“Allez! Fence!”
BZZZ!
“Halt! Again, there is one light …”
Jester had attacked as soon as the director dropped his hand to signal the start of the action. No feint … no tricky fake … just a quick darting jab … to the foot again!
Two-zero!
The major tried desperately to get his annoyance under control as they came on guard again.
The sonofabitch caught him twice with the same sucker move!
“Allez! Fence!”
The progress of the bout was relentless, giving O’Donnel little or no time to regroup mentally.
Jester stamped his foot noisily, and the major had to fight to keep from twitching defensively at the sound.
Don’t fall for a sound feint! It’s just the kind of thing this joker will use to …
The Legionnaire surged forward, catching and controlling O’Donnel’s sword with his own weapon, moving the deadly defending point to one side with a flick of his wrist while slamming his own point squarely into his opponent’s mask.
BZZZ!
“Halt!”
The major turned his back on the proceedings, shaking his arms and rotating his shoulders as the touch was awarded.
He had tightened up! Fighting the reflex to move at the sound of the foot stomp, he had tensed his arm, and Jester seized the opportunity before he could regain enough flexibility to evade the attack on his blade!
Three to zero! No! Put it out of your mind! Think of it as coming on guard for the first touch … except now Jester would be going for double touches! Two double touches and the bout would be over!
“Fencers ready?”
“Ready!”
“Just a moment, sir!”