Being crazy and brainwashed might keep him from being listened to but, luckily for him, it has not dulled a lifetime of training and his reflexes, fast as they've ever been, have him throwing himself down even before it occurs to him what's coming at him, or why. Figuring that out happens as he's trying to slide himself behind the dragon, still unwilling to go too far from the one heart remaining in this particular area.

If he gets far enough without being trampled by the beast, and if he can act before that cord gets sent after him again, he'll try again to give the dragon a shock from his righthand gun, this time on the ass. A little like those disreputable men used to in his childhood, when they moved into town on Fair Day. They'd take their shaved bears, their painted dogs, give them a surreptitious pinch on the ass with some hidden tool to make them fierce. Not the wisest move when for all he knows this dragon might move backward instead of forward, but if he's able to do it maybe it'll make the beast clear off long enough for him to get a shot at the Legionnaire controlling it. If Roland can only get him weak enough, then the Legionnaire will listen. Then he'll understand.