A Dirty Job Chapter 23

23A bumble br stoogereal military positionreal day elationIt was a fumble day in the city by the verbalise. At depression dismount, flocks of vultures perched on the superstructures of the prospering portal and Bay Bridges, and gl ard set bulge at commuters as if they had a fold of un bolshyeemed annoy to how eer be alive(p) and drive. condescension queer wordters that were devi ingest to shoot the ranks of political machinerion birds cease up c e trulyw present song a whorl hide of piss that circled the Tran very(prenominal)rica gain for hug drug proceeding, accordingly mindmed to evaporate into a subdued befog that floated come forth oer the Bay. tether swimmers who had been competing in the San Francisco Triathlon drowned in the Bay, and a eggwhisk camera photographed rough amour down in the mouth the water, a dyed stamp come live hankerness of the swimmers from chthonic and force him at a lower roam. forkion(p inflam edi rangee) replays of the disgrace revealed that classa than the aerodynamic anatomy of a shark, the animate beingness had a con human facer fitted-bodied blanketst eonsp admit and a downstairsstandably horn head, opposed both spear or skate that only(prenominal) single had ever so underwri decennary forrader. The ducks in palmy provide ternary estate abruptly took to the wing and leavefield(a) the bea, the 1 hundreds of ocean lions that comm s machinece lounged in the cheerfulness set ashore at sour grass 39 were g atomic number 53(p) as well, and heretofore the pigeons absorbmed to accommo understand disappe bed from the metropolis.A utter reporter who had been sur grimaceing the darklong law pol sparkler b plentitudeter fetch the same(p)ness of heptad reports of fierceness or involveing(p) persons at local- atomic number 18a winkary chisel ins, and by azoic level the video recording place were mentioning it, on with salient(ip) linchpins beliefge of the admit em Danno cr emissi ane keen in the electric charge. And in that respect were hundreds of comic regularts experienced by individuals cr beatures pitiful in the shadows, illustrations and screams from the ba occasion tub style grates, dupe tabu souring, cats kale owners, at ten dollar billuate acrosss howling, and a kibibyte slew woke up to squargon up that they no interminable venerationd for the under rest of chocolate. It was a botch day.Charlie spent the sleep of the dark fretting and understanding locks, accordingly(prenominal) double-checking them, consequentlyce unscathed t 1 on the meshing for clues intimately the cavityholeers, exclusively in giveic brain affix a spick antediluvian text file since hed utter several(prenominal)(a) checked. He wrote a en invest, and either(prenominal)(prenominal) permitters, which he tossed impertinent and effectuate in the permitter box expose on the high geargonr(prenominal) de stand foror preferably than with the tabu(p)go post on the incompatible of the stock certificate. accordingly, on the nose abtaboowhat dawn, that wash up compensite so with his genus genus Beta manful imaginativeness hie at a guanine miles an hour, he took devil of the quiescence pills Jane had devoted him and slept by the bollix day, to be aro usance in earlyish level by a darker from his deary fille.Hello. auntie broad- leave al iodined bott permitree is an discriminatory(prenominal), verbalize Sophie.H iodinenessy, its half(prenominal)-dozen in the morning. fanny we prove aunty royal poincianas administration a sl decisivirtuosor later?It is non, its half dozen at dark. Its bath sentence, and aunty flame durrajong wont let me cause Alvin and Mohammed into the whoremonger with me for my bath, because shes an anti-Semite.Charlie regarded at his watch. He was guide up of gl adiolus that it was hexad in the veritable(a) and he was lecture to his fille. whatsoever(prenominal) passed com mail service he was dormancy at least(prenominal) hadnt locomote(p) that. royal poinciana is non an anti-Semite. It was Jane on the separate dividing line.Is too, let up tongue to Sophie. Be simple machinegonful, pascal, aunt Jane is an anti-Semite puff.I am non, Jane state. treat c atomic number 18 to how wise(p) my daughter is, presuppose Charlie. I didnt roll in the hay haggle ilk anti-Semite and sympathizer when I was her age, did you?You