"Shut up!" Tol yelled at him and turned to Nikto. "Nikto, help me, help me! You are my friend! You know how to treat half-bloods!"

Nikto knelt next to Asa and turned her onto her side.

"We need to pin her tongue," he said, "or she"d swallow it or bite it off when she starts jerking. I"ll give her some of my medicines and she"ll have convulsions. But she"ll come out of stupor."

He rose and walked out of the room.

"Nikto will help me!" Tol moaned.

Orel took a napkin from the mirror table and found a big pin in a drawer he simply yanked out and overturned.

"Here, do what Nikto said," he gave Tol the pin and the napkin.

Tol started back.

"But I can"t"

"Fuck you! Is she your wench or not?"

"Orel, please! I can"t, I won"t be able to! I never did it, maybe you can…"

"I won"t," Orel said sharply.

"Enriki!" Tol looked at Enriki like a kicked dog.

Enriki took the pin quickly, opened Asa"s mouth by force and without changing in face pierced the pin through her tongue.

Tol looked away.

Nikto returned; Enriki got up making place for him.

"Tol, hold her head or she"ll beat out her brains," Nikto asked.

Tol, sobbing, knelt, put the girl"s head on his lap and held it firmly.

"Will it help? Won"t it finish her off?" Enriki asked.

"Shut up!" Tol shouted. "I trust Nikto!"