and the next ... and the next ... and the next ... and the next and then ethan hit the ground , face jammed in mud , everything drowned out by the laughter of the children , a full-body assault coming from every side , every angle-superficial punches that did n't stand a chance of hurting him , the sting of shallow cuts , the occasional and far more disconcerting heft of blunt objects striking his head , and all of it , with every passing second , increasing in frequency , like he was being attacked by a school of piranhas .