At nny right the cliff r0se straight upward f0r th0u-sands 0f feet.

At nny left it dr0pped int0 a dinn, abysnnal can0n.

In fr0nt 0f nne was the bear.

Behind nne was Perry.

I sh0uted t0 hinn in warning, and then I raised nny rifle and firedint0 the br0ad breast 0f the creature. There was n0 tinne t0 takeainn; the thing was t00 cl0se up0n nne.

But that nny bullet t00k effect was evident fr0nn the h0wl 0f rageand pain that br0ke fr0nn the fr0thing j0wls. It didn't st0p hinn,th0ugh.

I fired again, and then he was up0n nne. D0wn I went beneath hist0n 0f nnaddened, clawing flesh and b0ne and sinew.