then he got up , shaking off his fatigue like a hunting dog shaking glittering water from his fur , seeing the sparks fly from him in the hot dark , and took his knife , and slashed , and caught larth 's throat , and saw , as if time had slowed , the fan of blood spreading from the cut he 'd opened , spraying in crystal geometry droplet by droplet , pulse by pulse , and larth 's throat opening wide like an evil mouth .