JSMN on firearms

Originally posted here on Tumblr.

Chapter 64:

‘After all,’ [Lascelles] thought, ‘what can a magician do against a lead ball? Between the pistol firing and his heart exploding, there is no time for magic.’

Chapter 67:

Childermass aimed the right-hand pistol somewhat wide of the man’s left shoulder, intending to frighten him away. The pistol fired perfectly; a cloud of smoke and a smell of gunpower rose from the pan; sparks and more smoke disgorged from the barrel.

But the lead refused to fly. It hung in the air as if in a dream. It twisted, swelled and changed shape. Suddenly it put forth wings, turned into a lapwing and flew away.

:)

Tags: (of course the magic that later befalls lascelles presumably also takes place, between his firing the pistol and the death of the previous champion, but i thought these two made a nice paralell)