32The sun was at her back as she emerged from behind a tree trunk. From downhill where I stood, her silhouette looked ten feet tall. Taller still when her right arm extended full length. Her right fist clenched something. Her arm moved gracefully. She looked like a Titan hurling a lightning bolt.
“Grenade,” I shouted at Stefan.
I threw myself to the ground and wrapped my arms around my head.
Percussive force slammed my body, crushing the air from my lungs. I struggled for breath. A stinging bombardment of dirt clods and small stones raked my back. Loose soil rained down, coating my lips. Dirt pushed into my mouth and nose. A branch splintered from the tree above me. It crashed down onto my shoulder. The Browning flew out of my hand. Twigs spiked against my face and neck, searching for m
