ad been jarred out of her hand by her fall。 It lay glittering on
the fourth stair riser。
〃Bitch；〃 he repeated。 The mallet came down。 She shoved herself upward and it
landed just below her kneecap。 Her lower leg was suddenly on fire。 Blood began
to trickle down her calf。 And then the mallet was ing down again。 She jerked
her head away from it and it smashed into the stair riser in the hollow between
her neck and shoulder； scraping away the flesh from her ear。
He brought the mallet down again and this time she rolled toward him； down the
stairs； inside the arc of his swing。 A shriek escaped her as her broken ribs
thumped and grated。 She struck his shins with her body while he was offbalance
and he fell backward with a yell of anger and surprise； his feet jigging to keep
their purchase on the stair riser。 Then he thumped to the floor； the mallet
flying from his hand。 He sat up； staring at her for a moment with shocked eyes。
〃I'll kill you for that；〃 he said。
He rolled over and stretched out for the handle of the mallet。 Wendy forced
herself to her feet。 Her left leg sent bolt after bolt of pain all the way up to
her hip。