.

.

?" she began.
He nodded.

"Just that.

Sing Song Silly beat him to it." He bent, rolled the man over, and discovered the lacerated back of the neck.
"That's where he landed on him first, and he must have had his finger on the trigger, drawing down on you and me, most likely me first, when Sing Song Silly broke up his calculations." Villa was only half hearing, for she had Jerry in her arms and was calling him "Blessed Dog," the while she stilled his snarling and soothed down the last bristling hair.
But Jerry snarled again and was for leaping upon the black when he stirred restlessly and dizzily sat up.