CHAPTER FOUR
A nest of hornets had invaded the darkness filling Ponkert's head. The buzzing accented his splitting headache and the pounding jack-hammer that unmercifully blasted through his mind. He very much wanted to be dead! But the wish seemed to be of little worth as his senses moved him through the angry hum of his universe toward the distant light of consciousness.
His eyes flickered open reluctantly and focussed on the canopy of oak limbs that blotted out the sky above -- and he remembered Terri.
In reaction, he jerked up to a sitting position, only serving to arouse anew the hive of hornets that dominated his aching bead. Staring down at his own nakedness, he gingerly rubbed the back of his head. His fingers were greeted by the stickiness of oozing blood. It took a few moments
