He turned back to the doorway, determined to guard her with his life. It didn’t take long for retribution to come. There was yelling outside, and then a group of men entered the house. The door to the girl's room opened and half a dozen men stood ready with sticks and spears, the injured man safely behind them. In they came and the fight was on.
Tempus lunged out, sinking his teeth into a calf, the man screaming in agony, and then a flurry of blows descended on the dog as the room flooded with men. They looped a rope around his neck, and then pulled him from his feet, binding his legs. Despite his struggles, he was soon subdued, unable to move as they dragged him from the room. Someone grabbed his mistress. He heard her screams, and then the rough man held her tightly by the upper arm. A
