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Roger Zelazny. Sign of chaos
Atec Ноябрь 07 2007 02:48:28
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. It just kept coming, like a small tank with
appendages. I didn't know where its vital spots were located. Fire Angel
anatomy had not been high on my list of interests back home. I gave myself a
crash course, however, in the way of gross observation as it approached.
Unfortunately, this gave me to believe that it kept everything important
well protected. Too bad.
I did not want to attack in case it was trying to sucker me into
something. I was not aware of its combat tricks, and I did not care to
expose myself unduly in order to learn them. Better to stay on the defense
and let it make the first move; I told myself. But it just kept moving
nearer and nearer. I knew that I'd be forced to do something soon, even if
it were only to retreat. . . .
One of those long, folded front appendages flashed out toward me, and I
spun to the side and cut. Snicker-snack! The limb lay on the ground, still
moving. So I kept moving, also. One-two, one-two! Snicker-snack!
The beast toppled slowly to its left, for I had removed all of the
limbs on that side of its body.
Then, overconfident, I passed too near in racing to round its head to
reach the other side and repeat the performance while it was still
traumatized and collapsing. Its other extensor flashed out. But I was too
near and it was still toppling: Instead of catching me with its clawed
extremity, it hit me with the equivalent of shin or forearm
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