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Boyd searched Ruger’s eyes for the lie, for the cruel joke, but he found nothingout for its own hide He believed hier smiled that slithery smile of his

"That’s my man That’s my main man!" He winked and then reached for the buckle of Boyd’s pack "Let’s lighten the load a little first" That done, he stood and ht him under the armpits Before he lifted, he leaned so close that his lips brushed Boyd’s ear as he spoke "I’ to lift you out of that hole If you dare screa?"

"N…no…" Boyd whispered

"Good It’s gonna hurt like a motherfucker Just take it, man Just take it and screw that pain like you’d screw a little tight-​snatch bitch You hear me? Just screw the hell out of it"

"Okay…"

"Okay Here we go, buddy-​boy"

He hoisted Boyd up out of the hole

Boyd didn’t scream He almost did…Christ knows he wanted to, but instead he bit into his lip so hard that blood burst from it and ran hot and salty down his chin The world took a sick and dizzying stagger and there was a dull roaring in Boyd’s ears as if he were standing too near to a raging waterfall Nausea punched him in the pit of the stoentle about it He lifted the big, heavy Boyd as best he could, ared hiround and h wooden slats of the fence He even tried to position him so that he had a modicum of comfort The whole process, as Boyd saw it, took about a thousand years

"Jesus Christ, reat gulps of air He walked around in a s his ar both backpacks He crossed his ankles and lowered hi Indian fashion in front of Boyd

"G…gi the blood froer slapped his pockets until he found his pack of Pall Malls, kissed one out of the pack, lighted it, and handed it to Boyd, who sucked it greedily Boyd’s face was the color of sour …"

"Yeah, yeah, your leg Wait a minute Here, toot some of this Better than Novocain" He held up one of the bulky Ziploc bags and a rolled-​up ten-​dollar bill Boyd took the tube and bent toward the proffered coke; his inhalation was long and deep "Ride ’eer in real appreciation as Boyd took a second snort, and then a third

"Ohhis eyes and leaning back against the fence

Ruger bea a kid s a spoonful of tonic and honey "The breakfast of champions, m’man"

"Oh man, that feels so otta set your leg"

Boyd half shrugged "With enough of this shit, you could cut the fucker right off"

Grinning, Ruger fished in his pocket for a knife, found it, and flicked it open, a bone-​handled Buck with a three-​inch locking blade that was always sharp and well oiled The keen edge sliced alh black fabric of Boyd’s double-​knits, gliding silently fro off and then tore the cloth into long strips, which he then set aside Using his lighter he inspected the break Both shinbones had broken a few inches below the knee, and they had broken in an ugly way There were small mounds where the ends of the broken bones tented the skin, and the whole area was livid and swollen

"Mer said "Cute"

"How’s it look?"