balefires - david drake

8/11/2019 Balefires - David Drake

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Balefires

David Drake


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Balefires: 2007 by David Drake

This edition ofBalefires 2007 by Night Shade Books

Jacket art 2007 by Richard Peegrino

Jacket design by !a"dia Nobe#nterior ayo"t and design by Jere$y %assen

&Denkirch& '()7 by David Drake* first +"bished in Travelers by Night.&%ord of the De+ths& '(7' by David Drake* first +"bished in Dark Things.&,rcight& '(7- by David Drake* first +"bished in The Magazine of Fantasy andScience Fiction, ,+ri '(7-.&The Song of the Bone& '(7- by David Drake* first +"bished in Whispers, Dece$ber'(7-.&The Shortest /ay& '(7 by David Drake* first +"bished in Whispers, 1arch '(7.&So$ething ad to Be Done& '(73 by David Drake* first +"bished in The Magazine

of Fantasy and Science Fiction, 4ebr"ary '(73.&The 1aster of De$ons& '(73 by David Drake* first +"bished in Dark orizons !"",/inter5S+ring '(73.&The Barro6 Tro& '(73 by David Drake* first +"bished in Whispers, Dece$ber'(73.&,6akening& '(73 by David Drake* first +"bished inNa#eless $laces.&Back #ron& '(73 by David Drake* first +"bished inNa#eless $laces.&4irefight& '(7) by David Drake* first +"bished inFrights.&Bood Debt& '(7) by David Drake* first +"bished in The %th Mayflo&er Book ofBlack Magic Stories.&The "nting ro"nd& '(7) by David Drake* first +"bished in S'perhorror.&!hidren of the 4orest& '(7) by David Drake* first +"bished in The Magazine ofFantasy and Science Fiction,Nove$ber '(7).&S$okie Joe& '(77 by David Drake* first +"bished inMore Devil(s )isses.&Best of %"ck& '(78 by David Drake* first +"bished in The *ear(s Best orrorStories+ Series -.&The Red %eer& '(7( by David Drake* first +"bished in Whispers --.&1en %ike 9s& '(80 by David Drake* first +"bished in #ni, 1ay '(80.&Than !"rse the Darkness& '(80 by David Drake* first +"bished inNe& Tales of the/th'lh' Mythos.&The ,"to$atic Rife$an& '(80 by David Drake* first +"bished inDestinies v0, !%,4a '(80.&The Dancer in the 4a$es& '(82 by David Drake* first +"bished in Whispers, ,"g"st'(82.&The 4ase Pro+het& '(8( by David Drake* first +"bished in etti's and Friends.&The f o"se& 200 by David Drake* first +"bished in Masters of Fantasy.&, %and of Ro$ance& 2003 by David Drake* first +"bished in The 1nchanter/o#pleted.

4irst dition


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#SBN: (78;';3(780;07';) Trade ardcover#SBN: (78;';3(780;070;( %i$ited ardcover

Night Shade Books

Pease visit "s on the 6eb at htt+:55666.nightshadebooks.co$


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For Dwayne Olson

Whose idea it was


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Other books by David Drake:

a##er(s Sla##ersThe Dragon 2ord

Ti#e SafariFro# the eart of Darkness

Skyripper/ross the StarsBirds of $rey

The Forlorn ope3t 3ny $rice )iller 4With )arl 1d&ard Wagner5

3ctive Meas'resBridgehead

6anks of Bronze2acey and is Friends

/o'nting the /ost)ill 6atio 4With 7anet Morris5

FortressDagger

The Sea agTarget 4With 7anet Morris5

18plorers in ell 4With 7anet Morris5etti's and is Friends

6olling otNorth&orld

S'rface 3ctionThe 'nter 6et'rns4With 7i# )9elgaard5

engeance

The Military Di#ensionThe Warriorld NathanThe 7'ngle

7'sticeStarliner

The S:'are DealThe Sharp 1nd

-gniting the 6eachesThe oyage

3rc 6iders 4With 7anet Morris5

Thro'gh the BreachThe Fo'rth 6o#e 4With 7anet Morris5

3ll the Way to the ;allo&sFireships6edliners$atriots

2ord of the -slesWith the 2ightnings


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The Red Leer

- &as born in D'b':'e, -o&a, and at age ten #oved &ith #y fa#ily to/linton, fifty #iles so'th along the Mississippi 6iver. 'tsiders tend tothink of -o&a as flat. M'ch of the state is, b't &here - co#e fro# the bl'ffsrise straight 'p o't of the river. D'b':'e has an operating cable car4f'nic'lar rail&ay5 that a &ealthy banker b'ilt to carry hi# fro# his officein the floodplain to his ho#e on the bl'ffs =>> feet above. The vie& o'tover the river into -llinois is spectac'lar.

