we’ve tangled with, called the Watchers. They’re one mean passel of hombres. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you they have more firepower than you can ever hope to muster. The point I’m trying to make is this.
You could use some friends in this world, an ally you could rely on to help you out if things got tough. My Family has been lucky too. We’ve been pretty insulated in our Home, out of touch with the rest of the world.
We’ve survived as a close-knit clan all these years. But I’ve got this feeling all that is about to change. A lot of people know about us now, and for better or for worse, that spells change. My Family could use some friends.
You think about it, Wolfe. The future of the Moles is in your hands.”
“I will consider everything you have said,” Wolfe promised.
Hickok nodded and started wrapping the purple blankets around the lean giant.
Sherry joined him. “And here I thought all you did was kill, kill, kill.”
“What do you mean?”
“All those things you just said to him,” Sherry said. “I never thought of you as a man of peace.”
“I have this friend,” Hickok began.
“The one named Joshua?” Sherry interrupted.
“Yeah. Josh. He taught me an important lesson when we were in the Twin Cities. Killing isn’t everything. There are other ways of dealing with enemies, if you can take the time to talk about your differences.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting this Joshua,” Sherry remarked.
“I hope your ears are in good shape,” Hickok wryly commented.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Hickok surveyed his handiwork.
Wolfe was enclosed in a cocoon of purple blankets, covered from head to toe.
“You okay in there?” Hickok asked him.
“Just fine,” came the muted response. “A little hot.”
“I just thought of something,” Hickok said, snapping his fingers. “Is there another way out of here?” he inquired, tapping on the bundled blankets. “I don’t want to kill any more of your people if I can help it.”
“Look behind the big cabinet in the corner,” Wolfe replied. “There’s a hidden air shaft and a ladder. It’ll take you straight up to the surface.
You’ll be in the forest north of the Mound proper.”
“Thanks,” Hickok said, walking toward the door he’d used to enter.
“Where are you going?” Sherry questioned him.
“To get some friends,” Hickok answered, stopping at the door. “I’ll be right back.” He crossed the antechamber and stepped outside.
Shane and Wally were now training their guns on three Moles.
“This one showed up with a tray of food while you were inside,” Wally informed him, motioning toward the newcomer.
The terrified Mole, still holding the tray of food, was visibly quaking, his knobby knees shaking violently.
Hickok laughed. “Howdy, Silvester. You in the food business now?”
“Hickok!” Silvester cried, his delight lighting up his face. “Am I glad to see you.”
“I’ll bet.” Hickok glanced at Shane. “Take the two guards inside and find something to tie them up with. Make sure they can’t free themselves.”
Shane nodded and led the guards into the antechamber, Wally bringing up the rear.
“You escaped from the cells!” Silvester marveled. “No one has ever done that before.”
Hickok draped his left arm across Silvester’s narrow shoulders. “I’d like to take the time to shoot the breeze with you, but I’ve got to run. You’ll be seeing me again.” He stared along the tunnel, insuring it was empty.
Silvester noticed his gaze. “No one comes here unless Wolfe tells them to,” he explained.
“Speaking of your fearless leader,” Hickok said, “didn’t you tell me you were on the outs with him?”
“I’m not one of his favorite people,” Silvester admitted. “I saw my sister. Gloria still hasn’t gone to bed with him.”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t forced her,” Hickok commented.
“No. He only does that with outside women.”
“Well, anyway, how would you like to be one of his favorite people?”
Hickok asked.
“I don’t see how…”
“Trust me. After I go through that door, count to one hundred. Can you do that?”
“I know how to count,” Silvester stated indignantly. “I can even read a little bit.”
“Good. Then count to one hundred and go inside. You’ll find Wolfe on his bed. You’ll know what to do.”
“What do you…”
Hickok waved and walked to the door. “You’ll know what to do. Believe me, Wolfe will thank you for it. Take care, pard.” He stepped into the antechamber.
Shane and Wally were tying the guards with strips of torn clothing.
“Tie them tight,” Hickok advised, then re-entered the bedroom.
Sherry ran into his arms. “I can’t believe you’ve done it! I’ll never doubt you again.”
“You’re a woman. Want to bet?”
“Since when are men any better?” Sherry rejoined.
Hickok chuckled.
Shane and Wally joined them.
“They won’t be getting loose this year,” Wally boasted. He spotted Goldman and his mouth dropped. “Do you always leave bodies wherever you go?”
“He does have that habit,” Sherry answered for him.
“Follow me,” Hickok directed.
It was a simple matter for them to lift the cabinet from the wall, locate the hidden air shaft, and scale the ladder to the surface. They pushed aside a camouflaged trap door and clambered out of the shaft.
“The air smells so sweet,” Sherry mentioned, taking deep breaths and brimming with happiness.