Chapter Thirty-Six
The rocks continued to tumble from the cave, pelting him with debris. Elizabeth had managed to escape, which was all he could hope for. Jocko punched him in the side, but the blow was weak. He had no clue to the fine art of fighting and barreled in head first. Langdon used it to his advantage.
His hands on the other man’s shoulders, he brought Jocko’s torso down at the same time as he lifted his knee. The breath left Jocko at the impact. He clasped his hands and brought them down hard on the other man’s head. The blackguard collapsed onto the sandy ground, gasping for breath. With the wind knocked out of him, Langdon rifled through the downed man’s jacket for another bullet.
Bradley and the other guards hadn’t returned with Elizabeth. A good sign. He snatched up the rifle from where it fell and headed toward the entrance.
Langdon had to find Elizabeth. He rushed across the cavern, the sand giving beneath his feet. Movement from outside slowed his steps. The two guards were standing in the path, both still armed.
Careful to move slowly, he approached the nearest one and knocked him in the head with the rifle butt. The impact caused the man to cry out before it brought him to his knees. With one threat gone, Langdon turned to the other. The guard gripped the barrel and stock of his own gun and shoved it at Langdon, trying to push him backward. He planted his feet and leaned into the man, using all of his strength to gain the upper hand. This wasn’t a fight he could afford to lose.
Bradley, who was climbing up the side of the cliff, turned his head and his eyes locked with Langdon’s from above.
“Get him,” he screamed, and alarm lit his eyes along with resignation.
If Bradley was climbing the cliff face, it meant one thing; so was Elizabeth. Horror twisted a knot inside his core. Instead of using his rifle, the frightened guard tried to push Langdon off the path. He lifted his foot and kicked the man in the knee, nearly falling himself. The sooner he rid himself of the man, the sooner he could search for Elizabeth. The guard cried out, teetered and fell off the side of the path into the churning waters below.
Langdon moved further up the path, eyeing the cliff for signs of Elizabeth. He rounded a sharp bend and nearly ran into the fourth guard, who held his rifle up and was tracking a tiny figure scaling up the rock face.
Gut-wrenching fury drove Langdon, and he rushed the man, knocking the gun from his grasp. He clipped him in the chin with a right, followed up by a left jab. The vile man was trying to kill Elizabeth and he would pay the price.
“Langdon,” a voice rang out. He snapped his head up. Farnsworth stood at the top of the path with Henderson bringing up the rear. The sight of them incentivized him even more. Langdon slammed his opponent in the ribs, driving the breath from the man. He kicked him to the ground and ran the steep path towards the two men.
“Elizabeth is up there.” He pointed in her direction and fought the urge to call out her name. The cliff was vertical and curved before it flattened out. Seagrass grew along the craggy height. One wrong move and she could plummet to her death.
“Bloody hell!” Anthony rocked back on his heels, his complexion pale. “Who is that up there with her?”
“Bradley. He’s trying to blackmail her. I need a rope. We have to save her.” Without waiting for agreement, he bolted up the steep hill. Elizabeth needed him and he wouldn’t let her down; nor could he stomach the thought of losing her.
“I have one.” Henderson followed close behind.
Legs protesting each stride, Langdon reached the top of the cliff at last. Two horses stood side by side, tethered to the ground. He did not know where Demon was, but at this juncture any animal would do. Henderson unfastened a looped rope from the saddle. “What is the plan?”
“Plan?” Langdon asked with a harsh laugh. “I have no plan. I must save her. Are you with me?”
“Always.” Henderson strode in the direction they’d come, leading his mount.
Langdon dropped to his stomach and peered over the ledge. The ocean splashed whitewater below, exposing jagged rocks. A quarter of the way down was a familiar head of raven hair. Slender fingers clutched at a small rock, her left foot at knee height. She was making quick progress, but not enough to settle Langdon’s nerves.
“Elizabeth,” Langdon said, taking the robe and lowering it down. She looked up. Weak sun showed a face sheened from her efforts. A smile spread wide, but the furrow of her brow ruined the effect. Close, yet far away.
“Langdon. You’re safe.” She rested her forehead against the stone, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
“I am. Henderson and your cousin are here. I am going to lower a rope. Can you loop it around your chest?” Langdon snaked the rope down the cliff face, praying it was long enough to reach her.
“I think so, I—” Her foot slipped, and she screamed. His stomach jumped into his throat. After a breathless second, she squinted up at him, hysterical laughter on her lips. “No, I dare not let go.”
Bradley appeared in view and was making notable progress. He was closer than was comfortable. Unlike Elizabeth, he had the advantage of keeping to the path, no matter how bare it appeared. She had been forced to climb higher to avoid her tormentor.
One wrong move and she could be gone. He hissed out a breath of frustration, twisted, and hopped to his feet. “I need to go down.”
“I would ask you if it is wise, but I sense you will do it, anyway.” Henderson looped the rope around Langdon’s foot, the other end tied to the horse. He held his hand while he put his legs over the ledge, the rope firm under the arch of his boot.
“I have to.”
