“We’re almost there.” Just then, he stopped in the middle of the road, suddenly on the alert. “Quickly, behind those bushes!”
There was no doubt about it. There was the clear sound of footsteps approaching.
44
“Let’s Make a Deal”
They dashed over to a cluster of low bushes. The trio crouched down in silence, hardly daring to breathe.
“Are you sure somebody’s coming?” Antía whispered. “I can’t hear anything ...”
“Shh,” Roberto said, “here they come!”
Just then, two familiar figures appeared on the road. Álvaro Ibaibarriaga was leading the way, with his hunting rifle slung over one shoulder and with the two heavy duffel bags in his hands. Borja Pazos came stumbling along beside him. The younger man was gripping his stomach, and with each stride he gave a pained groan. He was very pale and, from his blood-soaked clothes, appeared to have taken a bullet.
“Come on, Borja, we’re almost there!” Ibaibarriaga urged. “Hang in there, damn it!”
“I can’t make it,” moaned the younger man. “Think I’m about to ... pass out. Need to ... rest.”
“We can’t stop now,” Ibaibarriaga urged him on. “Those gunmen could be back at any moment. As soon as we’re safe in the lighthouse, you can lie down. No one can get us in there!”
“What about Varatorta, where’s he?”
“That’s exactly what I’d like to know. The bastard bolted just when we needed him. As soon as I see him, I’ll give him both barrels.”
But Pazos had stopped in the middle of the road and was staring up ahead. Ibaibarriaga followed his gaze and, seeing what his assistant was seeing, smiled.
A little way ahead, the rangers’ battered SUV—the same one the Docampos had used to chase Roberto—was parked on the roadside, and it was empty.
“Finally,” Ibaibarriaga cried. “A bit of luck! We don’t have to walk all the way to the lighthouse. We’ll be there in no time.”
The two lighthouse keepers walked over to the SUV. From the hiding place, Roberto saw that Pazos was leaving a trail of blood in his wake and was extremely pale. Undoubtedly, the wound was more serious than he had imagined.
“What now?” hissed Antía as the pair went over to the SUV, and Ibaibarriaga opened the trunk and flung the duffel bags in. “There goes the money! We can’t keep up with them in the SUV! By the time we get to the lighthouse, there’ll be no getting them out, and it’ll be too late for your plan ...”
“Don’t worry,” Roberto said, taking a bundle of keys out of his pocket. “I came across the SUV before they did, on my way to the graveyard. They won’t be going far.”
Meanwhile, Pazos had collapsed against one of the rear wheels of the SUV. He was shaking slightly all over, and on the verge of going into hypovolemic shock. Ibaibarriaga, who was coming around that side of the vehicle, saw him and frowned.
“Come on, kid,” he said, a note of concern in his voice, “not long to go now. Let me help you, come on.”
Ibaibarriaga lifted him and gently eased him into the passenger seat. As Ibaibarriaga leaned over to fasten Pazos’s seat belt, Pazos let out a gasp of pain and promptly passed out.
“Listen to me, Diego.” Roberto turned to the boy, who was looking on in fascination. “I need you to do something for me—something very important. You have to be very, very brave. Can I count on you?”
“Is it a superhero job?” He beamed.
“Of course it is.” Roberto squeezed his shoulder, and then proceeded to whisper conspiratorially in his ear. “Got it?”
“Yeah, of course!”
“Okay, well, off you go now, and make sure no one sees you.”
But Diego was already on the move. Grinning excitedly, he slipped off through the undergrowth. A couple of seconds later, the only trace of the boy was the swaying of the tall grasses as he went away.
“What are you doing?” Antía said, scandalized. “He’s just a kid!”
“There’s nobody better at moving around this island unseen. He’ll be fine. Now for our part ...” He stepped out from behind the bushes.
