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Edilio threw the Jeep into reverse and began backing up as fast as he could go, down the path The first he noticed of the coyotes hen he felt a bump and heard a canine yelp of pain

One hand on the wheel, yelling in fear, Edilio smashed the Jeep into an eet clear, threw it, gears grinding into reverse again as a huge, snarling face appeared beside him Coyote teeth slavered and tore at the plastic

Edilio snap-aimed and fired The burst was short, h to dissolve the coyote’s head into red mist

Down they bu Edilio could barely hold the wheel

Then, suddenly, they were on flat terrain He spun the wheel as two coyotes hurled themselves at the plastic sheath The ireat, it pushed the plastic in and sla him

But his foot was on the gas pedal and he floored it The Jeep plowed straight toward a building Edilio grabbed the wheel, slammed on the brakes, twisted hard, fish-tailed into a theel turn, and roared away frohost town

The coyote pack followed for a while, then fell away as it beca car

Bug still had Orsay in a headlock But she wasto ask to be freed

“Let her go,” Edilio ordered

Bug released Orsay

She wiped blood with the back of her hand Edilio found a rag in the debris of the glove compartment and handed it back to her

“It told asped at last

“What?” Edilio snapped “What? Who?”

“Hiue off and I couldn’t resist,” she cried “He didn’t want me to be able to tell you”

“Tell us what? What?” Edilio demanded, desperate and confused