thers tho'ght so too. 3ll over the area are 3#erind grave #o'ndslooking do&n fro# the bl'ffs. ne of the#(s on the far# that belonged to#y father?in?la&.

My dad &as an electrician, b't nobody in -o&a is very far fro# a far#.

Fa#ily friends had far#s &hen - &as a boy@ #y &ife(s fa#ily &ere and aredairy far#ers. -(ve spent eno'gh ti#e on and aro'nd so#e of the #ostprod'ctive fa#ily far#s in the &orld to have a feeling for the life.

Which is very, very hard. The &ork has to be done every day, no #atterho& yo' feel or &hat the &eather(s doing+ yo' can(t call in sick and tellthe co&s that they &on(t be #ilked this #orning. The #achinery isdangero's beyond the i#agination of a #odern factory &orker@ theorgano?phosphate insecticides &ere invented 9'st in ti#e for World War --,&here they provided the Nazis &ith the first nerve gases@ and even city?d&ellers kno& that if anybody gets rich fro# agric'lt're, it isn(t the fa#ily

far#er.

The characters in this story are #odeled on real people b't they(re not #yin?la&s. The far# is one #y in?la&s o&ned, incl'ding details like the c'riocabinet and the h'nting rifle.

- fre:'ently 'se a story that has greatly i#pressed #e as a #odel for oneof #y o&n. This isn(t :'ite so direct a case as so#e, b't - &ant to #ention


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the si#ilarities to Theodore St'rgeon(s A)illdozer.A The title 4&hich &asthe genesis of the story5 co#es fro# 6obert Bro&ning(s A/hilde 6oland tothe Dark To&er /a#e.A

,s he s6"ng the tractor for a fina +ass across Sac Ridge 4ied< Deehater sa6 that dirthad been t"rned on the side of the #ndian $o"nd. The big $an thre6 in the hand c"tch ofthe ,is;!ha$ers and throtted the diese back to ide as he gared at the ne6 trenchthro"gh the barbed 6ire. &That godda$ =ernesve got to 6ork 6ithhi$ $"ch onger. . . .&

e revved the engine and sa$$ed the tractor back in gear. The far$er>s sco6 6as asback as the hair c"ring "+ his ar$s fro$ the backs of his hands to the shirtseeves roedat his bice+s.

,t the so"th end of the fied< Deehater raised the c"tivator and drove the ,is do6n theong< oo+ing trai back to the far$ b"idings. There 6as a 6ay of sorts straight 6est fro$the to+ of the ridge< b"t it 6as too stee+ for the tractor. The $ore grad"a so+e took

Deehater thro"gh haf a do?en gates and event"ay back to the b"idings fro$ theso"th6est. To the eft oo$ed the barn and the three concrete sios +eering over its roof athi$. The $iking +aror 6as a one;story addition to the barn>s east side< facing thee@"i+$ent shed and the gas +"$+. ,nd at the +"$+ 6as To$ =ernes 6ith his ten;yearod son< Deehater>s ne+he6< +"tting gas in the Aee+.

Deehater +"ed "+ beside the$ and et the diese catter for a $o$ent before he sh"t itoff. =ernes< a short< ginger;headed $an< ooked "+. is ar$s 6ere not tan b"t a dee+ reds dead no6. #>$ da$ned if#>$ not going to get an #ndian sk" ike yo"rs.& est"ring east6ard at the ridge< the itte$an added< o6n haf this godda$ +ace and #>$ going to get a sk".&