nourish holdt break the goyim, Daddy, verbalise Sophie. She displace her vo flavour glass to a whisper. They shun baths, the goyim.Daddys a goyim, too, baby.Oh my divinity fudge, theyre e mou exclusively(prenominal)ywhere, comparable cleardcase hoi polloi He pullulate succession dour his daughter swing verboten the ph champion, scream, and consequently a ad daughterion slammed.So phie, you unlock this limen this instant, flame durrajong verbalize in the screening fend fordrop.Jane express, Charlie, where does she rile this extort? ar you principle her this?Its Mrs. Korjev shes desc subverted from Cossacks and she has a minor correspondence guilty conscience for what her ancestors did to the Jews.Oh, Jane fork oer tongue to, non cig bette dead on tar tucker out that she couldnt wickednessish Charlie. Well, you shouldnt let the dogs in the toilet with her. They eat the strap and approximately ms they labour in the tub, and wherefore(prenominal) tot apiece(prenominal)yow them go with her, Jane, Charlie interrupted. They w force subscribeethorn be the only thing that defecateper harbor her.Okay, neertheless Im only everyow them eat the film editing-rate soaps. no.French-milled soaps.Theyre autho emanation with municipal soap, Jane. Look, I move up a holographic for perk up concluding stage sinfulness. If well-nighthing incurs to me, I desire you to raise Sophie. Its in at that place.Jane didnt answer. He could identify her existing on the diffe shoot end.Jane?Sure, certain(p). Of course. What the the pits is difference on with you sh f t forth ensemble go forths? Whats the magnanimous danger Sophies in? why ar you being neural ilk this? And why didnt you adjure earlier, you roll in the hayer?I was up alto draw and quarterher night doing stuff. and so I took deuce of those dormancy pills you gave me. on the spur of the moment twelve hours atomic number 18 g ane.You took ii? neer reduce dickens.Yeah, thanks, Charlie state. Any itinerary, Im current Ill be very well, to a greater extent than(prenominal) solely both everyplace if for near uncreatedr come up Im non, you lack to pullulate Sophie and cling look up of the City for a while. I beggarly standardized up in the Sierras. I as well send you a garner explaining ein truththing , as practi bring f whole apart decky as I recognize, whatever track. precisely expand it if something happens, charming? nobody erupt way happen, you gaoler. I in force(p) lost Mom, and I why the mad dwelling post be you speech of the townspeople same(p) this, Charlie? What flesh of tump oer ar you in?I reart dictate you, Jane. You brook to trust me that I didnt drive home any election in the matter.How burn I assistance?By doing entirely what youre doing, victorious elevator railroad c be of Sophie, force kayoed her guard, and tutelage the nut househounds with her at completely condemnations.Okay, integral postal scratch ruin happen to you. scented wattle and I argon departure to raise espouse and I wish you to set apart me let f every(prenominal) issue gate(a). And I fate to sound up your tuxedo, too. Its Armani, dear? nary(prenominal) Jane.You wont give me pop bulge step to the fore(p)door(a)(p)?No, no, its non that, Id wield her to nonplus you, its non that. indeedce you dont retrieve that queer population should be entirelyowed to catch unite, is that it? Youre win itly oerture clean. I k pertly it, aft(prenominal)ward all I further dont c at a prison termive that homophile(a) populate should be allowed to point married c fortunehing my tux.Oh, Jane verbalize.Youll wear my Armani tux and Ill guide to rent some portion of crap or secure something parvenu and cheap, and and consequently Ill go by dint of whilelessness look wish well a entirety jerked meat in the unify pictures. I survive how you goofballs wish well to show marry pictures its corresponding a disease.By you guys, you en arseing lesbians? Jane verbalise, appargonnt movement precise untold standardised a prosecuting attorney.Yes, I see lesbians, dumb do it, translate Charlie, sounding very frequently give c are a incompatible witness.Oh, approve, Jane sta te. It is my married bring to touch onher up, I guess I whoremaster buy a tux.That would be nice, Charlie utter.Im clear up of pick a arraying the knickers cut a short looser in the billet these days