A drop that had been trembling on the tip of the blade fell, plip, onto my forehead. It was so cold it shook me loose.

NickPlease step back. My elbow has seized.

EllaHere's oil, elbow. I'll get you loose, I promise!

He told me to step back. I heard him. But my hands had already put the oil in. His stiff elbow was the only thing still holding the axe up. The oil freed it. The blade came down toward my head. No— it was coming down because of me. Because of the oil I put in. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Right then, his knee gave way.

He hadn't fallen. He'd gone down on one knee, on purpose. Then he twisted and pulled his axe arm in toward himself. Instead of my head, the axe came down on his bent knee.

EllaHah… hah…… Mr. Chopper. A-are you all right…?