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passed out. Minimum bet was $25,000. Jerry pushed a bucket of water into the cage, and Matty lowered his head to drink, then slouched to a corner and waited. |
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There was a hush, somebody in back hooted. Down the aisle came the Fig being pulled toward the cage by Jake, a muscle-wadded brown-and-white black berserker that knew no fear. The Fig had to struggle against the choke chain as Jake fought to get to Matty, thrashed his head to get the muzzle off. |
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When he got to the door, Jerry took hold of Jake, so Muzzy could talk through the hand mike. "Gentlemen, as usual, it's a fight to the finish." |
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Applause. They were getting their money's worth. So was Jerry. Even if Matty did not survive the night, he'd walk away with a minimum of $400,000. And if he survived, maybe twice that. Who needed Julius Wick? |
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The Fig unlocked the cage and led Jake in, still fighting against the chain. With a tug he heeled the dog and released the muzzle. Matty tried to probe his brain but it was too scrambled. An impenetrable mass. |
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The Fig removed the choke collar. At the same time Matty got to his feet and let out a deep-throated sound that for an instant seemed to startle Jake. The animal licked its nose and looked over its shoulder at Fig, who was locking the cage door. Matty flailed his hands at Jake. The dog lowered its head like a blunderbuss, eyes slitted. |
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With a crack of his palms the Fig ordered "GO," and Jake shot toward Matty as though spring-released. In a twirling motion Matty forearmed the dog by the side of the head, deflecting him to the sawdust. |
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Jake made another pass, this time clamping onto Matty's ankle. Matty let out a yell and fell backward to the ground. Jake thrashed against the joint while Matty fought to reach his head. But Jake was smart, pulling Matty by the foot across the cage so that it was impossible to gain a hold. Matty grabbed the bars to stop them, the spike vise pierced to the bone. With a fist Matty pounded Jake on the nose. The blow released the jaws but Jake then went at Matty's face. In reflex Matty threw up his bad arm, only to catch the dog's jaws on the wrist. The weight of the animal was startling. So was the pain. They struggled until, in a sudden thrust of his legs, Matty |
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