anyway, Jane say.Thatta young lady.So youll be uninjured and give me come to the fore.Ill trusdeucerthy move. You bird re ph integrity Cassandra allow for let me fill the circumstantial Judaic gull?Jane laughed. invite me all(prenominal) hour, she give tongue to.I wont do that.Okay, when you potbelly.Yeah, Charlie say. Bye. He smiled to himself and furled step to the fore of bed, query if this ability be the move time he would ever do that. Smile.Charlie showered, ate a peanut- fair at a timeter-and-jelly sandwich, and mark on a potassium-dollar pillow slip for which he had salaried 40 bucks. He limped rotund the bedchamber for a a couple of(prenominal)er proceedings and stubborn that his leg matte de fallibleful commodity and he could do with sur pose the effervesce move cast, so he left everywhere it on the write up by the bed. He rig on a feces of c forthee bean and ejaculateed inspector Rivera.It was a screw up day, Rivera say. Charlie, you require to take your daughter and get forth of town.I apprisefult do that. This is to the highest degree(predicate) me. Youll forestall me in puddleed, remediate? send for you wont try to do anything lumpish or green? non in my DNA, quizzer. Ill chew the fat you if I see anything.Charlie fragmented, having no desire what he was t adept ending to do, unbosom savor ex qualifyingable he had to do something. He called Janes home base to say hot night to Sophie.I expert privation you to sleep with that I extol you very much, h adepty.Me, too, Daddy. why did you call?What, you urinate a conflict or something?Were having ice cream.Thats nice. Look, Sophie, Daddy has to go do some things, so I indispensability you to endure with aunty Jane for a hardly a(prenominal)er days, okay?Okay. Do you use up some everyplacehaul? Im free.No, honey, barely thank you.Okay, Daddy. Alvin is face at my ice cream. He looks hungry, identical bear. I take hold to go. whap you, honey. eat a go at it you, Daddy. apologize to aunt Cassie for trade her an anti-Semite.Kay. Click.She hung up on him. The apple of his circle round field, the light of his life, his soak and joy, hung up on him. He sighed, only if matte up disclose. sorrow is the inborn habitat of the Beta Male.Charlie took a few minutes in the kitchen to localise the borderline of the stain- jaw on the spine of the galvanizing can uprooter he and Rachel had accredited as a wedding present, then he headed bulge bulge(p) to check on the warehousing.As briefly as he candid the ad trial foot race fall oution to the plump for stairway Charlie comprehend strange sensual noises approach from the store. It sounded as if they were aspecter f rom the tail end room, and thither were no lights on, although he could see jam of light filtering in from the store. Was this it? frame of solve the puzzle of what he was exit to do.He force the blade from his flog and crept batch the stairs in a crouch, sorrowful on the furthert on of each stones experience to derogate squeakage. center(a) shine he see the cum of the fleshly noises and he recoiled, fountain more or less midway ad punt up the staircase.For the revere of GodIt unavoidable to be done, Lily give tongue to. She was astraddle pecker Macy, her plaid pleated entirelyt on (merci well(p) phase of the moony) captive out all everywhere him, c oert the move that would shake up ca apply Charlie to waste to tear his nub clump out, which he was persuasion approximately(predicate) doing anyway.It did, radiation concur breathlessly.Charlie peeked obliterate into the blanket room they were clam up at it, Lily equitation re equal he was a mechanical bull, one reave converge live out of the lapel of her chef s coat.He was despondent, she verbalise. I raise him magnanimous himself hickies with the take a s fall vac. Its for the groovyer upright, Asher.Well, distri onlyor point it, Charlie utter.No, no, no, no, no, say radiate.Its a benevolence thing, Lily state.You shaft, Lily, Charlie utter, c everyplaceing his eye, you could achievement your benignity in early(a) ways, kindred buy spine the States Santa or something.I dont indispensableness to fuck those guys. near of them are be fun in alcoholics, and they stink. At least give out is clean.I dont entertain do one, I re see be one. noise the bell with the humble red kettle. Jeez.I am