"We'll have to knock him over," Sorensen said. "Watch out for his feet. Let's go!"
They raced toward the cassowary, swinging their spades. The cassowary hesitated, unable to make up its mind between targets. Then it turned toward Cable and its right leg lashed out. The partially deflected blow sounded like the flat of a meat cleaver against a side of beef. Cable grunted and collapsed, clutching his ribs.
Sorensen stabbed, and the honed edge of his spade nearly severed the cassowary's head from its body. The wild pig and the anteater were coming at him now. He flailed with his spade, driving them back. Then, with a strength he hadn't known he possessed, he stooped, lifted Cable across his shoulders and ran down the path.
A quarter of a mile down he had to stop, completely out of breath. There were no sounds behind him. The other animals were apparently not following. He went back to the wounded man.
Cable had begun to recover consciousness. He was able to walk, half-supported by Sorensen. When they reached the camp, Sorensen called everybody in for a meeting. He counted heads while Eakins taped up Cable's side. Only one man was missing.
"Where's Drake?" Sorensen asked.
"He's across the island at North Beach, fishing," said Tom Recetich. "Want me to get him?"
Sorensen hesitated. Finally he said, "No. I'd better explain what we're up against. Then we'll issue the guns. Then we'll try to find Drake."
"Man, what's going on?" Recetich asked.
Sorensen began to explain what had happened at Site 4.