The Rough Orientation

Markus's skinless automaton tosses three full coils of the constrictor's body onto the cavern floor, keeping hold of only the tip of its tail. Salbadore gasps and -
the hulking patchwork of muscle whips the snake into the wall with such speed -
stumbles backwards, throwing his hands out -
that it whistles through the air -
once again forgetting to keep his nudity covered -
just before slamming into a prominently protruding knob of stone -
and he shrieks -
like the bare crown of a skull -
the first blow leaves a wide red splatter -
covers his gaping mouth with one hand -
but does not kill -
and starts to cry -
the snake writhes weakly -
as he catches one brief glimpse -
then is swung through the air, its head inches from his face -
of its scaled-over reptilian eye -
and then bursts against the skull-like knob.

Salbadore hyperventilates briefly and then falls against the cavern wall. He clutches his chest and spits.

He recovers only slowly.

Finally, he declares, "You - you must - kindly allow me to go up -" he pants for another moment and adds "- after the baby?"

[continued]