The women continued to file singly into the small dark-room, pass through the doorway into the tunnel. Maureen clutched my arm.
"Brian, you don't have to stay up here. You're too important. You're the leader. You've got to—"
"—to stay with my men!" I told her quietly. And I did what I had been wanting to do, but had never before dared. I took her, unresisting, into my arms; kissed her. Her lips were warm against mine. Then I pushed her toward the doorway. "Get down there. Don't worry about us. If we hold our fire it will take them a long time to locate us. Danny, where did Krassner go?"
Danny grimaced.
"That yellow mutt? Don't ask me. He's probably down there by now, hugging a stalactite."
"Well, to hell with him. Let's get going. And don't forget—don't fire a shot unless they actuall
