Predator If It Bleeds 24

He glanced around and saw that everyone was staring at him intently like he was an insect of interesting origin. He shook his head.

"That fucking Sunderson following his damned
maps. Had he just listened to me, we'd be back at the border, my men sneaking tequila, and me getting a decent night's sleep."

He glanced at his opponent who had the same clawed hand attachments as the first two, which meant that they'd be fighting close. He'd planned for this and he hoped his plan would work. He hefted the hatchet, finding the balance, then stepped forward in a tactical crouch.

Then was stunned when one of the blades from an upraised Yautja fist flew toward him. Pope tried to duck, but the blade stuck just below his left shoulder and mere inches above his heart. Had he not tried to get out of the way, he'd have been as dead as Motes and Conroy. The pain was excruciating, causing him to fall to a knee.

"Get up, suh!" Husker John's voice focused him and Pope pushed back to his feet.

His opponent strode forward sure and confident. Pope swung his hatchet from right to left, then looped the return, bringing the hatchet down, then up, all in one smooth move. The Yautja dodged out of the way, then lunged, swiping with its right hand, which now only held one metal claw. Pope met that claw with his hatchet and instantaneously
realized he'd made a grave error. The Yautja hooked the hatchet and jerked it out of Pope's hand, leaving it outstretched and empty.
123

"Charlotte," he whispered. His opponent raked a hand toward him. Pope ducked under it, grabbed the netgun from where it was attached to his belt behind his back, then brought it up to the Yautja's face and pulled the trigger. The net launched, carrying the warrior backwards, wrapping and then digging into its face. It fell onto its back and tried to pull it off with one hand. It aimed its left hand toward Pope and fired both claws.

Pope ducked, letting them sail overhead. Then he was on a knee next to the warrior. Pope pulled the blade from where it was lodged in his shoulder, almost fainting from pain, reversed it, then plunged it into one of the Yautja's eyes. Then he fell over. A moment later, he was picked up and held at arm's length by Husker John whose face was alight with victory.

"You did it, suh! You won!"

Pope's elation was dampened by the incredible pain. "I told you I wasn't going to die today," he managed to say.-pg.123-124 chpt.4