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The Siege of Kemp’s House
"Nowforthedoor,"saidAdye.
Astheystoodhesitatinginthehall,theyheardoneofthefirst-floorbedroomwindowscrackandclash. Kempwenttothedoorandbegantosliptheboltsassilentlyaspossible. Hisfacewasalittlepalerthanusual. "Youmuststepstraightout,"saidKemp. InanothermomentAdyewasonthedoorstepandtheboltsweredroppingbackintothestaples. Hehesitatedforamoment,feelingmorecomfortablewithhisbackagainstthedoor. Thenhemarched,uprightandsquare,downthesteps. Hecrossedthelawnandapproachedthegate. Alittlebreezeseemedtorippleoverthegrass. Somethingmovednearhim. "Stopabit,"saidaVoice,andAdyestoppeddeadandhishandtightenedontherevolver.
"Well?"saidAdye,whiteandgrim,andeverynervetense.
"Obligemebygoingbacktothehouse,"saidtheVoice,astenseandgrimasAdye's.
"Sorry,"saidAdyealittlehoarsely,andmoistenedhislipswithhistongue. TheVoicewasonhisleftfront,hethought. Supposeheweretotakehisluckwithashot?
"Whatareyougoingfor?"saidtheVoice, andtherewasaquickmovementofthetwo,andaflashofsunlightfromtheopenlipofAdye'spocket.
Adyedesistedandthought. "WhereIgo,"hesaidslowly,"ismyownbusiness." Thewordswerestillonhislips,whenanarmcameroundhisneck,hisbackfeltaknee,andhewassprawlingbackward. Hedrewclumsilyandfiredabsurdly,andinanothermomenthewasstruckinthemouthandtherevolverwrestedfromhisgrip.
