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Chapter 17 — The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
ThemomentafterIgothomewiththecrowbarinmyrighthand,andhittheSelenitefairandsquare.Hecollapsed—hecrushedandcrumpled—hisheadsmashedlikeanegg.
Idroppedacrowbar,pulledthespearoutofmyshoulder,andbegantojabitdownthegratingintothedarkness.Ateachjabcameashriekandtwitter.FinallyIhurledthespeardownuponthemwithallmystrength,leaptup,pickedupthecrowbaragain,andstartedforthemultitudeupthecavern.
“Bedford!”criedCavor.“Bedford!”asIflewpasthim.
Iseemtorememberhisfootstepscomingonbehindme.
Step,leap...whack,step,leap....Eachleapseemedtolastages.Witheach,thecaveopenedoutandthenumberofSelenitesvisibleincreased.Atfirsttheyseemedallrunningaboutlikeantsinadisturbedant-hill,oneortwowavinghatchetsandcomingtomeetme,morerunningaway,someboltingsidewaysintotheavenueofcarcasses,thenpresentlyotherscameinsightcarryingspears,andthenothers.Isawamostextraordinarything,allhandsandfeet,boltingforcover.Thecaverngrewdarkerfartherup.
Flick!somethingflewovermyhead.Flick!AsIsoaredinmid-strideIsawaspearhitandquiverinoneofthecarcassestomyleft.Then,asIcamedown,onehitthegroundbeforeme,andIheardtheremotechuzz!withwhichtheirthingswerefired.Flick,flick!foramomentitwasashower.Theywerevolleying!
Istoppeddead.
Idon’tthinkIthoughtclearlythen.