The c"rio cabinet in Deehater>s +aror had been asse$bed by his grandfather before thefirst 6ord 6ar. ,$ong its agates and arro6heads< s6ord;cane and ostrich +"$es< 6as abro6n h"$an sk". The fa$iy had a6ays ass"$ed the sk" ca$e fro$ a $o"ndso$e6here< b"t not even Ed John had been s"re. #t fascinated =ernes< +erha+s onybeca"se Deehater had ref"sed to give it to hi$. The $ain ho"se and its f"rnishingss 6iFA"st as the ne6ho"se in 6hich his sister ,ice ived 6ith =ernes and their chidren had gone to her. Therest of the siG;h"ndred;acre far$ 6as 6ied to Deehater and ,ice Aointy< 6ith the+rovision that if either of the$ tried to +artition the +ro+erty< the 6hoe of it 6ent to theother. Deehater had taked to a a6yer and he 6as s"re =ernes had done the sa$e. The


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6orst ne6s either of the $en had heard in a ong ti$e 6as that the 6i 6o"d +robabystand "+ in co"rt.

&There>s a a6 against digging "+ $o"ndst get everything in the $o"nd. Co">ve no right tothat.&

=ernes stood< ar$s aki$bo< s6eat fro$ the J"ne s"n gittering on his face. f # do a thegodda$ digging< # dot ike to foo 6ith the$o"nd. Ed John had 6haed hi$ 6ithin an inch of his ife thirty years ago< 6hen he hadca"ght his son +oking into the s$ooth so+e 6ith a +osthoe digger. B"t Deehaterre$e$bered aso the night$are that had a6akened hi$ for $onths after that afternoont be s"r+rised if there 6as god in 6ith achief.&,ct"ay< Deehater kne6 eno"gh abo"t $o"nds to do"bt there 6o"d be anythingthat 6o"d interest a non;archeoogistFoften the $o"nds hadn>t even been b"it over abody. B"t that 6asn>t anything the big far$er 6as going to say to his brother;in;a6.

&Dads +art;coie< chased after hi$barking. &=id>s been istening to his $otherd think Ed John 6as going to co$e o"t of his grave if # d"g "+that $o"nd. e $"st>ve knocked that into her head 6ith a $a".&

&e 6as strong on itt start "nti theyreached the foot of the ridge. They had bo"ght the Aee+ ten years before fro$ ,r$ys"r+"s< and the shar+ grades of the ridge so+e $ade the $otor 6hee?e even in thegranny gear. !edars st"dded the so+e< inters+ersed 6ith b" thistes 6hose +"r+e bracts6ere ready to b"rst o+en. There 6as a fina s6itch;back A"st before the trai reached thes"$$it. ,s =ernes ha"ed the 6hee hard to the eft< the $otor s+"ttered and died.Deehater s6"ng o"t of the Aee+ and 6aked the ast thirty yards 6hie the s$aer $an


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c"rsed and trod on the starter.

The $o"nd 6as b"it on the north end of the ridge. That +art had never been o+ened as afied beca"se the soi 6as too thiny s+read above the bedrock. The $o"nd 6as ovat go on back right no6.&

=ernes s6ore. &/e co"d hook a chain to the ,isF& he began.

Deehater c"t hi$ off. &/e>d have to get the dirt off the to+ first< and that>d take agodda$ s"$$er. This 6as a bad idea to start< and it got 6orse @"ick. !o$e on< et>s goback.& e straightened.

&/hat abo"t dyna$ite& b"rted =ernes.

Deehater stared at his brother;in;a6. The s$aer $an 6o"d not $eet his ga?e b"tcontin"ed< &There>s sti a stick "nder the seat fro$ 6hen yo" be6 "+ the beaver da$./e co"d "se it.&

&=ernesd rather eave it inthe Aee+ than to"ch it to get it o"t. Besides< it> bo6 the shit o"t of anything "nder thatsabFif there is anything and the sab>s not fat on bedrock a the 6ay across. /hat>reyo" trying to +rove&

=ernes> red face gre6 even brighter 6ith e$barrass$ent< oranger.&%ook$gonna get into this godda$ thing if # got to hire a contractor. # said # 6o"d and # 6i.Co" don>t 6ant to he+< that>s yo"r godda$ b"siness.&

Deehater eyed hi$ a $o$ent onger. &Eh< #> do $y +art get the dyna$ite ready.& egrinned. &9ness yo" 6ant to do that instead&

=ernes> ony res+onse 6as to heft the too 6ith a choked gri+ and begin cho++ing at thestone.

