no harm would come to them if he just stayed his course , but at what cost ? would you like to talk to him personally ? '' his hands looked empty and awkward , as if he still wanted to reach for me , and his voice cracked on the last word . francis is coughing as the air is knocked from his lungs . a fat drop of water hits the top of my head . that was self-defense , and you know it . she gazed up at him and caught her breath . 