The Barrel of Death

"I looked down the ole of the barrel, and I saw my life. The barrel seemed impossibly large," she says. "How do you know? I said, that I was telling you all of the truth"? Garan blinked at her; something unfastened behind his eyes. He snatched up the knife planted in front of me, and tucked it away. His other hand touched the gun in the holster by his side, like two lovers touching hands. And then he pulled it out.