The Golden Skull: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story

by Harold L. Goodwin

  CHAPTER XVII

  Make or Break

  "We can stand off their assaults," Tony said. "We can't stand sniping.Not for long, at any rate."

  Scotty grinned. "Neither can Nangolat. Let's see if I can fix hiswagon."

  They watched as Scotty wet his finger, tested for wind direction, thenset the sights on his rifle. On the other side of the road Nangolat wasexhorting his troops like a good general, waving his rifle to emphasizehis words.

  Scotty took a classic sharpshooter's position, relaxed but braced. Ricksaw him inhale and hold it. The rifle muzzle moved slowly, followingNangolat's movements. Then, suddenly, the rifle spoke.

  Nangolat was thrown into the midst of his warriors, while his rifle, itsstock shattered, flailed into the ranks and knocked two warriors down.And then Nangolat went berserk. He snatched a spear from one of his men,turned, and ran toward the defenders, screaming. A priest barked anorder and two warriors dashed forward, caught Nangolat, and hauled himback by force.

  "The old priest had sense enough to know Nangolat wouldn't make it,"Angel said.

  "All right," Tony said crisply. "We're trapped in here. It's not a badplace to be trapped for a while. They can't get at us without crossingopen spaces, and there is enough overhang to the wall to prevent themfrom dropping rocks on our heads. Also, Balaban is up there to warn usif they try anything from that direction. But we can't stay hereforever. We need help. How do we get it?"

  "It has to be the constabulary at Baguio," Rick said. "There isn't anyother help nearby. If worst comes to worst, I suppose we could call theAmerican ambassador and try to get him to send Air Force troops fromClark Field."

  "By the time diplomatic protocol and military red tape got untangledwe'd be old men," Scotty objected. "If we lived to be old men. Also, youoverlooked one little thing. How do we get a message to them?"

  "Wait until night and one of us sneak out."

  Tony looked at his watch. "We won't last until night," he saidsuccinctly. "It's still early morning."

  Rick examined the terrain between the cave and the road, noting wherethe station wagon Lazada had brought was parked.

  "I'm going," he said. "Let history record that Rick Brant carried amessage to...."

  "Not Garcia," Chahda said. "That was in Cuba, says my Worrold Alminack.Carry message to cops."

  "How?" Scotty demanded.

  "You create a diversion. I'll get in the jeep and make a run for it."

  Scotty considered. "It could work. But I'll do it."

  "My idea," Rick said firmly. "I'll do it."

  Tony was deep in thought. After all, the safety of the expedition washis responsibility. "I got us into this," he said. "Bad judgment is noexcuse. I was certain it would work out."

  "Would have, if Lazada had stayed home," Chahda said. "I go with Rick.He drive, I shoot. Okay?"

  "There doesn't seem to be any alternative," Tony agreed. "Staying orgoing makes little difference, so far as danger is concerned. All right,Rick. We can create a diversion when they start to charge next time. Ifwe start the truck and roll it toward the village, I'm sure we cancreate a little excitement."

  "That's smart," Scotty approved. "The truck would go right on across theroad, across the terrace, and tumble down. It wouldn't hit the village,though. It would land on the next terrace."

  "I doubt that they'd think of that in the excitement," Tony commented."But take away the jeep and truck and you take away our good cover fromspears. We need an earthwork fort, quickly. All hands turn to."

  There were tools enough. While the Ifugao warriors argued amongthemselves, and Nangolat, somewhat calmed down, tried to work them up toa new pitch of excitement, the Spindrift group dug. Within a few minutesthere was a very respectable earthen berm across the front of therecess. The riflemen could lie behind it and be reasonably protectedfrom spears.

  They were just in time, too. The Ifugaos were steadying down andNangolat had a spear in his hand once more.

  "I'll start the truck," Scotty said quickly. "Head for them, then jumpout, leaving it in first. Don't start the jeep until I'm moving. Weshould be able to hold them off until you return in the Sky Wagon."

  Rick suddenly realized that the steel poles for the pickup cable werewith the gear on the truck. He reminded Scotty of the fact. "I'll snatchTony's loot right out of your hands," he said. "That will take some ofthe heart out of them."

  "Or make them madder," Scotty added. They hurried to unload the truck.Chahda checked his rifle.

  "Make or break," Rick said. "If I make it, fine. If not, that breaks ourchances down to zero. But I'll make it."

  Scotty ran for the truck cab, climbed in, and started the engine. TheIfugaos stopped their yelling to look. For a moment they milled around,uncertain, then Scotty threw the truck into gear and started directlyfor them.

  Rick and Chahda jumped into the jeep. Rick started the engine and pulledout the choke slightly to avoid a possible stall. Scotty leaped from thetruck, leaving the unmanned vehicle to bounce across the meadow directlytoward the ranks of the Ifugaos! They hesitated, then scattered--andRick stepped on the gas.

