He came around in front of me to loosen my grip. I pushed him off. He picked up a stone and came at me again. He meant to rescue me, like it or not. He raised the stone to knock me unconscious. A shot rang out. Chetzisky sagged forward and dropped to the ground. Canadian soldiers in battle dress were crowding around me, Armstrong with them. I felt sick, my head spun, but I managed to tell him what to do about the drum and the ramp. "Okay, Arnold. We'll get you to a hospital right away." The world spiralled down out of sight down a cone of darkness until I woke up in this hospital bed hours later with these flaming embers inside me. It won't be long now. I can read it in Armstrong's eyes. There's strength in the feel of that friendly hand now that the world inside me is going to pieces. Around me a soft blackness is settling.... _EXTRACTS, HOSPITAL CASE HISTORY NO. 3007_: _7:20 P.M. Patient relapsed into coma. Pulse almost imperceptible.... 7:32 P.M. Patient pronounced dead._