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handsome mansuch pretty blue eyessuch a big heart." |
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Cyrus's hackles slowly rose until they were lined up like punji sticks all the way down his back. His world had become shrouded by a thick red mist that threatened to smother him if he didn't do something. |
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Again the Dark Man's high-pitched, somewhat girlish laugh echoed inside the cave. "He stole from me and then had the gall to ask me for a favor. Of course I couldn't give him what he wanted, at least not right away. I had to get to know him better, to share his secrets. In the end he was very helpful. Hewhat is the expression you Americans are so fond of?spilled his guts." |
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Wait! Cyrus thought. Not yet! |
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"We formed such a special relationship that when the time came, I hated to see him go." He giggled again. "See him go! |
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"So I cut out his eyes and heart and saved them in their own jars in my portmanteau." |
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Cyrus lowered his head and ran straight across the cavern at the witch doctor. At the last possible moment, he wheeled and launched himself at the skinny assistant's throat. |
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But once again the Dark Man had outwitted him. The instant the wolf turned its back, he pulled a wicked-looking combat knife from the belt at his back and swung the blade at the animal's exposed neck. In mid leap, Cyrus's incredibly keen ears picked up the sound of the knife blade cutting through the air and he twisted his body violently to the side. In so doing, he was able to save his neck, but he couldn't avoid the blow. The blade bit deep into his right shoulder, slicing through fur, skin and bone. He crashed to the floorhard, as his blood gushed from the wound like water from a ruptured fire hose. The torrent of gore splattered everything in a five-foot radius, dousing the black magicians from head to toe with a deluge of red rain. When Cyrus raised his head, the first thing he saw was his right foreleg twitching on the ground a few feet away. |
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