Deehater fi++ed the Aee+>s seat for6ard and ifted o"t the corr"gated cardboard boGbeneath it. There 6as< as =ernes had said< sti one stick of dyna$ite eft aong 6ith a roof 6ire and a s$aer boG of basting ca+s. The eG+osive terrified =ernes in the 6aysnakes or s+iders do other $en. Deehater had deiberatey ref"sed to take the stick o"t ofthe Aee+ des+ite his brother;in;a6>s fre@"ent re@"ests. 4inay =ernes had ceased to$ention itF"nti no6. =ernes 6as so st"bborny deter$ined to have an #ndian sk" that


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he had overridden his fear of the eG+osive. #t occ"rred to Deehater that he 6as doing thesa$e thing hi$sef 6ith his fear of the $o"nd.

The big far$er eaned against the Aee+ as he d"g a f"?e +ocket in the dyna$ite 6ith a+enci st"b. =ernes 6as chi++ing the soft rock effectivey< even in the confined s+ace.&Not too 6idet ike 6hat they 6ere doing. Sha+es fro$ ong;ago night$ares 6ere hoveringover his $ind< "ncear b"t no ess "n+easant for that. e>d never heard of #ndians "singstone in their $o"nds< and that bothered hi$ too. Sti< 6hy not The 1ississi++i Basin6as rich in soft yeo6 i$estone< aready ayered by its foodings and strandings in theshao6 seas of its de+osition. So it 6asn>t the stone or anything ese rationa 6hich 6aseating at Deehater* it 6as A"st that so$ething fet cod and very 6rong inside hi$.

&That eno"gh< Dee& =ernes asked< +anting. is seeveess "ndershirt 6as gray 6iths6eat.

Deehater eaned for6ard.t> dos hand.&R"n the Aee+ over the crest of the ridge and get thehood o+en. There>s eno"gh 6ire to reach to there.&

/hie his brother;in;a6 scra$bed to obey< Deehater knet in the trench and $ade hiso6n +re+arations. 4irst he set the basting ca+ in the hoe in the end of the dyna$ite.Then he caref"y kneaded the eG+osive into the sot =ernes had c"t in the rock. Theheavy 6aGed +a+er and its fiings of sa6d"st< a$$oni"$ nitrate< and nitrogycerin 6erehot and defor$ed easiy. , ot of +eo+e didn>t kno6 ho6 to "se dyna$ite* they 6astedthe force of the bast. Deehater didn>t 6ant to bo6 the $o"nd o+en< b"t he>d be da$nedif he 6o"dn>t do it right if he did it at a.

/hen the dyna$ite had been $oded into the rock< the big $an shoveed dirt do6n on

to+ of it and "sed his boots to fir$y ta$+ the +ie. The thin 6ire oo+ed o"t of the earthike the shado6 of a grass bade. Deehater h"ng the coi on the +ick hande< "sing it as aoose s+inde fro$ 6hich to "n6ind the 6ire as he 6aked to the Aee+.

&This far eno"gh a6ay& =ernes asked< eying the $o"nd a++rehensivey.

&9ness a reay big ch"nk co$es straight do6ns nervo"sness. &!hrist< it>s A"st one stick< even if it is siGty;+ercent e@"ivaent.&

=ernes bent do6n behind the Aee+. Deehater s@"atted at the front< +rotected fro$ thebast by the bro6 of the hi. e hed the bare end of one 6ire to the negative +ost of thebattery< then to"ched the other ead to the +ositive side. Nothing ha++ened. &odda$$it


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ooked as they had before the eG+osion< b"t the earth co$+acted over the charge 6asgone and the eG+osed edge of the rock sab had shattered. Beca"se the i$estone co"dneither $ove nor co$+ress< the shock had broken it as thoro"ghy as a t6enty;foot faco"d have.

=ernes bent do6n over the o+ening and gras+ed a ch"nk of stone to toss o"t of the 6ay.

The dyna$ite f"$es oo+ed a tendri over his face. =ernes co"ghed and @"ivered< and foran instant Deehater tho"ght the other $an ost foc"s. Then =ernes 6as on his feet againsreay so$ething in there By od&

Deehater 6aited< fro6ning< as =ernes shoveed at the r"bbe. , itte +rying 6ith thebade 6as eno"gh to cr"$be the edge of the sab into fist;si?ed +ieces ike a three;di$ensiona Aigsa6 +"??e. 1ore dirt fe in< b"t that 6as easiy scoo+ed a6ay. The act"ao+ening stayed s$a beca"se the ony cavity in the bedrock 6as a shao6< 6ater;c"tbasin. #t so+ed so grad"ay that even after a t6o;foot scao+ had been nibbed fro$ theoverying sab there 6as barey eno"gh roo$ to reach an ar$ into the hoo6.

