Page 20 - Demo

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end of the alley he was approaching. He gritted his teeth, pulled himself into a sitting position, and started to get up. Using the steel bar and the side of the building, he managed to get to his feet after falling a second time. Standing and wiping sweat, he moved from the alley and onto the sidewalk into the light. Lean- ing on the building he let his head fall back, looking up at the sky. Just as suddenly, he heard someone approaching from his right. His head left the building as his eye caught a striking woman in motion.
“Stop,” he said faintly.
The woman stopped directly in front of him visibly shaken. She turned her head slowly to the right and saw Tom’s body be- ing supported by a pipe and the building. She immediately noticed that he was hurt, tattered, and soaked in sweat. Tom tried to talk tough with the back of his head resting on the building. She suddenly felt more sorrow than fear. Tom considered pulling his gun since there were only a few women stopping cars, but de- cided against it.
“Help me,” he whispered pitifully and almost fell.
She stepped in and caught him before he slid to the ground. “Please take me somewhere safe,” he said, and put his left
arm around her neck. She tensed suddenly trembling from the touch of the gun from his holster against her right breast.
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you, I promise. Just get me out of here, please!”
With the steel bar supporting his right side and the woman on his left, Tom started to feel as if he was going to make it. The duo headed past the alley he had just emerged from. Still hurt- ing wall to wall, Tom started to feel a little stronger with the assistance from his new companion. His limp was only slightly noticeable as they moved in unison. She paused with him be- tween steps and pointed to her apartment about a third of a block from where they were. Tom closed his eyes, thinking how won- derful it would be just to sit or lie down; he didn’t care which.
The Reaction Factor 19