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would be most exposed to the fire. What he did was to push her between himself and the horse, give her the rein, and pass his left arm around her waist so that she was a little shielded by their bodies. Then he picked up the ax and shoved Joanna forward toward the fire. It almost seemed as if she would resist, but in that instant the gable of the house from which they had taken the water barrel burst into flame. With a gasping sob, Joanna turned her face into Geoffrey's shoulder and let him lead her. |
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It was an act of faith without foundation. Geoffrey knew no better than the girl he led where they could go. All he knew was that they had to be free of the narrow lane before the burning houses fell in upon them and that the way forward was shorter than the way behind. Ahead the cries had diminished. Some huddled forms showed dark on the ground against the red glare which had, for all its violence, a sickly hue against the gray daylight. Those were dead already or good as dead from hearts that had burst with fear or lungs seared by the heat. There was here and there still movement. Geoffrey drew breath sharply as he saw a man off to his right run suddenly straight into the fire. |
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His first thought was that so great a madness of terror had gripped the man that he could no longer wait for death. Geoffrey had seen that before, had seen men throw themselves onto his sword. But that was to find an easier death than what they faced. Death by fire was another matter. Before he could follow that thought through to its conclusion, however, another darted into the same place, and this man drew a woman with him. Geoffrey uttered a short exclamation of hope and turned sharply right, tugging Joanna with him. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. There was a long building ahead of them, completely enveloped in flames. Beyond it another very similar structure burned just as fiercely. Between the two was an opening, the black mouth of a tunnel arched over with fire. |
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Impossible. He could not lead Joanna into that. Desperately, he looked behindand the buildings virtually blew up in his face. Joanna's shriek of terror was drowned by the |
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