The Killer Mine

'Eh?' My mind was so full of my thoughts that I scarcely understood what he said.

'Wot's got into yer — pacin' up an' down like that? Yer ain't worried aba't that shaft, are yer? Yer don't think it'll collapse on us?'

'No,' I said. 'No, I wasn't thinking about that.'

'Then s'ppose yer come an' 'ave somefink to eat?'

I took the plate of bully and bread that he offered me. And at that moment there was the distant, muffled sound of an explosion. Once again the dust rose with the blast of air that swept through the mine. Friar stood up. 'The Capting said we was to start again as soon as the charges 'ad exploded.'

I said, The dust would choke you. We wouldn't be able to see a thing. Give it time to settle.'

He hesitated. Then he shrugged his shoulders. 'Okay, mate. But you'd better do the explainin' ter the Capting.'

We finished our meal and then prepared to go down again. I was just refilling my lamp with carbide when Captain Manack entered. 'Has the charge gone off yet?' he asked.

'Yes,' I said. 'About twenty minutes ago.'

'Then why the hell aren't you down there, getting on with it?'

'Waiting for the dust to settle,' I told him.

'To hell with the dust,' he cried angrily. 'Go on, get on with it. We haven't time to waste worrying about dust.'

'You can't do much till the dust has laid a bit,' I answered.

He was about to make some angry retort, but he thought better of it.

'Is the ol' man still safely locked up?' Friar asked.

'Yes,' was the reply.

We went down then. I was still thinking about Kitty. I'd have to have it out with Manack. But I put it off. I'd wait till we came to the last blow. He'd be easier to handle then.

When we reached the end of the Mermaid we found it wetter than ever. The fall had not been as heavy as I'd expected. I climbed up into the shaft and found the reason. We were through the faulty rock. The roof was solid now with the exception of several deep fissures through which the salt water poured in a steady stream. Manack clambered up beside me. 'How many more blastings?' he asked.

'Two at least,' I said.

'The second going through to the sea bed?'

'Possibly,' I said. 'You can see the rock is more solid here.'

He nodded and went down to help the others clear the rubble. Friar took his place beside me and we began to drill the charge holes. It took longer this time and before we'd finished the fifth hole the rock had all been cleared, including the big piece. We were alone with the roar of the compressor and the chatter of the drill as it ate into the rock face.

Friar, I noticed, kept looking down. And every time I switched off the air he'd cock his head on one side, listening. 'What are you expecting?' I asked.

'Nothing,' he said quickly. 'Nothing.' His face was running with sweat. He wiped it off with a brightly coloured handkerchief. "Ow many more ruddy 'oles are yer goin' ter drill?' he asked.

'Three more,' I said. 'Why?'

'Oh. I just wondered.' His manner was a little too off-hand. There was something on his mind.

'What's worrying you?' I asked.

'Nothing.' He turned back to the rock face. 'Come on, fer Gawd's sake. Let's get on with it.'

I put my hand on his shoulder and turned him towards me. 'What's on your mind, Friar?' I asked.

'Nothing,' he replied savagely. 'Nothing. Come on. Let's get crackin'. Sooner the sea's in this 'ere ruddy gallery the better I'll be pleased.'

We drilled the remaining three holes and I fixed the charges Then we drilled to the limit of the long drill. Water poured down the drill and on to our arms. But it was not a steady stream, only a trickle. We weren't through to the sea bed.

As I tamped down the charges, Friar stood back and gazed down to where Manack and the others were replacing the timbers that covered the pit. 'Wish ter Gawd 'e'd 'ave somebody stay up at the 'ase,' he muttered.

'What are you worried about?' I said. 'The police?'

'Yep. The perlice an' that crazy ol' man. I don't like it. I tell yer straight, I don't like it. 'Ere we are cooped up da'n 'ere an' nobody up top to give us warnin' 'cept the girl. Anything might 'appen.'

I stopped then and looked at him. He turned away and pretended to adjust his lamp. 'What's on your mind, Friar?' I asked.

'There ain't nuffink on me mind.'

I took hold of his arm. He was getting on my nerves. 'There's something you know and I don't,' I said. 'What is it?'

'It ain't nuffink.' He pulled his arm free. 'It's me nerves, that's all. All very well fer you — you're a miner. I ain't used to this sort o' work. Gives me the willies, that's wot it does. It ain't natural like ter be standing 'ere breaving God's air when we're right underneath the sea.' He handed me another charge. I tamped it home. But my mind wasn't on the job. He was scared. Not just scared because he was working down here under the sea. He was scared because he knew something — something that threatened us. I thought of the conversation I'd overheard the previous night. 'See you don't mention it to Pryce. I don't want him scared' That's what Manack had said. I glanced at Friar. The sweat glistened on his neck as he bent to unscrew the drill clamp. His eyes met mine and turned away quickly. His hands fumbled. He was a bundle of nerves. And when we'd fixed the charges his haste to get out of the Mermaid gallery was so marked that it would have been funny had I not felt the threat of something I did not know about.

The gig stopped as before at the gallery leading to the hideout. We all got out with the exception of Manack. 'I'll be back in a few minutes with some tea,' he said. The others went on up the gallery. I hesitated. Then I turned to Manack. 'Will you be seeing Kitty?' I asked.

He nodded, his eyebrows lifting slightly.

'Then tell her to be ready to leave with me tonight,' I said. 'I'm taking her with me.'

'You'll do nothing of the sort,' he snapped, his eyes flashing angrily. 'The Arisaig isn't a refugee ship. Mulligan wouldn't stand for a woman on board.'

'I'll look after Mulligan,' I said.

We faced each other sullenly for a second, neither speaking. I was cursing myself for putting it the way I had. I should have flattered his sense of power by appealing to him to allow her to come with me. Instead I'd imposed it on him as a decision already made. I'd have to make it an ultimatum now. 'Either she comes with me,' I said. 'Or else — "

'Or else what?' he snarled.

'Or else the Mermaid stays like she is.'

'I see.' His eyes were furious.

'See here, Captain Manack,' I said, 'the girl can't stay on in that house — not after what she's heard. It wouldn't be safe for you in any case. I'm offering you the easy way out. What about it?'

His face relaxed. He hesitated. Then he nodded. 'All right, Pryce,' he said. 'Maybe it's all for the best. But it's up to you to make your peace with Mulligan. All right?'

'Thanks,' I said. 'You won't forget to tell her, will you? And tell her I'm sorry about last night. I was going to meet her down by the mine buildings. Explain why I couldn't, will you?'

'All right,' he said. And the gig rattled up to the surface.

The charges exploded just after five-thirty. A few minutes later Captain Manack returned with two big Thermos flasks of hot tea. 'Police been around at all?' Slim asked.

'No.'

'Wot aba't the ol' man?' Friar put in. 'Did yer see 'im? Wane locked up orl right?'

'Of course,' Manack answered sharply, and out of the tail of my eye I saw him jerk his head significantly in my direction He was clearly angry with Friar for putting the question.

As Slim poured out the tea, Manack came over to me. He had a bulky envelope in his hand. 'There you are, Pryce,' he said, handing it to me. 'There's letters of instruction there to Mulligan and Carlo Forzala, the manager of my estate. There's also two hundred and fifty quid in pound notes.'