Both of my hands were busy with her when Pierre's bellow rose from
behind me. "Master! Jump! Jump!" In the same instant I heard
breathing close upon me.
I jumped. As I did it I heard the crash of a hatchet through bone, and
the pounding of a great body heaving down upon its knees. I turned.
Pemaou's hatchet was in Pierre's brain, and my giant, my man who had
lived with me, was crumpled down on hands and knees, looking at me and
dying.
I called out like a mad thing, and insanity gave me power. I tore the
red hatchet from Pemaou's hands and pinioned him. My fingers dug into
his throat, and I threw him to the ground. He bared his wolf's teeth
and began his death song. But I raved at him, and choked him to
silence. "You are not to die now!" I shouted at his glazing eyes.
"You shall live. I shall torture you. You shall live to be tortured."
I carried rope around my waist, and I took it and bound him. How I did
it is not clear, for I had a weak shoulder and he was muscular. But
now he seemed palsied and I a giant. It was done. I bound him till he
was rigid and helpless.
And then I fell to my knees beside Pierre. He was dead. I had lost
even the parting from him.
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