The 3 of us were together now, and as we stood there amid the wreckage of the fallen wall, looking on as the burning town lit up the night sky with a crimson glow, and the haze of gunsmoke drifted slowly in the dying heat of the battle, I could feel the presence of the Deathland dogs behind us. I could feel them all in their hundreds – every single one of them. I could feel their beating hearts in mine, their blood running in mine, their breath in my lungs, their hunger in my belly.

Theyd moved closer now – drawn in by the scent of carnage – and were massing together just outside the boundary of the fallen wall.

The Dau were aware of them.

Although the fighting wasnt over yet – sporadic gunfire was still erupting all across town – the fall of the watchtower and Pilgrims death had drawn the attention of dozens of Dau, and as theyd become aware of the dogs, and the news had quickly spread, the crowd had kept growing, and there were now at least 50 or 60 Dau facing us across the glassrock, no more than 20 yards away. They were all armed, and they were all watching us just as much as they were watching the dogs. Some of them were curious, others wary, and others just wanted blood.

It was one of these – a wild-eyed young Fighter – who suddenly stepped forward, pointing at me and shouting out in recognition, Thats him! Thats the cur who killed Skender!

He raised his gun and started towards me, and a moment later 5 or 6 others joined him, marching across the glassrock with murder in their eyes.

Take him alive! a voice from the crowd yelled out.

Skin the monger!

Watch the bitch!

Ide lost my pistol when the tower had fallen, but the knapsack was still slung over my shoulders, and the moment the Dau had begun to move, Chola Se had reached into the knapsack, pulled out the big Colt revolver, and leveled it at the approaching mob. My mother reacted instantly too, baring her teeth and letting out a bonechilling snarl, and at the same time – acting in perfect unison – the army of dogs behind us made their move---all of them advancing as one, stalking slowly through the ruined wall in a great mass of savage silence---their bodies low to the ground, their ears flat, their lips drawn back, their eyes fixed unerringly on the Dau---

My voice came to them as their own. I didnt tell them to stop – we told ourselves.

Stop.

Wait.

We stopped as one.

The group of approaching Dau had halted at the sight of the advancing dogs. They still had their guns raised though, and now theyd been joined by the rest of the crowd, all of them standing there with their weapons at the ready and their fingers poised on the triggers.