Sensing the dog's fatigue, the rats became bolder. When he had one in his jaws, another would spring for his throat. They ran between his legs and under his belly and leaped at the soft parts of his hide. One particularly big creature dug its teeth into his hind leg and refused to let go. He turned to snap at it but another rat distracted him by leaping on his snout. Then the leg seemed to give way--the rat must have severed a tendon, Micky thought--and suddenly the dog was limping.
He was much slower to turn now. As if they knew that, the dozen or so remaining rats all attacked his rear end. Wearily he snapped them up in his jaws; wearily he broke their backs; wearily he dropped them on the bloody ground. But his underside was raw flesh, and he could not hold out much longer. Micky thought he might have bet wisely, and there would be six rats left when the dog died.
Then the dog gained a sudden access of energy. Spinning around on three legs he killed another four rats in as many seconds. But it was his last gasp. He dropped a rat and then his legs buckled under him. Once more he turned his head to snap at the creatures, but this time he caught none, and his head drooped.
The rats began to feed.
Micky counted: there were six left.
He looked at his companions. Hugh looked ill. Edward said to him: "A bit strong for your stomach, eh?"
"The dog and the rats are simply behaving as nature intended," Hugh said. "It's the humans who disgust me."
Edward grunted and went to buy more drinks.
April's eyes were sparkling as she looked up at Tonio, a man--she thought--who could afford to lose ten guineas in a bet. Micky looked more closely at Tonio and saw in his face a hint of panic. I don't believe he can afford to lose ten guineas, Micky thought.
Micky collected his winnings from the bookmaker: five shillings. He had made a profit on the evening already. But he had a feeling that what he had learned about Tonio could in the end be worth a great deal more.
Section 4
IT WAS MICKY who had most disgusted Hugh. Throughout the contest, Micky had been laughing hysterically. At first Hugh could not think why that laughter sounded so chillingly familiar. Then he remembered Micky's laughing just the same way when Edward threw Peter Middleton's clothes into the swimming hole. It was an unpleasant reminder of a grim memory.
Edward came back with the drinks and said: "Let's go to Nellie's."
