Blade now realized that although he'd been moving a good deal while holding the pod open, the creepers hadn't responded. Did the pod's apparently having a firm grip on the prey make them relax? Cautiously Blade wiggled one toe, then two. Next he shifted one foot, and finally he flexed one knee. He felt like a paralyzed man trying to move, but he didn't dare risk anything more drastic. That would risk breaking his grip on the jaws of the pod.

Still no sign of movement from the creepers. Blade repeated his whole series of movements, this time ending by flexing both knees. Both the creepers and the pod remained inactive. So far so good. The next step had to be disabling the pod, and the best way seemed to be sheer brute force. Blade took several deep breaths, then partly relaxed his arms without loosening his grip on the jaws. The pod closed another six inches. Then Blade put all his strength into one tremendous push.

For a moment the pod resisted. It was like trying to tear open a safe's door with his bare hands. Blade's heart pounded against his ribs. Then something banged like an enormous shotgun. The two halves of the pod flew apart. The sudden release of all tension threw Blade forward into the creepers.

He thought he'd jumped out of the frying pan into the fire. But the creepers around him were writhing and striking out wildly, not trying to reach and hold him. Even the two around his legs were loosening. Overhead the branch was writhing and thrashing, tossing the two dangling jaws.

Blade dug both hands into the soft jungle earth, then jerked both legs. The right leg came free at once, and the left leg came free after a second jerk. Then he flung himself into a somersault that would have won him a medal in any gymnastics contest. Here it saved his life by landing him beyond the reach of the creepers.

He landed hard, knocking the wind out of himself and once again slamming his head into a root. The roots in this jungle seemed to be jumping out at him. Then he heard a high-pitched whine in his ears. He shook his head gently, but the sound only grew louder. He'd just realized the whine wasn't inside his head when it turned into a shrill scream, like a great animal crying out in pain.