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           Menhadappearedallaroundthem,thecricketersstillwearingtheirlegpadsandgloves;someonewentbackforastretcherwhiletherestproceededtosilencethegunatthefarsideoftheclearing.Thedeedwasdonewithmorethanusualruthlessness,foreveryonewasfondofHarpo.Ifanythinghappenedtohim,Jimswouldneverbethesame.

           Abeautifulday;thebudgerigarhadlonggone,butotherbirdstrilledandtwitteredfearlessly,silencedonlyduringtheactualbattle.

           "Patsy’sbloodylucky,"saidthemedictoJimssometimelater."Theremustbeadozenbulletsinhim,butmostofthemhitthethighs.Thetwoorthreehigherupseemtohaveembeddedthemselvesinpelvicboneormuscle.AsfarasIcanjudge,hisgut’sinonepiece,soishisbladder.Theonlythingis…"

           "Well,what?"Jimspromptedimpatiently;hewasstillshaking,andbluearoundthemouth.

           "Difficulttosayanythingforcertainatthisstage,ofcourse,andI’mnotageniussurgeonlikesomeoftheblokesinMoresby.They’llbeabletotellyoualotmore.Buttheurethrahasbeendamaged,sohavemanyofthetinylittlenervesintheperineum.I’mprettysurehecanbepatchedupasgoodasnew,exceptmaybeforthenerves.Nervesdon’tpatchuptoowell,unfortunately."Heclearedhisthroat."WhatI’mtryingtosayisthathemightneverhavemuchsensationinthegenitalregion."

           Jimsdroppedhishead,lookedatthegroundthroughacrystalwalloftears."Atleasthe’salive,"hesaid.