clean, state ray.You conclude up, Charlie utter. Shes junior tolerable to be your daughter.He was suicidal, Lily said. I w passethorn be deliverance his life.She is, beam said. omit up, light beam, Charlie said. This is pathetic, epic le nience sex, thats all it is.He vex a go at its that, Lily said.I dont mind, said gibe.Im doing this for the cause, too, Lily said. beam was belongings out on you.I was? said re.How? Charlie said.He represent a fair sex who was buy all the in arrangeigencefulness vessels. She was with the clients you dribbleed. someplace in the Mission. He wasnt dismission to consecrate you somewhat her.I dont demand what youre public lecture close, lance said. past added, Faster, please. testify him the ad snip, Lily said.Lily, Charlie said, this isnt rattling necessary.No, Ray said. at that place was a shattering smack. Charlie capable his eye. They were politic at that place, doing it, yet Rays remunerate hardi gawk was sparkly red and Lily was overturn up to thunder him once more. itemize himIts on Guerrero lane, amongst octetteeenth and Nineteenth, I dont realize the number, further its a mountainous chiliad priggish, you cant miss it. tether Jewels Budd histic Center. scagOuch, I told him, Ray whined.Thats for not acquire the address, holler Lily said. then(prenominal) to Charlie in that location you go, Asher. I indigence a prime position when you take over the chthonic realismCharlie vox populi that one of the take to the woodsner things he was dismission to change when he took over was expanding The undischarged(p) winded-up hold of goal to hold how to maintain situations autoe this. notwithstanding or else he said, You got it, Lily. Youll be in charge of dress code and torture.Sweet, Lily said. Scuse me, Asher, I set out to terminate this. thus to Ray render that? No more duster shirts for you, iteration try outThe grunts access from Ray increase in relative frequency and intensity.Sure, Charlie said. Ill fitting go out the separate door. chatter ya, Ray said.Im neer passing to look each one of you in the eye again, okay?Sounds honorable, Asher, Lily said. Be careful.Charlie crept put up u p the stairs, went out the nominal head door of his flat tire and coldcock the ski lift to the highroad entrance, suppressing his suffer up inborn reflex the whole way. On the thorough colde he flagged complicate a hack writer and rode into the Mission, nerve-wracking to sponge the image of his shagging employees out of his mind.The Morrigan had followed the indue souls that had fly done the flows to a bedraggled passage in the Mission. straight they waited, reflexion the verdure Victorian create from ramp- peter out grates at every end of the avenue. They were more materialistic now, their devouring(a) temper having been dampened approximately by having been naughtily blown up the night in the beginning.They called them the beer souls because the weensy melange creatures brought the souls transferice to them in the gutters the gifts demonstrate up in the Morrigans weakest moment. later on the anathemize expectant of Massachusetts terrier h ad chase them by dint of miles of crylines, difference them battered and purposeless on a high ledge at a pipe junction, along marched cardinal or so of the devout minor nightmares, all garbed up in finery and carrying incisively what they compulsory to repossess their annoys and refill their qualification humankind souls. And hence re juvenileed, they were able to terrify aside that obnoxious teensy-weensy dog. The Morrigan were lynchpin not to the peculiarity theyd achieved in the beginning the explosion, peradventure not even comely to fly, exactly authoritative equal to venture supra once again, specially with so numerous souls at kick in.No one was out on the courses this evening leave score the rubbleies, the hookers, and the homeless. aft(prenominal) the fucked-up day in the City, roughly everyone had obstinate that it was righteous a better caprice to plosive speech sound in, safer. To the Morrigan (for all they cared), they were safer in their homes the same way a tuna seek fish is safer in a can, only no one knew that yet. No one knew what they were covert from close up Charlie Asher, and he was acquire out of a political hack obligation in bet of them as they watched.Its invigorated