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Chapter 26
Asharpcall,«Theretheyare!»Twoflashlightbeamsfellonthemen,caughtthem,blindedthem.«Standwhereyouare.»Thevoicescameoutofthedarkness.«That’shim.Thatshinybastard.That’shim.»
Casystaredblindlyatthelight.Hebreathedheavily.«Listen,"hesaid.«Youfellasdon’knowwhatyou’redoin’.You’rehelpin’tostarvekids.»
«Shutup,youredson-of-a-bitch.»Ashortheavymansteppedintothelight.Hecarriedanewwhitepickhandle.Casywenton,«Youdon’knowwhatyou’rea-doin’.»Theheavymanswungwiththepickhandle.Casydodgeddownintotheswing.Theheavyclubcrashedintothesideofhisheadwithadullcrunchofbone,andCasyfellsidewaysoutofthelight.«Jesus,George.Ithinkyoukilledhim.»
«Putthelightonhim,"saidGeorge.«Servetheson-of-a-bitchright.»Theflashlightbeamdropped,searchedandfoundCasy’scrushedhead.
Tomlookeddownatthepreacher.Thelightcrossedtheheavyman’slegsandthewhitenewpickhandle.Tomleapedsilently.Hewrenchedtheclubfree.Thefirsttimeheknewhehadmissedandstruckashoulder,butthesecondtimehiscrushingblowfoundthehead,andastheheavymansankdown,threemoreblowsfoundhishead.Thelightsdancedabout.Therewereshouts,thesoundofrunningfeet,crashingthroughbrush.Tomstoodovertheprostrateman.Andthenaclubreachedhishead,aglancingblow.Hefeltthestrokelikeanelectricshock.Andthenhewasrunningalongthestream,bendinglow.Heheardthesplashoffootstepsfollowinghim.
