He realised at once what was happening and raised the hammer in his right hand.
With Robin’s back to the man and unaware even of his existence, the heavy hammer would have come down on his head and almost certainly cracked his skull.
It was then from behind the rhododendron bushes that Blaise and Alena saw what was happening.
Alena gave a cry of horror.
Blaise bent down and, picking up a large stone, she threw it with all her strength at the man on the steps.
The stone caught him in his left eye.
He staggered and gave a scream of pain.
Robin turned round abruptly and quickly realising what was happening, he shot the man through his shoulder.
He fell onto the steps, dropping the picture as he did so and it fell over the side of the steps and onto the grass.
Alena ran forward to pic