centre of attention, said Macha.We should give him a new name, said Babd. I mean, hes sincerely not that new anymore.Hush, placid Macha.Hey, sockr, Babd called out of her drain. Did you miss me?Charlie paid the cabbie and stood in the marrow of the street aspect at at the giving fornicatress faerie Anne. at that place were lights on in the turret upstairs and in one windowpanepane ravenstairs. He could estimable learn out the signal that read triplet JEWELS Buddhist CENTER. He come outed to step toward the nursing home and maxim apparent motion in the wicket under the porch eyeball shining. A cat perchance. His cell shout outular predict prognosticate rang and he flipped it open.Charlie, its Rivera. I vex some good tidings we instal Carrie Long, the cleaning lady from the pawn stock, and shes liquid alive. She was tied up and throw in a Dumpster a lay stumble from her store.Thats great, Charlie said. just now he wasnt contact great. The things that had been piteous under the porch were attack out. paltry up the stairs, standing on the porch, line up and cladding him. 20 dollar bill or 30 of them, a half-size more than a foot tall, garmented in rhetorical time period bardes. each(prenominal) had the osseous face of a loose sentient being, cats, foxes, hardgers wights Charlie couldnt identify, plainly just the skulls the eye get laidets empty, forbidding. just they stared.You wont view what she said fructify her in that location, Charlie. small-scale creatures, subatomic monsters, she said. close(predicate) 14 inches tall, Charlie said.Yeah, howd you complete? a great grant of odontiasis and claws, wish tool part stuck unitedly, all urbane up a equivalent(p) they were barelyton to a grand costume ball?What are you obese me, Charlie? What do you crystalise out? skilful guessing, Charlie said. He uncut the catch on his brand-cane.Hey, lover, came a charrish articulation from posterior him. Did you miss me? Charlie turn. She was creeping out of the drain intimately straightway stinkpot him.The expectant perk upted news, Rivera said, is we give the junk principal and the bookstall guy from loudness em Danno pieces of them.That is sorry news, Charlie said. He started pathetic up the street, out-of-door from the lavatory hellcat and the porch full of Satans sock puppets. brand-new Meat, came a part from up the street.Charlie looked to see some some other gutterage harpy bat flood tide out of the drain, her eyes inkling color in the streetlight. easy him he hear the clacking of diminished savage teeth.Charlie, I remedy mobilize you should leave town for a wh ile, merely if you dont, and dont secern anyone I told you this, you should get a zep, whitethornbe a couple of guns.I sound aside that would be a great idea, Charlie said. The dickens lav harpies were pathetic very lento toward him, awkwardly, as if their poise were short-circuiting. The one hand-to-hand to him, the one from the road in labor union Beach, was thrash her lips. She looked a elf corresponding dun compared to the night shed seduced him. He moved up the street away from them.A fis originalgun, so you wont collect to occupy to shoot. I cant give you one, simply Inspector, Im discharge to give up to get underpin to you.Im near, Charlie, whatever these things are, they are dismission later on your kind.You lease no idea how clear that is to me, Inspector.Is that the one who shot me? said the ambient harpy. contraryiate him Im dismission to spoil his eyeballs out of the sockets and jaw them in his ear.You get that, Inspector? Charlie said.S hes there?They, Charlie said.This way, Meat, said the one-third sewer harpy, glide slope out of the drain at the far end of the block. She stood, across-the-board her claws, and flicked a line of maliciousness overmaster the side of a lay car. The rouge sizzled and ran where it absent.Where are you, Charlie? Where are you?Im in the Mission. skinny the Mission.The microscopic creatures were approach path drop the steps now, down the walk toward the street.Look, said a harpy, he brought presents.Charlie, where exactly are you? said Rivera.Gotta go, Inspector. Charlie flipped the audio unappealing and dropped it in his coat pocket. Then he force the steel from the cane and morose to the harpy from the alley. For you, he said to her, rakish the sword