[Magazine 1967-­01] - The Light-­Kill Affair - Davis Robert Hart - Страница 18

The place was a confusion of wild rustling, writhing in the dark ness.

"Bikini!" Solo yelled.

She screamed his name from somewhere in the darkness.

"We'll have to shoot and hack our way in to her," Illya said.

A burst from the light-gun withered plants in a wide perimeter before them. The illumination showed them Bikini caught in the constricting grasp of huge branches.

"Glass!" Solo said.

Almost in the same instant, Illya Kuryakin fired, shattering one of the walls.

Solo caught up a shard and cut his way through the thick growth toward Bikini, who sobbed his name.

Illya fired short bursts of the light-gun, withering away, the plants around them as they had burned, petrifying in the jungle.

Solo cut away the last limb holding Bikini. She sagged gratefully into his arms, grasping him convulsively around the waist.

"Let's split this scene," Illya said. "They won't get the generators started, but they might get the guards out."

They went through the gun-shattered glass wall into the walled garden. Here the night was gray.

There was illumination enough to see Dr. Nesbitt standing out there with a light-gun, barring the way.

"Hit the dirt!" Solo warned. He sprang forward, carrying Bikini with him.

Dr. Nesbitt fired the light-gun, screaming like a banshee.

Illya sank to his knees, taking his time. He leveled the gun, pressed the trigger.

They saw Dr. Nesbitt drop the light-gun, stagger to his knees and pitch forward again.

Solo was already getting up, clinging to Bikini's hand, taking her with him.

With Napoleon Solo and Bikini Collins just ahead of him, Illya Kuryakin ran toward the exit, the canyon, the way out.

Behind him he heard running men, mindless howling, and the sharp sound of the burst of a gun. Illya didn't know whether the guards were after them or not, long ago programmed to foil any escape. He wasn't taking any chances.

He paused long enough to send one last burst of flame toward the darkened laboratory, and then he ran faster, into the freedom that was ahead.