40 - 20 - Cut Deep

A moment later, leaped out onto the back of a Hork-Bajir. Wrestled him to the ground.

<Aaahh!>

Before I could get to my feet, my victim's buddy brought his elbow blade down onto my shoulder.

It went deep.

FWAAP!

Gafinilan!

<Thanks, man,> I said, wrenching the detached blade of the now incapacitated Hork-Bajir from tendon and muscle.

<You are welcome, Marco,> he replied. <But I would advise you to watch your back more closely.>

I swear if the guy had a mouth he would have been grinning.

<I will,> I promised.

The cut was bad but I'd lived through worse.

<Marco!> Rachel cried. <A little help, please! I can't turn around in here!>

I knuckle-ran over to Rachel. Somehow she'd gotten herself in a too-narrow alley between train cars.

I tore the Hork-Bajir from her flank. Flung him behind me, into the side of a caboose.

<Back out, Rachel. I'll watch your, uh . . .>