The Codex

79

Tom watched Hauser walk down the bridge, an arrogant smile of triumph on his face. He paused about a hundred feet from them. He swiveled the muzzle of the gun toward Tom. “Take off the pack and lay it down.”

Tom carefully took off the pack but, instead of laying it down, held it over the gorge by a strap. “It’s the Codex.”

Hauser fired a round from his gun that snipped a piece of bamboo from the railing less than a foot from Tom. “Lay it down.”

Tom did not move. He continued holding the book over the gorge. “Shoot me and it goes over the side.”

There was a silence. Hauser moved the muzzle of his gun toward Broadbent. “All right. Lay it down or Daddy dies. Last warning.”

“Let him kill me,” Broadbent growled.

“And after Dad there are your two brothers. Don’t be stupid, and put it down.”

After a brief moment Tom laid it down. He had no choice.

“The machete next.”

Tom eased it out of its sheath and dropped it.

“Well, well,” said Hauser, his face relaxing. He turned his gaze on their father. “Max. We meet again.”

The old man, grasping his sons to help him stand, raised his head and spoke. “Your quarrel is with me. Let the boys go.”

The smile on Hauser’s face took on a frostier look. “On the contrary, you’re going to have the pleasure of seeing them die first.”

Broadbent’s head jerked a little. Tom tightened his grip. The bridge swayed slightly, the cold mists drifting upward. Borabay took a step forward but was stayed by Philip.

“Well then, who’s first? The Indian? No, let’s do him later. We’ll go by age. Philip? Step away from the others so I don’t have to kill you all at once.”

After a brief hesitation Philip stepped to one side. Vernon reached out to him, grasped his arm, and tried to pull him back. He shook it off and took another step.

“You’ll burn in hell, Hauser,” roared Broadbent.

Hauser smiled pleasantly and raised the muzzle of his rifle. Tom looked away.