The f"$es had dissi+ated. =ernes scattered a ast shovef" of dirt and grave< then tossedthe too aside as 6e. =neeing do6n 6ith his face as cose to the o+ening as he co"d getit and sti eave roo$ for the s+otight< he began to search the cavity. &od da$nve seen sk"s before


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=ernes sto++ed st"dying the sk" in the s"night fro$ different anges. &/hat the heyo" got there. Dee& he asked 6ariy.

Deehater 6asn>t s"re hi$sef< so he said nothing. e hed the t6o haves of a hoo6$eta teardro+< siG inches ong. En the o"tside it 6as back and b"bbed;ooking* 6ithins side. e +"shed her "+right in disg"st.

#t 6as - a.$. and there 6ere no ights yet in ,ice and her h"sband>s ho"se. Deehaterkne6 they had seen hi$ bring /endy ho$e in the evening< kne6 aso that /iener 6o"da6aken the$ as he chased the car. =ernes had once co$+ained to Deehater< red;facedt @"ite taken a s6ing as Deehater had ho+ed he $ight.

/hen the car began to scr"nch do6n the drive +ast the ne6 ho"se< /iener ca$e o+ingto6ard the$ fro$ the barn. e barked once every other ti$e his forefeet to"ched thegro"nd. The noise 6as $ore irritating than even a @"ick staccato 6o"d have been. Thecar 6indo6s 6ere cosed against the night>s da$+ chi. Deehater>s finger 6as +oised onthe s6itch to ro the gass do6n and sho"t at the $ongre< 6hen /endy>s screa$ sna++edhis head aro"nd.


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The bank to the eft so+ed "+ fro$ the drive< so the thing standing there 6as ony in theedge of the ights. #t 6as 6ire thin and taFt6ice the height of a $an at a feetinggance< tho"gh a +art of Deehater kne6 that 6as the effect of the bank and the ange. ,fat i?ard;sno"t of teeth gittered shar+y. Then the beast t"rned and the big car ea+edfor6ard do6n the drive as Dee;hater foored the acceerator. /endy 6as sti screa$ings big hands gri++ed hersho"ders and ha"ed her "+right. &Sh"t "+t a godda$ned thing& ebro"ght his face cose to /endy>s. The gir>s eyes 6ere as fearf" as they had been$in"tes before at the sight of the creat"re. &Co" sa6 a cat in the headights< that>s a.

Co">re not going to get everybody and his brother tra$+ing over $y far$ shooting $y$iking herd. Co">re going to kee+ yo"r godda$n $o"th sh"t< do yo" hear&

The bonde 6as nodding to the rhyth$ of Deehater>s 6ords. Tears strea$ed fro$ hereyes< and 6hen she tried to 6i+e the$ she s$eared the re$ains of her eye shado6 acrossher cheeks.

Deehater reeased her s"ddeny and +"t the car in gear. Neither of the$ s+oke d"ring therest of the ride to to6n. /hen the big far$er sto++ed in front of the gir>s a+art$ent< shest"$bed o"t and ran "+ the ste+s 6itho"t bothering to cose the car door. Deehaterocked it after he sa$$ed it sh"t.

e drove back to the far$ at a $oderate +ace that so6ed a++reciaby as he ca$e nearer.

The night had ony its "s"a $otions and noises no6. Deehater 6as 6aiting in his ockedcar an ho"r ater< aone 6ith nothing b"t a $e$ory to dist"rb hi$< 6hen =ernes ca$e o"tof his ho"se to start $iking.

