Rath’s face filmed with perspiration and a little saliva drooled from the corner of his mouth. He kept grinning all the time, enjoying himself. He’d hit me and the air would gush out of my mouth; everything swam in front of me and finally Rath was Just a blur of movement that meant pain.
I realized the blows had stopped. A hand ripped my shirt open and I tried to lift my head. Rath slapped me several times then said, “Look, Scott.”
My eyes focused slowly on the knife in his hand. I saw it move back and forth, then the point pressed against my chest. “See how easy to kill you?” Rath said. His voice was taut and excited, like that of a man in bed with a woman. “See?” he said. He pushed on the knife a little and I felt the point bite into my chest, slice through the skin and flesh.
I almos
