The Piruts began to slack off. Stones still whistled past Kirk's head—a couple of them had grazed him by now—and spears showered down, but they weren't climbing the walls any more.
Randl grounded his spear, gasping. "That's that. Pretty soon they'll break, and then we can start thinking about...."
He stopped. Kirk put a stone accurately through the back of a Pirut's head and said grimly:
"Yeah. About what we're going to do."
Randl didn't answer. He sat down suddenly, doubled over. Kirk grinned. "Take it easy," he said softly. "I'll cover you."
Randl whispered, "Wes. Wes!" He held up one thin hand. Kirk let his own drop, looking at it. There was blood on it, running clear to the elbow.
He went down beside Randl, putting his arms around him, trying to see. Randl shook him off.
"Don't move me, you fool! Just listen." His voice was harsh and rapid. He was holding both hands over the left side of his neck, where it joined the shoulder. Kirk could see the bright blood beating up through his fingers.
He said, "Jakk, I'll get the sawbones...."