Jubb.
It might have been a name, a curse, or a battle cry. Whatever it was,
the young couple did not like it. Their faces twisted into slim masks
of hate. They raised their guns at the shadow, and the shadow laughed.
Abruptly it bunched up small and shot at them.
Durham heard them yell, in pain or fright or both, and he heard their
running feet, but he did not see what happened to them. He was going
away himself, down the narrow alley that Varnik and Baya were no longer
interested in blocking. When he reached the end of the alley he came
out onto a well lighted street with lots of people on it, but he still
did not feel safe.
Varnik and Baya were not far away. Baya was leaning against a wall,
with her mouth wide open. She was not used to running. Varnik was
standing beside her looking sulky. He scowled at Durham when he came
out of the alley. Durham stopped, bracing himself and ready to yell for
help. But Varnik shook his head. "Nyuh!" he said.