Heron Lake Plateau punch drunk

It reminds him of his many battles with Niamh growing up, which keeps him in high spirits even as she closes the gap and begins to turn his tactics back upon him. She crowds him and nothing he can do compensates for it; she is fast, and knows perfectly well how to use her body to the best advantage. She may even be better than him. Ambrose would never admit that but he will admit watching her thrills him to no end, and he will be considering this game in the future. It is a good memory.

She succeeds in bowling him over. Maybe it is the blip of commendation in his fleeting thought that allows it — maybe he just isn't trying that hard, and wants to fall. But he staggers and is brought to the dirt with some finesse, and he is stuck for a moment too long on his back with his velvet-black belly exposed. He should've been agitated (maybe he was, to some degree) but Ambrose couldn't help but laugh as he flailed at her, calling out: Uncle! Uncle!