43From behind the ruined barn, Ben flew out as though shot by a cannon. Malcolm saw him, though not Molly or Vasily, and paused, then raced after Ben, who reached the Russian running at breakneck speed, his body slamming into Vasily and knocking him flat on his back.
“Ben!” cried Molly, but he did not acknowledge her until he had punched Vasily in the face enough times that the other man was no longer moving. Malcolm had managed to call for help and before any of them had time to speak, they heard sirens coming from the direction of the village.
“Thank you,” Molly said to Ben in a small voice. He hugged her hard, quickly turning back to make sure Vasily was still out cold.
The ambulance arrived at the scene before the gendarmes, and so after making sure Molly was all right, Ben got in b