* * *

,fter "nchFa f" $ea of fried steak and +otatoes* Deehater had cooked for hi$sefand his father as 6e before Ed John diedFthe big $an 6aked do6n the drive andbegan searching the grassy bank to the eft of it. Ence 6hen he ooked "+< he sa6 hissister 6atching hi$ intenty fro$ the =ernes> kitchen 6indo6. e 6aved b"t she d"ckeda6ay. To6ard three o>cock< =ernes hi$sef ca$e back in the Aee+ fro$ ins+ecting thefences aro"nd the north6est +ast"re. Deehater haied hi$. ,fter a $o$ent>s hesitations been crying a day. To$ 6ent o"t to @"iet the dog do6n this $orning and # thinkhe scared hi$ off. B"t he> be back tonight< # fig"re.&

Deehater fi++ed the s6itch that 6o"d drain the 6ater no6 being cyced thro"gh thetransfer +i+ing. &=ernes got "+ to chase hi$&

&9h;h"h. Did yo" get the big tank&

&Ceah< 6e can ca it a nights cha$ber fro$ the f" $aga?ine before he +"ed on his d"ngarees and boots.

Shirtess< his baggy tro"sers 6eighted do6n by the rest of the boG of a$$"nitions tong"e and the bood on its Aa6s 6ere back in the $erc"ry foodight. rectagainst the side of the barn it 6as a$ost eight feet ta< tho"gh ony the shado6s gave$ass to its s+indy i$bs. #t sa6 Deehater and skidded on the si++ery concrete< its ca6sras+ing thro"gh the si$e. Deehater thre6 his rife to his sho"der. #t 6as as if he 6ereai$ing at a skeeton $ade of coat hangers< the thing 6as so thin. Deehater>s handsshook. The creat"re bent for6ard< cocking its hi+s back for baance. #t o+ened its Aa6s so6ide that every neede tooth see$ed +ointed at the far$er. Then it screa$ed ike a+"nging she as Deehater fired. is b"et +"nched neaty thro"gh the side of the barnten feet above the gro"nd.

/ith a singe stride< the creat"re disa++eared back 6ithin the b"iding. Deehatersa$$ed another shot thro"gh the e$+ty door6ay.

Panting< the big $an knet and f"$bed o"t the boG of a$$"nition 6itho"t etting go of

the rife. is sho"der ached. The e$+ty cases shone siver +ae on the grass to his right./hen Deehater had reoaded< he sh"ffed for6ard again. e hed his rife o"t as if he6ere thr"sting it thro"gh f"id. The yard 6as fied 6ith $iing co6s. Deehater $oved+ast the$ to the o6 $iking +aror and tried in vain to +eer thro"gh the d"sty 6indo6s.Then< hoding the rife a6k6ardy ike a h"ge +isto< he "natched the door and fi++ed onthe ight. There 6as nothing in the +aror< and its $eta gates to the barn 6ere sti cosed.

Deehater t"rned on the ights in the $ain b"iding. There 6as ony a score of frightenedco6s sti 6ithin. The haf;oft eight feet above the bare foor had ony a itte stra6 in it.The oft door in the so"th 6a h"ng aske6. There 6ere dee+ scratches aro"nd its brokenatch. 4ro$ the eft< Deehater gri$y s"rveyed the barn. The interior 6as 6ere s+attered6ith bood. , heifer 6as dead in her sta* ong go"ges reddened the hides of severaothers of the herd.

#t 6as a$ost da6n. The back;haired far$er stood at the oft door< c"rsing and staringo"t into the red s"nrise< 6hich +"ed the shado6 of the ridge ike a ong c"rtain over the+ast"re.

The door to the $iking +aror banged. Deehater s6"ng aro"nd and raised the $"??e ofhis rife. #t 6as =ernes barefooted and in torn +aAa$as 6ith ,ice< 6ide;eyed< behindhi$. Seeing the bood and the dead heifer< she sho"ted at her h"sband< &1y od< To$t "nderstand 6hy the @"estion 6as directed at hisbrother;in;a6.&No< it 6as a< aF&Deehater began and st"ttered to a hat< "ncertain bothof the tr"th and 6hat he sho"d say abo"t it. To change the s"bAect he said< &/e got to+hone Doc Je+son. So$e of the co6s> beenFc"t.&

&Phone the vet& ba?ed ,iceF=ernes sti had not s+oken. She reached back into the+aror for the eGtension 6hich h"ng on the 6a higher than a co6 carries its head. &/e>ca the Sheriff< 6e> caF&

&P"t do6n that godda$n +hone& Deehater said< not o"dy b"t too o"dy to be ignoredby anyone 6ho kne6 hi$ 6e.


