Page 157 of Shadowfox

I turned toward Farkas. His eyes were wide, jaw clenched, but he didn’t move.

Crack.

The first shot hit the water right next to me.

A geyser erupted, slapping my cheek with icy spray.

My heart punched against my ribs. My knees nearly buckled. I couldn’t hear anything but my pulse.

Crack.

Another round screamed past Thomas’s head. He ducked just in time, almost losing his footing as the current tugged at him. I saw him stumble, eyes blinking hard, like the world had gone sideways.

“Move!” I shouted.

They didn’t hear me.

A third flashlight appeared on the Hungarian side.

Another shout.

Crack-crack.

Now it was a barrage.

Sparrow screamed and pulled Eszter close. The girl didn’t cry. She didn’t even flinch. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, but she held on to Sparrow with white-knuckled fists.

Egret surged forward, pushing Thomas hard from behind.

The water was higher now. My coat pulled at me like it wanted to drown me itself.

“Get down!” I yelled, but there was no down, no cover, only cold and fear and gunfire.

Shadows shifted on the bank.

More lights.

More muzzle flashes.

I couldn’t tell how far we were from the other side, but we had to be close, maybe twenty feet.

Maybe less.

It felt like a thousand.

I reached out for Eszter, helping Sparrow drag her forward through the water. The girl was breathing hard, her feet kicking for purchase beneath her.

Another shot.

Closer this time.

I didn’t see where it splashed.

And then—Farkas turned.

He yanked away from my grip.

Away from the shore.

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