"Realizing she had given up her position to the Predator by shooting at Gustat, she tried in an almost fatal one second, two seconds, to shimmy down the tree to a more protected position. She had to point the rifle down until she was set again and then raise it up so she could aim. As she held out her left hand for balance, she watched as a smooth disc of metal sliced effortlessly through the tip of her exposed thumb, just below the nail." Pg.203

"Had she not leaned a little to the left at the critical moment and then leaned down, the Predators weapon would have neatly bisected her skull." Pg.204 Chpt. 52