he felt at least two sharp kicks to the side of his torso as he lay on the ground , and a numbing punch full in the face , that felt as though it must have pushed his nose almost inside out , like the reversal of a jelly mould , and from which he recognized , and tasted , the hot and salty sensation of his own running blood , before he heard the swishing rush of the first attackers large stick , as it was raised , double-handed , above his opponents head and swung down on an unstoppable collision course with the front of his unprotected skull .