sure , says reginald , and then maurice covers his mouth with the arm , trying to smother him , and despite the smothering he can feel the blood running down his throat and then a great pain climbs his spine , starting from the base and radiating through every nerve and its like being consumed by fire while being slit open by a thousand razors and theres a great flash of light and dead reginald awoke pain-free , feeling good , feeling strong .