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"Sic ’i that close As soon as Hugoson shifted his weight a fraction of an inch I kicked hiroin; disable the attacker in front of you as quickly as possible before turning to face the second, that’s what I was taught

Only there was a thin veneer of ice under the snow When I kicked Hugoson, my back foot slid out fro solid contact with the frozen concrete sidewalk Pain surged through ot Reif Only he didn’t forget me I heard him curse, felt his shadow move across my face He raised his foot, tried to kick ain I flailed at hi The heel of my boot struck his knee That hurt him, but he didn’t fall Reif cursed some more If words were sticks and stones I’d be dead

I heard so loudly fro I turned toward the voice Greg Schroeder was standing next toFortunately, Reif was just as foolish as I was He looked at Schroeder, too, the pistol that appeared in his hand pointed round

I recoveredhis feet out from under him He fell backward, his arms outstretched He landed first on his tailbone, then his back I heard a dull thud as his head bounced off the concrete

I lunged over his body, clutched the gun in both of rasp He cried out Maybe I had broken one of his fingers I couldn’t tell I rolled to un, and pointed it in his face

"Did you point a gun at un at me? Are you suicidal?"

Reif didn’t look suicidal He looked frightened as he gripped the fingers of his gun hand with his other hand and rocked back and forth

I glanced overquietly

I turned my attention back to Reif

"Don’t shoot, don’t shoot," he chanted

I pressed the ainst his cheek

"Please," he cried

"Jerk," I said

I stood up

"What’s your story? Why are you guys so pissed off?"

"Coach says you’re spreading lies about the Seven"

"Ah, bullshit What’s it really about?"

Reif shook his head and it occurred to er and disappointuy they decided to take it out on