Seeing Ram's movement, Angel drew his weapon, hefted it, and aimed it at Ram's head. Angel's mouth twisted into a savage grin.
His companions turned from their work to watch.
"Wait. I want him to see it coming," Angel said over his shoulder.
Hodak pressed his fingernail against a pip on the instrument in his hand and felt it vibrate with energy. Thrusting his arm further into the tunnel's bend he hurled the boomerang toward Angel.
The weapon reached its maximum velocity within two meters of the throw. Moving at a speed that made it invisible to the naked eye, it flew silently and true.
The slender implement curved around Angel's neck and, without stopping, completed its return to Hodak's hand.
Angel's head was gone from his shoulders.
The sound of Angel's falling body startled the two staring expectantly at Ram, waiting for the execution shot. Turning, they gaped at what had been Angel. They scrambled in panic to press their backs against the tunnel wall. Dropping the soil-fusers, they drew and waved their weapons about.
One of them shouted, "Flume. Can you hear me,
Flume?"
"Yeah, I hear you. Whatta ya want?"