The straps binding the holster to Scowther's body held, but the thinner one holding the automatic in place snapped, and as Scowther fell sideways, trying to look down at the smoking black hole in his white lab-coat, Susannah took full possession of his gun.

She refused to give him satisfaction, sitting with tight lips as the strap binding her body and arms to the back of the chair dug into her flesh.

Her feet were now positioned well apart, straps binding them to the floor.

By the time Willie reached her she had scooped the harness from the body of Condori and was sliding one of the knives from its graphite-lubricated sheath to slash the strap binding his arms.

The stirrup-irons were gone, probably stored in one of the packs bundled behind his saddle; the stirrup-leathers had been turned into straps binding his calves to the saddle itself.