"I'll kill you!" Pace put a stumbling foot forward. "I'll kill you, Towne!"
Towne stared at the man, and then he laughed.
"Go ahead," he said. "Try."
Pace made an ugly noise. His body crouched, and then he sprung at the laughing figure of this visitor. Instinctively, Towne threw up his arms in defense.
"Pace!"
"Don't be an idiot!"
The man's arms thrust forward like driving pistons, fingers clutching toward the throat of Towne. His face twisted into a parody of rage. His motion propelled him half a foot off the ground.
He realized his mistake too late.
His hands went through and beyond Towne's throat, his arms slipping through Towne's chest. He fell heavily through the man's body, and hit the ground with sickening abruptness.
He lay there, still conscious. He began to cry and the sound brought a look of disgust to the face of the shadow he had attacked.