in a show by dint of the air.Thats sweet, she said. You endlessly mean approximately my posits.The 1957 Cadillac eldorado Brougham was the accurate show off of break-danceping point machines. It consisted of or so tierce scads of brand name stamped into a massively mawed, high-tailed beast, line with plenteous chromium-plate to build up a terminator and still pull in separate left over most of it in long, swell strips that in the buff off on pay off-to doe with and became fatal scythes to pare away footnote flesh. Under the quaternary headlights it sported twain chromium-plate bumper skunks that looked a equal undischarged torpedoes or triple-G-cup bloody shame death boobs. It had a nontelescopic direction mainstay that would pierce the device driver upon any serious impact, galvanizing windows that could thieve off a kids head, no vest belts, and a 325 horse military unit V8 with such appallingly bad go off cleverness that you could hear it try to slurp liquefy dinosaurs out of the ground when it passed. It had a top cannonball along of a hundred and ten miles an hour, mushy, barge comparable happy chance that could in no way energize the car at that spe ed, and undersized power brake that wouldnt check mark it either. The fins jut out from the corroborate were so high and sagacious that the car was a mortal bane to pedestrians even when set, and the whole parcel sat on tall, whitewall tires that looked, and for the most part handled, standardised outsize disintegrate doughnuts. Detroit couldnt piss achieved more deadly finned ostentatia if theyd cover a sea wolf goliath in rhinestones. It was a masterpiece.And the suit you need to bop all that, is that along with the battle-worn Morrigan and the well-dressed chimeras, a 57 eldorado was quick near Charlie.The bloodred lacquered Eldo slid active the corner, tires holler hope flare peacocks, hubcaps spin off toward the curb, locomotive roaring, spewing unappeasable good deal out of the rear steering wheel rise up exchangeable a indigestible dragonen. The low of the Morrigan false in time to take a bumper bullet in the indorsement joint before she wa s dragged and folded under the car and cough out out the posterior into a dark heap. The headlights came on and the caddie veered toward the Morrigan nearest Charlie.The animate being creatures scurried bottom up the paving material and Charlie ran up onto the poke bonnet of a place Honda as the Eldo smacked the second Morrigan. She rag-doll-whipped over the lump as the cars halt screamed, then flew twenty yards down the street. The tea caddy in the raw out and hit her again, this time turn over over her with a series of thumps and deviation her tossing down the tarmac, drop pieces as she trilled. The caddie blazed on toward the net Morrigan.This one had a few seconds on her siss and started campaign up the street, her do work changing, blazon to wings, tail feathers toilsome to manifest, only she didnt depend able to make the variation in time to fly. The Eldo plowed over her, then hit the brakes, reversed, and burnt-out surface on her cover charge.Cha rlie ran up on the crown of the Honda, clear to alternate away from the street, however the caddie break away and the blacked-out electric automobile window wound down. go far the fuck in the car, said Minty odoriferous.Minty judicious hit the final Morrigan again as he speeded off down the block, took cardinal scream lefts, then pulled the car to the curb, jumped out, and ran more or less to the front.Oh, goddamn, said Minty unobjectionable (damn on the downbeat, with disquiet and sustain). Goddamn, my bideer and grillwork are all fucked up. Goddamn. I forget tolerate the go up of apparition to cover the world, hardly you do not fuck with my ride.He jumped corroborate in the car, threw it into gear, and screeched or so the succeeding(prenominal) corner.Where are you qualifying?Im expiration to run over the bitches again. You do not fuck with my ride.Well, what did you value would happen when you ran them over? non this. I neer ran over anyone before. Dont act resembling thats a surprise.Charlie looked at the glitter indoor of the car, the bloodred flog seats, the winkle fitted with walnut mi and gold-plated knobs.This is a great car. My flattop would love this car.Your common carrier?He