Victor took Emma's tongue. Sam had expected her to scream when she saw the knife. What came out of her was a low, choking sound, and he heard it as clearly as if he were back on duty with his ear to an open door. There were men close enough to hold her. He still felt his hands come up like somebody was going to ask him to help.
Robert got one leg over the edge of the pallet where Pope had left him sitting. With his wrists tied, he had to swing the whole weight of his body around to rise. He managed to get both feet under him before anyone saw which way he meant to go. His head was down by then, aimed at Victor's side. Pope hit him under the jaw hard enough to put him flat on his back. He went over so fast his coat stayed caught on a nail in the pallet. By the time Pope freed it and felt his neck, Robert was dead, too.
