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Then the guard focused his eyes on the old Thompson machine gun. The two seconds between puzzlement, and alarm, followed by physical reaction, cost him painfully. Before he could bring up his weapon and whip sideways, Pitt had chopped the butt of the Thompson against his skull under the black ski mask.
Pitt caught the guard as he slumped and propped him back against the beam as though he were dozing. Next he ducked under the forward fuselage of the helicopter and approached the two mechanics working on the engine. Reaching the stand, he grasped the rungs of its ladder and gave it a great heave, tipping it backwards.
The mechanics flew through the air, so startled they didn't shout. Their only reaction was to throw up their hands in a futile attempt to claw the air before thumping onto the hard wooden plank floor. One struck his head and blacked out immediately. The other landed on his side, his tight arm breaking with an audible snap. A painful gasp burst from his lips only to be silenced by the sudden impact of the Thompson' butt against his temple.
"Nice work," said Findley, dispensing with silence.
"Every move a picture," Pitt muttered loftily.
"I hope that's the lot."
"Not quite. Al has four more behind the 'chopper."
Findley cautiously stepped under the aircraft and was astounded to see Giordino sitting comfortably in a folding chair, staring fiercely at four scowling captives entirely encased up to their chins in sleeping bags.
"You always had a fetish for neat packages," said Pitt.
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Giordino's eyes never left his prisoners. "And you were always too loud. What was all the noise?"
"The mechanics took a nasty fall off the maintenance stand."
"How many did we bag?"
"Seven, all told."
"Four must be part of the flight crew."
"A backup pilot and copilot plus two mechanics. They weren't taking any chances."
Findley motioned to one of the mechanics. "One of them is coming around.."
Pitt slung his Thompson over a shoulder. "I think we'll fix it so they can't go anywhere for a while. You do the honors, Clayton. Bind and gag them. You should find some straps inside the chopper. Al, keep a sharp eye on them. Rudi and I are going to look around outside."
"We'll ensure their complete immobilization," said Giordino, speaking like a bureaucrat.
"You better. They'll kill you if you don't."
Pitt motioned to Gunn and they stripped off the upper clothing from two of their prisoners. Pitt snatched the ski mask and pulled the black sweater from the unconscious guard. He wrinkled his nose from the smell of the unwashed sweater and slipped it over his own head.
Then they walked out the door, making no effort to appear inconspicuous.
They strode briskly, confidently, staying in the center of the road that ran between the buildings. At the dining hall they cut into the shadows and peered around the edge of a window through a crack in the curtains.
"There's got to be a dozen of them in there," Gunn whispered. "All armed to their molars. Looks like they're ready to vacate the premises,"
"Damn Hollis," Pitt grunted softly. "if only he'd given us some means of communicating with him."
"Too late now."
"Late?"
"It's 05:12," answered Gunn. "If the assault had gone according to schedule, Hollis's support forces and medics would be flying over toward the ship by now."
Gunn was right. There was no sound of the Special Operations Forces'
helicopters.