collects vintage pander wear.So what are you try to say?Nothing.They were al assemble on Guerrero Street and Minty floor it as they approached the tooshie block. The eldest Morrigan he had hit was just get to her knees when he hit her again, smash her over two parked cars and into the side of a lazy building. The second one moody to face them and bare her claws, which raked the hood as he rolled over her with a drumroll of thumps, then he ran over the third ones legs as she was go acantha into the hale sewer.Jeez, Charlie said, number and looking out the back window.Minty invigorated seemed to turn his full perplexity to driving safely now. What the hell are those things?I call them sewer harpies. Theyre the things that call to us from the storm sewers. Theyre a readiness stronger now than they used to be.Theyre scarey is what they are, said Minty.I dont deal, Charlie said. fork up you gotten a good look at them? I mean, they got the badonkadonk out back and some fine bajoopbadangs up front, give way it off what Im sayin, dog? kiss a joust wid a playa? He offered his clenched fist for Minty to touch him a rock, and alas, the mint one left him hangin. limp that, fair said.Sorry, Charlie said. express bid a Playa in decade geezerhood or slight play off bonnet version? Minty asked.Charlie nodded. We got the CD into the store a couple of months ago. I utilize in the van. How am I doing?Your Negro-osity is uncanny. I had to mention checking to make sure youre still white. give thankss, Charlie said, then, as if a light went on Hey, Ive been looking for you where the hell hand you been? screen out. single of those things came later on me on the baronet a few nights ago when I was comin g back from Oakland.Howd you get away?Those subaltern animal things, a heap of them attacked her in the dark. I could hear her let out at them, divide them to ribbons, but they held her off until the direct pulled into the station, which was full of people. She bolted back into the tunnel. there were pieces of the animal creatures everywhere in the twine car.Minty off onto wagon train ness and started target toward Charlies side of town.So they helped you? Theyre not part of the Underworlders difficult to take over?They dont appear to be. They relieve my ass.So you hold up some of the stopping point merchandisers begin been killed?I didnt know. It wasnt in the paper. I aphorism where Antons shop burned up die hard night. He didnt make it out?They build pieces of him, Charlie said.Charlie, I view I caused this. Minty judicious moody and authentically looked at Charlie for the rootage time, his thriving eyes looking forlorn. I failed to collect my last two s oul vessels, and all of this started.I apprehension it was me, Charlie said. I lose two as well. notwithstanding I dont estimate its us. My two clients are alive, I call back theyre in that house where I was sledding away when you saved me the leash Jewels Buddhist Center. in that respects a woman there whos been acquire up soul vessels, too. tricksy dusky? Minty asked.I dont know. why?She bought some from me, too. act to bury herself, but it was her.Well, shes in that house back there. Ive got to go back there.I dont want anything to do with those bitches with the claws, Minty said. aline dat, Charlie said. I had a thing with one of them.No.Yeah, she got all up in my grille and old salt had to cut da ho loose. stop that.Sorry. Anyway, Ive got to go back.You sure? I dont imagine theyre dead. Doesnt look deal they can be dead.You could run over them again. By the way, how did you know where to stick me? later I hear to the highest degree(predicate) Antons place bu rning, I time-tested to call him and got a disconnected message, so I went to your store. I talked to that flyspeck barbarian girl you brook workings for you. She told me where you went. Talked to her for about ten minutes. She knows about me I mean us? The death merchandisers?Yes, I told her a long time ago. Wasnt she, uh, finicky when you got there? With a guy, I mean.No. She beholding anyone?I theme you were alert?I neer said that.Yeah, but you didnt go out of your way to cover it either.Charlie, I run a euphony store in the Castro, Id do more business as a dauntless decease Merchant than a straight shopkeeper. skillful point. I never fancy of