Free from the Listening Hills (Ss) (2004) by Louis L'amour

it's so horrible!"
    They reached the edge of the jungle near where the plane was moored. A boat was alongside of the amphibian, and two Malays were seated in it with rifles across their knees. Another one of Besi John's men was standing in the cabin doorway.
    "Well," Isola said, "it was a good idea."
    Grimly Cowan sized up the situation. Three men with rifles. That chance was eliminated. They found a hollow beneath the roots of a giant ficus tree. It was dark, almost a cave. Cowan handed the automatic to Isola. "You may need this," he said. "What I have to do, it's best to do quietly."
    She did not warn him, she did not suggest that he guard himself, but something in her eyes carried a tender message. For an instant her hand was on his arm as she smiled.
    "Don't worry about us," she said.
    STEVE COWAN MOVED swiftly. He knew the jungle too well to be fearful. Even less than Besi John's imported Malays did he fear the abysmal darkness under the mighty trees. He was familiar with darkness; they superstitiously distrusted it.
    There was, he recalled, a radio at the plantation. Since M. Esteville would not help him, he would help himself.
    Night had fallen. Yet moving through the blackness under the trees, Steve Cowan knew it would be a help rather than otherwise. He left the jungle, and slipped swiftly from tree to tree across the lawn near the mansion.
    The radio room was on the second story. He heard the murmur of voices inside. Then a guard walked along the porch near the railing. Behind the guard was the lattice he intended to use to get to the second floor. He could have waited, but impatience and hot, goading temper drove him on.
    The guard, warned by some sixth sense, turned, and Cowan struck like a panther. His left smashed into the man's windpipe, knocking him gasping against the rail. Then the American chopped him across the eyes with the edge of his hand.
    The man fell facedown on the porch, and did not move. His gun had fallen over the rail, but he wore a knife. With the blade in his teeth, Steve Cowan went up the lattice. A man sat at the radio, reading a magazine. Being here, he could only be a Mataga man.
    Cowan slid a forearm under the man's chin, and crushed it against his windpipe. Then with a quick jerk, he wrenched the fellow back over his chair. Dragging him to the floor, Cowan spoke softly.
    "Lie still and live," he said. "Move and you die."
    He reached for a rope, and the native acted. He hurled himself at Cowan, his lips twisted in a snarl. Cowan's knife blade, held low and flat side down, slashed suddenly. Blood cascaded down the man's shirt front, and he slumped to the floor.
    Cowan sat down at the radio. For an instant he held the key, then he began to send.
    BENTON HARBOR...SS. BENTON HARBOR...NEW PLAN...COME AT ONCE.
    KOYAMA.
    A door swung open and another man appeared. Evidently he was another guard for he uttered a loud shout when he caught sight of Cowan. Then without hesitation he whipped out a gun and fired at the American. The sound of the shot rocked the building, and before the Malay could pull the trigger again, the American threw the knife--low and hard!
    It struck! Horrified, the Malay stared at the haft protruding from his stomach. The muzzle of his own weapon sagged as he reached for the knife and tugged it out. Blood gushed, and he fell.
    Cowan caught up the gun and sprang into the hall. Two men were charging up the stairs and he sent slugs whizzing at them. Somehow he missed, so he dodged across the hall into another room, slamming the door after him. Then, crouching, he wheeled as bodies smashed against the door. He fired again, once, twice, until the gun clicked empty, and he dropped the useless weapon.
    A noise behind him made Cowan turn quickly. A man had come into the window by means of the vines, and Cowan recognized him at once. It was Yosha, the bloodthirsty Malay who had tried to kill him on the amphibian.
    Yosha looked bigger than ever. With bared teeth, he leaped at the