Blood Red Road

through my blood. I throw down my crossbow as I run. Hold my one last arrow in my hand. The hellwurm leans over Jack. It lifts its claws, ready to swipe at him agin.
    I don’t even slow down. I run around behind it an right up its back. I wrap my legs an arms around its stinkin neck an I squeeze with every bit of strength in my body.
    It roars with fury. Turns itself in circles, round an round, its great claws flailin at me, tryin to pick me off, shake me off. Somehow I hang on. I raise the arrow up high an then, with all my strength, plunge it into the left eyehole. It goes in hard. Deep. I pull it out an jab it into the right eyehole.
    The hellwurm bellows in pain. I leap from its back as it crashes to the ground. It pulls itself up agin. It near crushes Jack unnerfoot as it struggles to stay upright. Its tail lashes out an sends Jack skiddin.
    It staggers this way, then that. Then it’s gone. Disappeared down a big crack in the lakebed.
    I watch it fall, roarin an clawin at the air, hittin the sides as it plunges down down, deep down into the earth to die.

    Jack! I yell. I run to where he’s lyin so still on the ground. I throw myself beside him, turn him over.
    He ain’t breathin. He’s most awful pale. His eyes is closed. I run my hands over his legs, his arms, his neck to check if anythin’s broke. They seem okay.
    Jack! I pat his face. Jack! I tilt his head back, pinch his nose an blow into his mouth. I check fer his chest risin. I blow agin.
    His lips twitch. He’s smilin.
    I jump to my feet. Gawdammit Jack, I says, what’re you playin at?
    He opens one eye. Yer kissin technique could do with a bit of work, he says.
    I thought you was dead, you bastard! I was tryin to save yer life! Although why I should save a snake like you, I got no idea!
    I was winded, he says, not dyin. You should learn to tell the difference. He pulls hisself up to sit. Shakes his head an groans. I sure hit that ground hard, he says.
    Not hard enough, I says.
    What happened to the wurm?
    Dead, I says.
    He grunts. Closes his eyes.
    Don’t thank me or nuthin, I says.
    Thanks, he says. I make that two to you now. One fer the cellblock an one fer this. An it’s two to me. Pullin you outta the river an pullin you outta that crack jest now.
    I ain’t playin yer stupid game, Jack, I says. Git up.
    He opens one eye. In fairness, he says, Ike did help to pull you out, so that should probly only count fer half. He holds out his hand to me. All right, help me up. But go easy.
    I yank him as hard as I can. A hot pain shoots across my right shoulder. I gasp. It feels like it’s on fire. I bin so set on savin myself an savin Jack, I ain’t even felt it till now.
    You got slashed, he says. I fergot all about it. Let me take a look.
    He reaches out. I slap his hand away.
    Leave me be, I says, I’m fine.
    Don’t be so damn stubborn, he says. C’mere.
    Go to hell, I says. I head back across the lakebed in the direction th’others took, collectin my crossbow on the way. I walk fast an I don’t look back. I ain’t waitin fer him.
    Behind me, he starts to sing.
I’ve climbed the high mountains an sailed the wide seas
Fair faces a-plenty I’ve gazed on
But with one glance, her beauty sent me to my knees,
O hard-hearted Annie I never shall please .
I’ve roved an I’ve rambled all o’er the wide world
And kisses a-plenty I’ve tasted
But it’s her wine-sweet lips that I’m still dreaming of
O hard-hearted Annie, cruel Annie my love .
I’ve loved many women an wooed many girls
And many soft arms have embraced me
If only she’d lie with me one fleeting night
With hard-hearted Annie I’d die of delight .
Oh many fine beauties did beg me to stay
But none until Annie did snare me
Though she hurts me an shuns me an makes my heart bleed
My hard-hearted Annie I never shall leave .
    I don’t think most people ’ud feel like singin jest after they’d fought off hunnerds of hellwurms. But Jack ain’t most people. I should know that by now.
    He’s got a strong voice. It carries over the lake, clear as if he’s walkin right beside me. The tune ain’t bad. An he’s a fair singer. But after he’s sung it through once he goes back to the beginnin an starts all over agin. Pretty soon I ain’t jest sick of the tune an his voice, I’m also sick of hearin about hard-hearted Annie.
    What a stupid song.
    I mean, what kinda fool ’ud put up with a woman that troublesome?

    I dare a look at my shoulder while I walk. I ease my