"I didn't shoot to hit you.

I fired over your head." "You want--talk," said Bram, speaking as if each word cost him a certain amount of effort.

"Why--talk ?" "I wanted to ask you why it was that you killed a man down in the God's Lake country." The words were out before Philip could stop them.

A growl rose in Bram's chest.

It was like the growl of a beast.