"
He was sure it wouldn't work twice, and he hesitated, not too willing to
have his stock go down with her. Then he gave in.
"_Abracadabra!_" he said, and snapped his fingers.
There were results at once. This time an egg appeared in his hand, to
the delighted cry of Nema. He bent to look at it uncertainly. It was a
strange looking egg--more like one of the china eggs used to make hens
think they were nesting when their eggs were still being taken from
them.
Abruptly Nema sprang back. But she was too late. The egg was growing. It
swelled to the size of a football, then was man-sized, and growing to
the size of a huge tank that filled most of the tent. Suddenly it split
open along one side and a group of men in dull robes and masks came
spilling out of it.
"Die!" the one in front yelled. He lifted a double-bladed knife, charged
for Dave, and brought the knife down.
The blades went through clothing, skin, flesh and bones, straight for
Dave's heart.
V
The knife had pierced Dave's chest until the hilt pressed against his
rib cage. He stared down at it, seeing it rise with the heaving of his
lungs. Yet he was still alive!
Then the numbness of shock wore off and the pain nerves carried their
messages to his brain. He still lived, but there was unholy agony
where the blade lay. Coughing and choking on what must be his own
blood, he scrabbled at the knife and ripped it out.
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