You shall have every advantage, you see?
Start for that gun, McGurk, when you're ready for the end." The hand of McGurk stretched out and his arm stiffened but it seemed as though all the muscles of his back had grown stiff.

He could not bend.

It was strange.

It was both ludicrous and incomprehensible.
Perhaps he had grown stiff with cold in that position.
But he heard the voice of Pierre explaining gently: "You can't move, my friend.

I understand.