by T K Foster
Billy was reluctant to voice his shock when the small plastic pellet connected with his stomach. The initial sting was fierce enough to make him wince, though he remained otherwise composed. Immediately his thoughts drifted to the many animals that had fallen prey to this weapon; the dogs with their sharp teeth, the cats with their dagger like claws, and the rabbits.... who could forget the rabbits with their big.... floppy ears? His behaviour in those instances had been so violent, so cruel, rendering him no better than the Hump that now stood before him. Compassion suddenly tore through his heart and drew several tears from his right eye; he felt faint, though he was able to remain standing, and in his dizziness he made a silent promise never to shoot defenceless animals again.
The Hump stared at him and grunted in disgust.
Having failed to produce the desired response from his open display of violence toward Billy, Hump1 disappointedly threw the gun down onto the rocks and smashed it into twenty seven pieces, give or take a screw or two. He then considered an alternate course of action, but rendered it pointless on account of its being too boring; so instead he opted more for the instinctual approach.
In a moderately slow succession of events Hump1 reached out for Billy with both hands and picked him up. Instantly disturbed by his new predicament, and suddenly filled with loathe and disgust, Billy kicked and screamed as he was cradled like a rugby ball in the crook of his enemy’s arm. Hump1, concerned not with Billy’s objections, grunted once again, shrugged his shoulders, then turned and ran away.
CHAPTER NINETEEN