Malcolm dove aside as the huge shape roared onto them. Penny tried to do the same, but she lost her balance and her foot slipped off the edge of the ravine. With a shout, she tumbled over. Her hands, wet from the protective gel, slapped out. She desperately hooked her elbow, which was protected by the sleeve of her leather jacket, around a rock and hung with her feet dangling over the distant lava.
“Malcolm!” she shouted. The rest was drowned out by her coughing against the fumes leeching from below.
Malcolm jumped up to run to Penny’s aid. He heard the ape snorting and wheeling for another attack. He drew his second pistol and fired three shots as it rampaged forward. A steel-plated arm swung at him, but Malcolm ducked. He swayed back over the soft, uneven ground. Furious, the gorilla beat the earth with its metal fists, sending shards of stones in all directions in its desperation to hit Malcolm. Every blow drove the hunter closer to the edge of the ravine. Malcolm sidestepped a powerful swipe and rolled forward as the great beast roared its frustration, throwing its arms up. Malcolm came up right in front of the ape just as the great forearms descended. He slammed his pistol barrel into the bottom of its chin and pulled the trigger. The ball punched up through the jaw and ricocheted a few times inside the metal skullplate until it came back out through the gorilla’s eye.
The behemoth stood perplexed a moment before it finally toppled toward Malcolm. He tried to get out from under it, but failed and as the ape collapsed halfway off the side of the ravine, the massive weight of the creature drove him to the searing ground. His legs were trapped under the hairy pile. He struggled to get up. The beast began to slide over the cliff. Malcolm felt himself going with it. He saw that his leather gun belt was caught on a broken metal rod protruding from the gorilla’s chest. He fought to unfasten the holster, but it was pulled too tight against the buckle. Dropping his pistol, he reached out to stop his slide but there was nothing to grab onto. Malcolm drew his dagger and started sawing through the leather strap. He was still cutting even as the giant ape dragged him over the edge.
The Scotsman slipped free of the broken harness, but it was too late. He plummeted behind the dead brute. Suddenly he felt himself jerk to a stop as the scarf around his throat tightened. He swung out over the magma, twisting in the scorching air enough to see Penny clutching the end of his wool scarf. She cried out in pain as she took his full weight and fought to keep the scarf from slipping through her grip.
He slammed against the ravine wall. Ignoring the searing pain, he fought for a handhold, a foothold, anything before he pulled Penny off her perch or strangled to death.
“Hold on!” he croaked.
“Hurry!” She slipped down with a jolt, but refused to let go of the scarf.
Malcolm dug in and found a solid ledge for his foot. His dragging weight eased off her. He dared to use one hand to loosen the wool noose from around his neck. A knot had somehow formed which prevented it from tightening fully. He wound the end of the scarf around his hand.
“I’m all right!” Malcolm called. It wasn’t the truth. The heat and the fumes were overwhelming. A cough crawled its way up out of his throat. They had to get out or they would die. He started climbing, using her as his anchor until he was next to her. Penny’s face was flushed and her eyes tearing.
Malcolm took her around the waist and pushed her back up top. She rolled over the edge onto solid ground. The scarf still connected them and she hauled on it until he crawled up and collapsed next to her on the steaming black dirt. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly.
“Oh God,” she whispered.
He stiffened at her sudden embrace, but he could feel her trembling. His arms awkwardly enveloped her, his hand rubbing her back. Her forehead rested in his shoulder. It fit perfectly. He shoved himself to his feet with unexpected reluctance. “We have to keep moving.”
Penny nodded and let herself be hoisted up, standing on shaking legs. She pulled some vials from her satchel and handed him one. Kate’s elixir vitae. He took a deep swig and threw away the empty vial. Penny did the same. Then he looked around and gathered up his wayward pistols, gingerly holding them in his burnt hands. The pain was already receding, but it wouldn’t stay away for long.
Penny grabbed her rucksack. “That’s a good scarf. Lucky it didn’t snap your neck.”
Malcolm grunted in agreement and touched the grey length of wool with gratitude. Then he had an irrational thought. “I’m glad the Lancasters didn’t fall in or you would have been furious with me.”
She gave a hiccuping laugh. “Damn right.”