Six muscles contracted and flexed. Two knuckles bent to acute angles. One stayed obtuse. The cold metal bent backward, discharging the hammer to the tapered bolt of lead. A small explosion burst inside, the flame igniting the lead and sending it rocketing forward. In the same instant, the barrel rocked to the next slot.

The lifeless chunk of lead entered flesh. It burrowed its way past two large bones and entered a pulpy mass at two thousand feet per second, puncturing it and sending its cargo back to the surface.

In the same amount of effort it took to snap a twig, a life of twenty-five years and one hundred twelve days was ended.