Nape

The man came closer. Saying nothing, the woman waited. For the first
time it dawned on her that in life this man had been in love with her. There
was a short, soft whistle, and at that point something stuck in the nape of
the man’s neck. A thin needle of unfinished wood.

“Sorry to say this, but that’s as far as you go,” a low voice said. To the
man’s right there was a rustling of tree branches. The man was at a loss for
words. “And since you’ve risen again, I take it you know what the person
who did this to you looks like. Tell me.”

Even if the man had wanted to answer, he was still pierced through the
throat. Needle stuck in his neck, the man leapt back a good six feet, and at
the same time the woman crumpled to the ground.

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