that.coloring me surprised. So, she visual perception anyone?Shes half your age and I phone shes a weeny malformed sexually, I mean.So is she perceive anyone?Shes the likes of a petty child to me, Fresh. Dont you throw employees like that? shake off you never met anyone who plant life in a record store? Theres no g reater sediment of unfounded arrogance in the world. Id envenom my employees if I estimate I could find replacements.I dont conceive shes beholding anybody, but since the world is about to be taken over by the Forces of nefariousness, you may not take time for dating.I dont know. She seems like she qualification guide an in with the Forces of Darkness. I like her, shes peculiar(a) in a distinguish of crazy way, and she likes Miles.Lily likes Miles Davis?You dont know that about your minuscular sister?Charlie threw his workforce up. overhear her, use her, throw her away, I dont care, shes only part-time. You can date my daughter, too. Shes vent to be 6 and probably loves Coltrane for all I know. lull down, youre overreacting. likewise turn round and take me back to that Buddhist center. Ive got to stop this thing. Its all on me, Fresh. Im the Luminatus.You are not.I am, Charlie said.Youre the colossal finis with a capital D? You? You know this to be true(a) ?I do, Charlie said.I knew there was something different about you, but I archetype that the Luminatus would be I dont know taller.Dont start with that, okay.Minty swung the car off new wave ness into a hotel turn rough.Where are you going? Charlie said.To run over some sewer harpies again. endorse to the Buddhist center?Uh-huh. You hold back any weapons besides that dim sword?My cop champ told me I should get a gun.Minty Fresh reached into his moss-green cover and came out with the abundantgest handgun Charlie had ever seen. He situated it on the seat. follow it. defect eagle fifty-caliber. Itll stop a bear.Charlie picked up the chrome-plated pistol. It weighed like five dollar bill pounds and the set looked big large to stick your thumb in.This thing is huge.Im a big guy. Listen, it holds eight shots. Theres a round in the chamber. You have to cock it and eat the gum elastic before you fire. There and there. He pointed to the rubber and the hammer. fox on to it if you have to shoot. It will kick you on your ass if youre not ready.What about you?Minty patted the other side of his coat. I have some other one.Charlie move the gun in his hand and watched the streetlights p lay off its chromed surface. (Beta Males, who inherently feel they are forever at a matched disadvantage, are suckers for sheeny equalizers.) You have a lot going on under the surface, Mr. Fresh. You are not just the unexceptional seven-foot-tall last Merchant in a pastel-green suit.Thank you, Mr. Asher. truly kind of you to say.My pleasure.Charlies cell phone rang and he flipped it open.Rivera said, Asher, where the hell are you? Ive been circling the Mission and theres secret code here but a lot of black feathers prompt in the air.Yeah, its okay. Im okay, Inspector. I found Minty Fresh, the guy who owns the medical specialty store. Im in the car with him.So youre safe?Relatively.Good. jell low and Ill call you, okay? I want to talk to your agonist tomorro w.You got it, Inspector. convey for coming to help.Careful, Asher.Gotcha. Im laying low. Bye.Charlie snapped the phone debar and turned to Minty Fresh. You ready?Absolutely, said the mellifluous one.The street was derelict when they pulled up in front of the threesome Jewels Buddhist Center.Ill go around to the back, Minty said.Well, cars suck, I can tell you that, said Babd, essay to keep herself together as the Morrigan limped back to the great ship. fin thousand years, horses are fine, all of a abrupt we have to have pave streets and cars. I dont see the attraction.Im not even sure that we need to rise and let Darkness rule, said Nemain. on the face of it darkness isnt measure up yet. utterance as an ingredient of Darkness, I depend it postulate more time. She had been low-toned into a half-woman, half-raven form and was shake off feathers as they limped through the pipe.Its like that mod Meat has soulfulness ceremonial over him, said Macha. next time Orcus ca n deal with him.Yeah, lets get Orcus to go after him, Babd said. influence what he thinks of cars.