Free Desperate Measures by David R. Morrell Page A

late, he saw the light-colored patch ahead of him. The grass dropped sharply. Unable to stop, he hurtled out into space, fled, and jolted down into another sand trap. The impact dropped him to his knees. He struggled upright, feeling the heaviness of wet sand clinging to his trousers.
    Spotlights bobbed, speeding nearer. With a final burst of energy, he struggled across the sand trap. His shoes sank into the drizzle-softened sand. He left a deep, wide trail. Jesus, even if they don't have my overcoat as a target, they'll know from my tracks which way I went when I reached the grass, he thought.
    Tracks. Pittman's skin prickled as he realized that this might be his only chance to save himself. The instant he raced out of the sand onto the grass, he reversed his direction and hurried through the darkness along the edge of the sand trap toward the top of the slope from which he had leapt. As he ran through the drizzle, he yanked his balled overcoat from beneath his suit jacket.
    The whine of an engine sounded terribly close. Spotlights bobbed above him. He came to where the grass dropped sharply toward the sand. Careful not to disturb this section, he eased over the edge and lay sideways where the sand met the almost-vertical, sharp downward angle of the earth. There, he spread his sand-colored overcoat across his head and suit jacket. He felt its weight on his lower thighs, almost covering his knees. He bent his legs and drew them toward his body, tucking them under the hem of the overcoat. His breathing sounded hoarse. He strained to control it.
    Please, he kept thinking. Please.
    With his overcoat covering his head, he heard drizzle patter onto him. He heard the whine of engines-close. The whine vanished abruptly, as if the carts had come to a stop.
    Vapor from Pittman's breath collected under the overcoat. Dank moisture dribbled along his chin. The wet chill made him shiver, although he compacted his muscles and struggled not to tremble.
    Can't let them notice me.
    He shivered for another reason, anticipating the impact of Isn't that what you wanted? If they shoot you, they'll be doing you a favor. But I want it to be my idea.
    He silently prayed: If only his overcoat blended with the sand. If only the men stared straight ahead instead of looking down at 4'There! Pittman's heartbeat lurched.
    "Tracks in the sand!"
    "Toward that section of grass!"
    Something made an electronic crackle: a walkie-talkie.
    "Alpha to Beta! He's headed in your direction! He's reached the northeast quadrant!" A garbled voice responded. The walkie-talkie made an electronic squawk. The whine of the engines intensified. Beneath the smothering, moisture-laden overcoat, Pittman heard the carts speed away past the sand trap, toward the continuation of the grass.
    His clothes soaked from the wet sand he lay upon, Pittman waited, not daring to move. Despite the stifling buildup of carbon dioxide beneath the overcoat, he forced himself to continue to wait. At last he relented, slowly moving the coat. As he inched it off his face, inhaling the fresh, cool air, he squinted toward the darkness, afraid that he would see a man above him grin and aim a pistol.
    But he saw only the slope of the earth above him, darkness, and drizzle pelting his eyes. After the cloying stale air beneath the coat, the rain made him feel clean. He eased upward ' came to a trembling crouch, and saw the lights of the carts receding in the murky distance. Careful to bunch his overcoat beneath his suit coat, he crept from the sand trap and headed in the direction from which the carts had come. He was soaked, chilled. But for all his discomfort and apprehension, a portion of his mind was swollen with exultation.
    Nonetheless, he still had to get out of the area, off this golf course, away from the estate. The carts might return at any time. Although his legs were unsteady, he managed to lengthen his stride and increase its frequency.
    Enveloped by the night and the rain, he almost faltered