3

"OK then" Yan sighs softly, "You really want to discipline my child? Beat me first!"

People started to mutter as Klorix went red in the face, Lin now clinging to Byrd with open fear.

"Her mate will get involved" Klorix points at Jack, "I want the rules placed!"

"The rules are as follows!" an old woman roars "No one interferes! This is between the two of them."

"Come on Klorix, you don't need help for little old me?" Yan taunts. "After all … your pussy is probably bigger than mine with that level of whinging!"

He goes berserk. Leaps at her covering ground quickly with his long stride, swinging his massive arms. This is the most terrifying form of combat: a huge person attacking a tiny one. If he should hit her even once, a glancing blow, she will go down, she will break, it will be over.

But he misses, and misses again. Sometimes his punches are wild, almost comical. Others come so close we hear-the wind, feel their power, feel his sweat on her... he continues this terrifying choreographed dance with destruction for as long as it will hold. At every instant, we fear for her bones and her life. Sometimes she leans back like Muhammad Ali to barely slip a punch, and we see terror on her face, married to determination. She knows the score. and the odds. Finally, in frustration at so many misses, he grabs an axe, Hurls … it at her - it flies over her head - He punches again and again, wildly.

She remains untouched.

He stops. With all the blood from his nose, he looks like a wild animal. He makes a great effort to pull himself together...

"I'm confused, Klorix. Aren't you a man?" Yan taunts "I thought it was 'no contest' right? I mean, can't you hit me even once?"

He grabs a hunk of wood, wields it like a club.

"A weapon?" Yan raises an eyebrow to show amusement. "Did we agree to those? Was gonna say when you started throwing things but it looked so funny/"

He smashes the club down, just missing her head.

"It's a martial-arts cliché, honey." Yan sing-songs "A weapon throws you off balance"

SWISH -

SWIPE -

SLAM -

He misses her three times, the last time smashing the club into a tree so hard that the impact hurts his hand. He yelps.

"You see?" Yan laughs as she dances around and slaps his arse hard, the hooting of those watching turning to catcalls as she laughs.

He turns toward her, pain on his face, holding his hand - And she truly attacks for the first time. Smashes her fist against his head - He flies back, bounces vs. the tree.

As he comes off it, she punches him again - He roars with rage, lunges at her, head first, great speed - She hurtles him in the same direction, increasing speed - Right into the opposite tree.

The top of his head hits the tree.

He shudders like someone in a cartoon: a spasm running head to toe - He drops.

Yan pants as she leans over to catch her breath, then a sound has her pausing.

Klorix.

Crazed and bloody face.

In his hand: the wooden club.

She senses something, turns her head slightly to one side - so the club does not land quite flush on her skull.

Still sends her crashing to the floor.

Now she does not move.

He stands over her. Looks insane: bloody, dazed, beaten: but triumphant.

Klorix sees the slight smile, can't believe it - Rages. He pulls his foot back to kick her - Her eyes are open, just a slit - His foot swinging forward... As it reaches her, she grabs it, yanks it - He's pulled off his feet, crashing down on top of her - But she's already rolling, out from under him... and up - Coming to her feet - He starts to rise, all fours, then into a crouch and lunge...She's ready. Her face alert. Centre of gravity low. Arm low, fist low... As her motion unfurls: Boxers say that an uppercut, perfectly executed, is the most difficult, powerful, and beautiful of punches. Let us not forget that this is no mortal woman either!

Indeed: when an uppercut starts low for maximum centre-of- gravity and hits the opponent flush on the point of the chin - as Yan's does here - it delivers a devastating message to the central nervous system, short-circuiting it completely.

Klorix flies backward...There's that bird table behind him.

His head cracks on the table.

The crowd goes wild.

Yan shrugs and walks away with her hips swinging.

Game over!