### 83

The blows drive the needles deeper into your hand, but the anaesthetic prevents you from feeling any pain.

The creature is soon crushed to a pulp and drops from your hand in tattered lumps. You nurse your nerveless fingers, pulling the needles from your palm that have been driven so deep that their points protrude from the back of your hand. Gradually feeling returns, and with it comes pain as intense as if you had held a red-hot coal--lose 5 ENDURANCE points.

If you wish to bathe your burning hand in the pool of clear water, turn to 315.

If you choose not to bathe your hand, turn to 177.

Text copyright © 1987 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1987 Gary Chalk.