  He angled the jeep across the meadow, coaxing maximum speed out of it,paying no attention to ruts or bumps. From beside him came the sharpcrack of Chahda's rifle. Once a spear passed overhead and dug into therice beyond.

  Then Rick slowed for the stone blocks at the edge of the meadow and letthe jeep climb over them to the road. A spear clanged off the rear andanother ripped the rear-seat cushion. Chahda fired one shot afteranother, muttering to himself in Hindi.

  They were on the road! Rick gave the jeep all it would take. In hisrear-view mirror he caught a glimpse of Ifugaos pursuing him, of thetruck stopped at the edge of the meadow, then they were around the curveof a terrace wall, free.

  Rick kept the accelerator to the floor except on the worst curves. Theyclimbed out of the valley, crossed the ridge, and emerged at their camp.Pilipil was waiting. They slowed long enough to yell instructions tostrike the tents and cooking gear, and load them in the jeep and beready to leave on a moment's notice, then they drove down the mountainat breakneck speed, with Chahda holding on for dear life. Fortunately,they had to pass through only one gate, and the gatekeeper waved themright through. They passed Igorot villages, narrowly missing chickensand pigs, then bounced across a river bed and into Bontoc.

  The trip had taken one hour. The boys pulled up in front of the roadcommissioner's office and ran in. De los Santos met them. "You areexcited!" he exclaimed. "Is something wrong?"

  "Very wrong," Rick replied. "We must use your phone. How do I getBaguio?"

  "I will get it for you. Who do you want?"

  "The constabulary!"

  Santos looked startled, but he cranked the phone several times, talkedin Ilokano, and finally handed the phone to Rick.

  A voice at the other end said, "Constabulary detachment. CorporalAlvarez."

  Rick said quickly, "We need help at Banaue. A party of Americans aretrapped by Ifugaos. Unless they get help quickly, they'll all bekilled!"

  Corporal Alvarez replied, "There must be a mistake. The Ifugaos arepeaceful."

  "Not any more," Rick yelled. "I just came from there. They're throwingspears. They mean business!"

  Suddenly the corporal was unable to understand. Rick yelled, begged, andthreatened, to no avail. At last he hung up, defeated. "Something'sfishy," he said. "Very fishy. The corporal knew what I meant, I'm sure.He treated it as a joke. Chahda, Lazada is behind this!"

  Santos coughed. Rick whirled on him. "What do you know about it?"

  "Nothing, I assure you."

  The man was lying. Rick was sure of it. He grabbed him by the lapels andsaid, "Talk. Talk! My friends may lose their lives unless we can dosomething."

  Chahda took a hunting knife from his belt and put the point againstSantos' throat. "Talk," he said gently. "You have two seconds." Hepushed a little.

  Santos' light-brown complexion turned dirty gray. "All right," hegasped. "I am a good man, bu
t Lazada is my boss. I do not like what hehas done. Last night he stayed here, and I heard him talk to theAmerican, Nast. They laughed about how they had told the constabularythat a group of crazy Americans were up here and would be calling themwith a practical joke, to which they should not pay attention. They toldthe constabulary this both in Baguio and Manila."

  "And they believed him, because he is Assistant Secretary of theInterior," Rick said bitterly. "Now what? We'll never convince them. Hecouldn't order them not to help, so he planted a story that would do thesame thing. The only thing I can do now is call the American ambassadorand see if he can go through diplomatic channels to get help."

  "Take too much time," Chahda said. "It will be too late."

  Santos muttered in the native dialect.

  "What was that?" Rick asked sharply.

  "Filipino saying. 'What good is hay to a dead horse.'"

  "Wait!" Rick had a quick mental image of the Filipino officer who hadfirst spoken the phrase. Colonel Felix Rojas. He would believe thestory. Hadn't he warned them?

  "Get me Manila," Rick said. "Quickly. Constabulary Headquarters!"

  It took time. It seemed like an hour, but was only fifteen minutes. AndColonel Felix Rojas was on the wire.

  Rick talked fast, telling the colonel the whole story, includingChahda's espionage activities. When he had finished, Rojas said crisply,"No time to get troops there. It will take planes. I will send a fighterplane first. Then will come a platoon of paratroopers, if I can get theArmy to move fast enough. But it will be two hours before the trooperscan get there, even with the best speed possible. The fighter will bethere in an hour. Tell your friends to hold out. Return to Manila assoon as your party is safe. See no one, talk to no one until you seeme."

  The colonel rang off.

  "An hour," Rick said. "And an hour after that before the paratroopersarrive. Can they hold out?"

  "They must," Chahda said flatly.