"Here!" Jack unloaded his rifles as they reached the others. "Take one and run. There is going to be an almighty bang in a few seconds."
The explosion was smaller than he had expected, but it was followed by a succession of cracks and bangs as the flames reached the rifle ammunition. Stray bullets whined overhead or ricocheted from the stone buildings around them. Powder smoke hung like a funeral pall.
"Run!" Jack wondered if the explosion had killed Valerie; he hoped so. "And keep your heads down."
They set off at a trot, with Logan gasping and holding himself in obvious pain.
"Logie got beat up by a Russian, sir," Riley excused him. "It"s not his fault."
"I know. Help him along," Jack said. "I won"t be leaving anybody behind."
The trees were in full summer foliage, with the low bou
