"Search the house."
Bill grunted. Leblanc waved his pistol and both prisoners moved toward the semicircle of cars. As they reached the center of the light ring a stream of French curses issued from the direction of the house.
"Egad, what a vocabulary." Molly stifled a laugh.
"Do me a favor. Don't translate."
"A lady isn't supposed to know how to translate those words."
"No comment."
"You'd better not."
Two policemen dragged Marie, who still kicked, writhed and cursed, into the light. Both men bled from several large scratches on their faces. The one on Marie's left poured blood from his nose, as well. The officer with the bloody nose saluted Leblanc and blubbered through the wetness on his face, "This one was the only one in the house."
Leblanc strutted over to her. "Well, pretty and tempestuous, are we? Are you a Christian like your friends here?"
Marie spat in his face. "What business is that of yours, pig?"
Leblanc's hand shot out and caught Marie by the hair. He twisted her head to one side and glared her into silence. "The law makes it my business, my pretty blonde friend. Perhaps I will interrogate you personally." He released her hair with a little push and she stood quietly, though her eyes burned.
Bill stepped between Leblanc and Marie and said, "Look. You're after the two of us and you've got us. Why don't you leave her alone?"
Leblanc's revolver cut a vicious swath across Bill's cheek, a backhand blow that knocked Bill to the ground. "That was for my friend Charles, American."
"Since when does a guy like you have friends?" Bill asked through a rapidly swelling face. Blood trickled from just under his right cheekbone.
"You beast! If you've damaged that gorgeous face I shall damage yours! Though I doubt anyone would notice any difference." Molly laughed at her own joke.
Leblanc stepped back a little so the light could catch his face. "Do you recognize me, American?"
"Hard to say," Bill mused as he nursed his bruised cheek. "Ever been to Fort Wayne?"
"Your stupid jokes serve no purpose, Christian."
"I guess that means 'no.' You ought to go there. Especially now. It's perfect for somebody like you. Hey, Molly. This clown look familiar to you?"
"I saw something that resembled him at the London zoo once."
Bill laughed as he eased to his feet. At the same time he tried to gauge the distance to his own gun in the gendarme's belt. The trick would be to get the drop on this guy and make the other cops hold their fire until Molly and Marie could get away. Yeah. That was all he had to do! And where was Paul?
Leblanc spoke. "I am Commander Francois Leblanc."
"You look more like a double-blank to me."
''I do not understand your words, American, so I will assume they are meaningless babble. Nevertheless, we have met before. And you know it."
Bill stood loosely. "Yeah, I know. Back at the check point. We had a fair shootout and I won."
"But you did not kill me, and this was your error, American. For now I will kill you."
Molly muttered, "Bloody Americans always were known for shoddy work."
Bill shrugged. "Can I help it if I have a soft spot for dumb animals?"
"Laugh now, both of you. Soon you will beg me for the mercy of death."
Molly asked, "What movie did that line come out of?"
Bill held a hand out in front of him. It was steady. "See that? That's controlled fear."
Leblanc called his squad around him. "No more talk. Take them. All three."
The gendarmes started to move toward the prisoners when the crack of a rifle split the night air. The policeman nearest Leblanc sighed and went down. Another crack, another officer down, and the whole scene melted into confusion. Leblanc shouted something in French and his men scattered to their cars. Two more men fell as the rifle fire continued.
Bill found his opening. He lunged at Leblanc. As his right hand sought the nine millimeter in Leblanc's belt, his left delivered a punishing jab to Leblanc's bad shoulder. Leblanc screamed and fell back while Bill wrenched out the gun. The rifle fire increased, punctuated by loud pistol shots from the policemen. Bill waved to Marie and Molly and hissed, "Get out of here!" The two women dashed toward the back of the house.
Bill straightened and pointed the gun at Leblanc, but quickly sought a new target. The big policeman had passed out from the blow to his wounded shoulder.
Bill pumped a shot into the dirt near one of the other officers. The man jumped and Bill called, "Drop 'em if you know what's good for you!"
