with all sorts of wild prejudices, then find out the real thing is worse than anything they imagined.
I told Block, “You take the chair. I need to pace.”
He couldn’t stop staring. “What’re we doing here?”
“Old Bones there is a genius. You don’t believe me, ask him. I thought we’d lay it out for him. He’ll find connections, tell you where to start looking.” Old Bones wasn’t talking. I couldn’t tell if that was a good sign or bad. I did know that if he cooperated he would bring more than genius to bear here. He’d been around a long time. Something from yesteryear might be the key to today’s horror. It had happened before.
There are horrors that recur in long cycles, like locust plagues, but separated by generations. If these murders were cultist, they might fit one of those cycles.
The Dead Man wasn’t talking but he was listening. He was poking around. He’s damned subtle, but when he starts prying, I can tell. If I’m paying close enough attention.
Garrett. Shall we set all sham aside? Shall we abandon all childish efforts to abrade one another’s nerves? I will not yet admit that we must pursue this monster, but I will stipulate that we owe the situation a close look.
“You grow up, I’ll grow up.”
Block gave me a strange look. He hadn’t heard the Dead Man’s end. The Dead Man can do that if he wants. It makes some of our conversations spooky.
Excellent. I will set my concern for your soul in abeyance for the moment.
Oh, boy. He wasn’t going to let me off. Those women had offended his sense of rationality. He hates people who won’t examine beliefs critically. Most of the time he hides it when he deals with me, but he holds the majority of humankind in contempt. Of the gods-know-how-many sentient species in the world, we humans are the only ones who insist on fervent belief in things logic and our senses demonstrate to be implausible. Amongst other races those who stumble into never-never-lands of wishful thinking are considered insane and are dealt with about the way we deal with Barking Dog. Or more harshly. Other races don’t make priests out of their nuts, then give them money and follow them wherever they lead.
“I take it you’re going to handle this, Garrett,” Block said. He was nervous as hell. Most people are around the Dead Man. He has a considerable reputation, all of it deserved. He’s done some amazing things since I’ve known him.
“We’re considering it.” I was fighting myself. Laziness and the desire not to get involved in another bizarre case warred with outrage. Outrage was ahead by a nose. The white knight had been on the shelf too long, his only chance to strut his stuff his rescue of Chodo’s spooky daughter. But the white knight has his weaknesses. While he doesn’t mind charging full tilt against a visible villain, rusty sword flailing, he hates having to hunt the villain down. Legwork buries his resolve faster than anything the hard boys can do by way of threat or violence. And this thing would be solved by legwork.
Relax, Garrett. It should not be so bad as you anticipate. I saw Block jump, so knew the Dead Man had included him in this time. Captain Block. I sense that you have a great deal hanging upon the outcome of the investigation you propose.
Block turned pale, took on kind of a green tinge around the edges. Having somebody talk right into your head is not a reassuring experience. Not the first time. And especially so when you’re a guy who has a whole encyclopedia of corruption stashed and doesn’t want it out where the world can see. I guess you’d say it was a measure of his distress and determination that he coped so well. He bounced back quickly. “Yes. There’s a lot of heat from the top of the Hill. It’ll get hotter every time some dizzy bitch gets herself offed.”
You are certain there will be more?
“Damn straight. What do you think?”
I think you are correct. The Dead Man was all business now. The
I told Block, “You take the chair. I need to pace.”
He couldn’t stop staring. “What’re we doing here?”
“Old Bones there is a genius. You don’t believe me, ask him. I thought we’d lay it out for him. He’ll find connections, tell you where to start looking.” Old Bones wasn’t talking. I couldn’t tell if that was a good sign or bad. I did know that if he cooperated he would bring more than genius to bear here. He’d been around a long time. Something from yesteryear might be the key to today’s horror. It had happened before.
There are horrors that recur in long cycles, like locust plagues, but separated by generations. If these murders were cultist, they might fit one of those cycles.
The Dead Man wasn’t talking but he was listening. He was poking around. He’s damned subtle, but when he starts prying, I can tell. If I’m paying close enough attention.
Garrett. Shall we set all sham aside? Shall we abandon all childish efforts to abrade one another’s nerves? I will not yet admit that we must pursue this monster, but I will stipulate that we owe the situation a close look.
“You grow up, I’ll grow up.”
Block gave me a strange look. He hadn’t heard the Dead Man’s end. The Dead Man can do that if he wants. It makes some of our conversations spooky.
Excellent. I will set my concern for your soul in abeyance for the moment.
Oh, boy. He wasn’t going to let me off. Those women had offended his sense of rationality. He hates people who won’t examine beliefs critically. Most of the time he hides it when he deals with me, but he holds the majority of humankind in contempt. Of the gods-know-how-many sentient species in the world, we humans are the only ones who insist on fervent belief in things logic and our senses demonstrate to be implausible. Amongst other races those who stumble into never-never-lands of wishful thinking are considered insane and are dealt with about the way we deal with Barking Dog. Or more harshly. Other races don’t make priests out of their nuts, then give them money and follow them wherever they lead.
“I take it you’re going to handle this, Garrett,” Block said. He was nervous as hell. Most people are around the Dead Man. He has a considerable reputation, all of it deserved. He’s done some amazing things since I’ve known him.
“We’re considering it.” I was fighting myself. Laziness and the desire not to get involved in another bizarre case warred with outrage. Outrage was ahead by a nose. The white knight had been on the shelf too long, his only chance to strut his stuff his rescue of Chodo’s spooky daughter. But the white knight has his weaknesses. While he doesn’t mind charging full tilt against a visible villain, rusty sword flailing, he hates having to hunt the villain down. Legwork buries his resolve faster than anything the hard boys can do by way of threat or violence. And this thing would be solved by legwork.
Relax, Garrett. It should not be so bad as you anticipate. I saw Block jump, so knew the Dead Man had included him in this time. Captain Block. I sense that you have a great deal hanging upon the outcome of the investigation you propose.
Block turned pale, took on kind of a green tinge around the edges. Having somebody talk right into your head is not a reassuring experience. Not the first time. And especially so when you’re a guy who has a whole encyclopedia of corruption stashed and doesn’t want it out where the world can see. I guess you’d say it was a measure of his distress and determination that he coped so well. He bounced back quickly. “Yes. There’s a lot of heat from the top of the Hill. It’ll get hotter every time some dizzy bitch gets herself offed.”
You are certain there will be more?
“Damn straight. What do you think?”
I think you are correct. The Dead Man was all business now. The
Similar Books
