Michael's heart skipped wildly, nearly causing him to yell. When had Claude arrived? He'd been too busy watching the officer to notice Claude had crawled within a hundred feet of his position. Michael watched as Claude continued to crawl away from him. He was moving in a direct line, but Michael couldn't tell where. He followed Claude's projected path and felt another wave of flutters when he spotted Stuart crouched behind a log. Michael stood and waved his arms, not entirely sure whether Stuart was looking in his direction. Stuart didn't move.
Michael pulled the rifle to his shoulder. He managed to find Claude in the scope, but the shot wasn't clean. There was one round in the chamber, he had no idea how to reload, the bullet had to land, he couldn't waste it on this. He moved swiftly, sweeping to his right. He tried to keep in the thickest brush, so the crawling Claude wouldn't see him in his peripherals.
Claude was just ten feet from the log when Michael saw him again. Stuart was still crouched behind, glancing every few seconds towards the spot Michael had once been hidden.
Michael moved in short bursts. Glancing at Claude each time. Claude never even glanced in his direction. All of Claude's attention was tunnel-visioned towards the log. He was going to shoot Stuart.
Michael was within twenty feet of the log himself before Stuart finally saw him. Michael waves his arms wildly as Stuart gave him a questioning look trying to piece together what he was trying to say.
Claude was on his toes. He had his stomach against the log; revolver clutched in his hand. When Michael pointed his weapon at Claude, Stuart's eyes widened as he pieced together what was happening. Michael gestured at Stuart, then at a tree ten feet to his front. He held up three fingers as if to say I want you to get there as fast as you possibly can on the count of three.
Michael didn't even have time for the first count before Claude made his move.
"Go!" Michael shouted.
Instead of moving forward as Michael hoped he would, Stuart spun around the log in the same direction as Claude. Stuart's head collided with Claude's gut, sending them both to the ground, tumbling in a heap.
Michael jumped from the tree and rushed, losing sight of the pair behind the log.
Claude's gun fired.