One man stood and whirled at Bill. A rifle shot sent him spinning to the ground. When the remaining five men saw, they gently dropped their weapons and put their hands on their heads.
Bill picked up Leblanc's revolver with his left hand and trained both pistols on the group. "Anybody here speak English?"
A faceless officer squeaked, "Oui. I mean, yes."
"Good. Tell these guys to move to that car."
The man relayed the instructions and all five shuffled to the designated vehicle. Bill used his own pistol and shot tires on three of the remaining cars. As he pointed toward the car where the policemen stood, he saw that the slide had stayed back. He shifted the revolver to his right hand and put the automatic in his belt.
"Okay, gang! Come on out and let's get out of here!" He turned his voice to the knot of men by the car. "Everybody in. Move!"
Three men sat in the car and a fourth was in the process of climbing in when Molly, Paul and Marie joined Bill in the glow of the headlights. Bill motioned. "Take that car. Get our stuff and load up."
Molly asked, "What about our car?"
"No time to sort those wires out. We need to split while Godzilla here is still asleep,"
"Oh, very well. Come along, troops." Molly jumped behind the wheel of the police car nearest her car and started the engine. She pulled over to her little white Toyota and began transferring their belongings to the commandeered auto. Paul darted to the house and returned moments later with some clothes and other items Bill couldn't readily identify. His rifle hung across his back by its sling. Marie gathered the police revolvers off the ground.
As Marie and Paul deposited their respective loads in the trunk of the car, Leblanc groaned and moved a little. He opened his eyes and came face to face with the barrel of his own gun.
"You are resourceful, American. You make a worthy opponent. That will make it all the more pleasant to kill you."
"What makes you think I won't kill you right now?"
"I know you Christians. You do not like to kill, especially in cold blood. And that code will be your downfall. I promise you this."
Bill sighed. "Up. In the car with the others. Now." Leblanc lay still and glared at him. Bill cocked the revolver. "Move!" Leblanc didn't. Bill said, "You know, I'm not that good with a cannon like this. If it accidentally went off. . ." Leblanc nodded and made his way to the overcrowded car.
Bill pointed the muzzle at the car's front tire and squeezed the trigger. The gun's explosion rocked the earth. A deep gash opened in the car's fender.
"Good grief, what a kick!" Bill aimed this time at the ground just below the tire. The gun boomed again and the tire burst.
Bill backed toward the only car that was running. He leaned down and whispered to Molly, "Did you get the bag from under the seat?"
"Of course. After all the trouble I went to to buy them, do you think I'd forget them?"
"Good girl. Dig it out while I get in."
With the revolver still trained on the car where six big policemen sat in a four man compartment, Bill worked his way around to the passenger side. He opened the door, leaped onto the bench seat and cried, "Go!" He pitched Leblanc's pistol out onto the ground.
Molly floored the accelerator and the car bounded forward. The force of the start flung Bill's door shut and snapped everyone's heads back. Molly squealed the car onto the main road and headed south, into the darkness. As Bill carefully reloaded his pistol, Paul said, "That was close."
Bill turned to the back seat. "You guys all right?"
Marie nodded. Paul said, "We are well. Why did you leave his gun?"
"It's too blamed big," Bill answered. "Besides, we don't really need it. And we don't have any spare ammo for it."
Marie hung her head. "I am saddened to have to leave my home, my entire life behind."
Molly said, "We understand, dear. We both know how it feels."
Bill scratched his head. "Well, maybe you don't have to. Maybe we can double back somehow and drop you off after they're gone."
Molly said, "We can??"
"You are kind, but you do not understand, Bill," Paul answered. "We are enemies of the State for harboring you. They will burn the house, the barn, everything. There will be no home to return to."
"Well, scratch that idea."
Molly said, "It was a rather silly idea in the first place." She glanced in the rear-view mirror. "Are you saying you knew when you took us in that you would be incriminated?"
Marie nodded.
