Jack signaled toward the direction Ro took. 'Work your way around the stands,' he said to Jane. 'I'll take the direct route.' Jack ran down the gangway, mercifully free of wandering wolves, picking up speed as he hurtled down the steps. He had to reach her, save her somehow before—
'Hey, freak,' shouted Stroke, jumping up from his hiding place near the front of the bleachers. He wielded his gun like a club and brought it around in a savage arc.
Jack couldn't stop in time. The weapon caught him under the chin and he fell reeling back with a yell of pain.
Stroke advanced on him, gun raised. 'Guess who?'
'The tooth fairy?' Jack spat out a thick gobbet of blood. 'Say, Stroke, are you out of bullets, or did you just forget how your gun works?'
'Don't need bullets for scum like you.'
