Passion for the moment lent me strength, and in that moment I had wrenched my right arm free and returned his blow with interest.
With an oath he got out a dagger that hung from his baldrick.
"Sang du Christ! Take that, you dog!" he snarled, burying the blade in my breast as he spoke.
"My God! You are murdering me!" I gasped.
"Have you discovered it?
What penetration!" he retorted, and those about him laughed at his indecent jest! He made a sign, and the man who had held me withdrew his hands.

I staggered forward, deprived of his support, then a crashing blow took me across the head.
I swayed for an instant, and with arms upheld I clutched at the air, as if I sought, by hanging to it, to save myself from falling; then the moon appeared to go dark, a noise as of the sea beating upon its shore filled my ears, and I seemed to be falling--falling--falling.
A voice that buzzed and vibrated oddly, growing more distant at each word, reached me as I sank.
"Come," it said.

"Fling that carrion into the river." Then nothingness engulfed me..