"Why did you do it?"
"It just seemed the thing to do."
"Well," Bill said, "It was kind of you. We're really sorry you got caught in our mess."
"Do not apologize," Paul protested. "If we had not met you, we would not know Jesus. And He is the most important thing in the world, no?"
"He's got you there, Bill," Molly giggled.
"Shut up and step on it, Jeeves."
They drove in silence for several kilometers. All at once Bill turned to Marie and asked, "What's the next town?"
"That would be Saint-Saveur-en-Puisaye."
"That's easy for you to say!"
Paul laughed. "Americans do not know how to make their tongues work."
''Oh, yeah? Well, can you say 'gerflombesnood'?"
Paul looked puzzled. "Why would I wish to say this word?"
"Never mind," Bill groaned. He looked at Molly. "You realize we'll have to ditch this car soon."
Molly sighed. "Yes, I know. Pity we can't paint it or something. It has marvelous acceleration and handling."
"Cop cars usually do. But they'll be looking for it."
"It was hard to leave my poor little baby back there. I've had that car a long time."
Bill patted her arm. "I know. I'm really sorry. I'd suggest trying to double back to get it--"
"Please don't."
"--Don't interrupt. But from what Paul says, I'm sure they'll either burn it or impound it to try to get some idea where we're going."
"If they find out, it would be decent of them to tell us."
"Excuse me."
Marie's voice. Bill turned around. "What'd you do, burp?"
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. Just being a wise guy."
"Why do you wish to drive this car into a ditch?"
"Huh?"
Molly said, "You said we needed to ditch the car."
"Oh. That's an Americanism. It means we have to get rid of it. If we get caught driving a police car, we're in big trouble."
"I thought we were in big trouble already," came Paul's response.
"He has a point," Molly chuckled.
"True. But we're a little too conspicuous in this outfit. You see, if somebody sees the four of us driving a police car--"
"I know," Paul interrupted. "But you sound so funny when you are trying to explain things."
Molly cackled. Marie said, "Paul!" Bill laughed, then yelped in pain.
"Oh, dear," Molly said. "In all the excitement we forgot to tend your wound." She lightly fingered the injury while trying to keep her eyes on the road. "Poor darling. This is the second time you've been injured for my sake."
"You're worth it. Besides, I don't think there's much anybody can do about it. The cut's not too big, but I seem to have a whale of a bruise."
Molly switched on the dome light and took a quick look. "It looks horrible enough. I ought to shred that monster's face for doing this to you."
"You'll probably get your chance. I don't think he's the type to give up easily. I think he's taking the whole thing personally." Bill cast his eyes about the car. "Uh-oh. We're a collection of idiots."
"What do you mean?" Molly asked.
"The radio. Leblanc's probably notified every smalltown cop in fifty miles about us. Here." he reached over and snapped the police radio on. It chattered in French. Bill couldn't understand the words, but the tone was clear. And no one could mistake Leblanc's growling bass voice.
"What are they saying?"
Marie answered. "I am afraid they have helicopters looking for us. They have located Leblanc's position and are moving forward to search for us."
"How much farther is that town?"
"About ten kilometers."
"Step on it, Molly." Molly floorboarded the pedal and the speedometer climbed steadily. "Is there anyplace there we can get a car this time of night?"
"Not without stealing one."
"Ouch. Well, we'll see what happens."
"Now there's a definitive plan of action," Molly commented.
"You got any better ideas, wifey?"
"No I haven't, hubby."
Marie reached up and petted Molly's shoulder. "This is a terrible way to spend your wedding night."
Bill chortled. "I can think of better ways."
"Me also," Molly whispered. She let her hand glide across the seat until it contacted Bill's. The hands clasped each other with crushing force.
"Maybe I shouldn't have insisted on the ceremony."
"Don't fret over it, darling," Molly's alto soothed. "Had you gone ahead you would have sinned in your own heart. I wouldn't have that. It would have been a barrier between us for the rest of our lives."
"However long that might be."