Once more she was interrupted by an explosion, a much louder one, directly above them.

Our witch hardly heard the noise; she seemed suddenly to have found the climax of her life, and the climax was pain.

There was pain and a feeling of terrible change all over her, smothering her, and a super-pain in her shoulder.

After a second or two as long as death, she realised dimly that she was all tensely strung to an attitude, like a marionette.

Her hands were up trying to shield her head, her chin was pressed down to her drawn-up knees.