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suppressing the overwhelming urge to run away. As soon as he was in range, shedeflected his arm with a chop block, then followed with a roundhouse kick to the groin.
    The guy crashed to the ground, gasping from both effort and laughter. His fist had inadvertently closed around the shard, burying it halfway into his palm. He held up his hand and studied it, blood running in stripes down his arm. Then he burst out in a fresh spate of giggles. “Gordy,” he called, waving his bloody hand. “Hey, Gordy! Look!”
    The other guy was on his feet again. Before Gaia could turn around, he’d grabbed her from behind. She planted her feet and head-butted him backward as hard as she could. The force sent the back of his skull crashing into the wall behind him.
    He let go of her and staggered around stupidly, his eyes bleary and his mouth still halfway curled in a smile. Finally he crumpled forward in a lifeless heap.
    Something hard collided with Gaia’s shoulder. “Ow!”
    She turned around in time to see something else go flying past her. It crashed into the wall with a dull, shattering sound. John had found a crumbled bit of masonry and was using his good hand to fling bricks at her.
    He launched another right at her head. Gaia dodged it and hit the ground. She tried to roll out of the way, but there was nowhere to hide. All she could do was shield her head and twist this way and that while John continued to pelt her withbricks, laughing as if he were playing a two-dollar carnival game.
    Her forearms bruised and throbbing, Gaia somersaulted forward until she was right next to the guy, his arm raised for another throw. She quickly grabbed his wrist and forced it back, feeling the snap of a bone. The brick slid out of his hand and fell to the ground.
    â€œI see it! I see it in your eyes!” he panted gleefully. “You’re scared!”
    The truth of his words hit her like another brick, and Gaia hesitated. In that instant he lunged forward and tackled her to the ground.
    â€œYep. Scared little girl,” he continued babbling as he lay on top of her. His hands near useless, he crawled forward on his elbows until he was face-to-face with her. “I can feel your fear,” he rasped, practically foaming with morbid delight.
    Gaia felt panic rising inside her. It threatened to overtake her. But somehow she managed to force it back down. With a grunt of exertion she slammed her fist against the man’s chin. His head shook from the impact. Then he opened his mouth and laughed out loud, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.
    She punched him again and again, each time gaining more trajectory as the force of her blows slid him sideways off her. His face became a distorted mess of blood and spit and swollen flesh. But still he laughed harder and harder.
    It was intensely freaky, but also annoying as hell.
    Finally, after one last strike to his temple, his eyes rolled back into his head. His body gave a massive jerk and then flopped forward, completely motionless.
    Gaia wriggled out from under him and lay on her back, panting heavily. A noise cut through the sound of her breathing—a low murmur growing louder and louder. It was the vagrant, who was still crouched against the opposite wall.
    â€œYea-though-I-walk-through-the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death-I-will-fear-no-evil,” he chanted, the words gradually growing faster and louder. “Yea-though-I-walk-through-the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death-I-will-fear-no-evil.”
    Gaia rolled to her knees and staggered upright. “Are you all right?” she asked breathlessly.
    His eyes snapped onto hers and he slowly rose to his feet. “Fear no evil!” he shouted, pointing at her. “Fear no evil! Fear no evil !”
    She staggered backward, shaking her head. “Stop,” she said. “Please stop.” Everything around her seemed to sway and shimmer. She was passing out. Only she didn’t want to. It was