The Tears of God

Stab in the Dark

Nate considered himself to be fairly fleet of foot, but two of the Pawnees were as fast if not faster. A glance showed them hard after him and gaining. Neither let a shaft fly; evidently they intended to take him alive. Kuruk’s doing, Nate suspected. Kuruk wanted to stake him out and torture him.

Nate tried to shake them. He cut back and forth at right angles. He weaved among benighted boles. The Pawnees not only kept up, they continued to gain. One of them called out to those behind.

Nate had lost his sense of direction. He wasn’t sure which way he was running. He turned right.

From out of nowhere a warrior appeared. The man had a tomahawk and the instant he saw Nate, he raised it to cleave Nate’s skull…