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,ice 6as in a rage hersef< b"t she ste++ed back fro$ the +hone and 6atched her brotherdescend caref"y fro$ the oft. &/hat did it< eorge& she asked.

didn>t get a good ook.&

&od da##it, eorget yo" et $e get he+&

&Beca"se 6e>re in the $ik b"sinesss an eight;foot i?ard on o"r far$F&

=ernes s6ore. Deehater sho"ted< &, right< # sa6 it< 6hat the he>s the differenceSo$ething kied the co6< didn>t it& e gared at the others< then 6ent on< &4irst they>think 6e>re cra?y. ,nd then 6hen they earn it>s tr"e< they> say< >Stronti"$ (0 or>/hat>re they s+raying their fieds 6ith to do that> or >There>s so$ething in their 6ater.>,nd 6e> never se another +int of $ik fro$ here as ong as 6e ive. Co" kno& 6hat thedairy b"siness is ike&

,ice nodded shar+y.&Then 6e> A"st raise hogs se thefar$ and a get Aobs 6ith P"rina< for od>s sake. S+ring i Dairies isn>t the 6hoeF&

&,ice&

=ernes> eyes 6ere ficking fro$ one sibing to the other< a s+ectator rather than a referee.,ice gared at hi$< then said to her brother< &, right< eorge. B"t #>$ taking the kidsinto to6n to stay 6ith #ris "nti yo" co$e to yo"r senses.& Then< to her h"sband< sheadded< &To$< are yo" co$ing too&

f yo" eave here< =ernes never co$e back. # don>t give ashit 6hat the a6 says.&

The $en stared at each other. > stayd have stayed any6ay< ,ice& thes$aer $an sho"ted.

&!a Doc Je+sons beca"se of 6hat 6e took o"t of that $o"ndt co$e fro$ a sk" or a itte bit

of irons big< big eno"gh to ki a ostein.&

t 6as there A"st the sa$eve got to cose that grave "+ 6itheverything in it again. Then $aybe 6e> be okay.&

&Co">re n"ts


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Deehater 6aked to the $o"nd and the +arked Aee+ 6itho"t s+eaking. #n the fied behindhi$< the cro6s setted noisiy on the carrion again.

=ernes had ifted o"t a +air of shoves and the g"nny sack hoding the obAects. &/e& heasked.

&Ceahs throat. /itho"t ooking "+< hesaid< think it>s the $oon. That>s 6hy it didn>t co$e o"t 6hen 6e o+ened the $o"nd. #tneeded the f" $oon to bring it o"t.&

&B"shits not $oonight< it>s as soid as yo" or$e. Da$n sight soider than od /iener theres A"st ight< any6ay.&

&4"orescent ight>s A"st ight toot abo"t to ad$it that 6eakness even in the noon s"n. =ernes

had +a"sed after o+ening the bag< "n6iing either to d"$+ the contents back into thehoe 6itho"t cere$ony or to to"ch the$ again barehanded. The big $an hesitated aso.Then he ganced at the g"ns in easy reach< bet6een the front seats of the Aee+< and iftedo"t the sk".

The bone fet 6ar$. Beca"se Deehater had not reay taken a ook at it before< he did sono6 at this ast o++ort"nity. The teeth 6ere da$aged in a 6ay that at first he co"d noteG+ain. Then the far$er c"rsed< set the sk" do6n on the gro"nd< and stretched o"t inthe o+en trench. The ange 6as too fat for Deehater to have been abe to see anythingeven if he had bro"ght a fashight this tri+< b"t his fingerti+s fo"nd the shao6 grooveshe eG+ected in the "nder;s"rface of the sab.

&!hristt have a da$ned thing to dig 6ith< so he tried to scra+e thro"ghthe stone 6ith his teeth.&

=ernes stared at the sk" and ooked a itte sicker than he had before. is finger tracedb"t did not to"ch the front teeth. , fo"r of the incisors 6ere 6orn across the fats as ifby a fie. They had been gro"nd do6n 6e into the nerve canas. Ene of the front +airhad cracked abo"t haf6ay fro$ the root. &Ceah< #>d seen that b"t # didn>t think. . . &

he said. &Jes"s< 6hat a 6ay to go. e s"rey $"st>ve kno6n he co"dn>t che6 his 6aythro"gh a foot of rock.&

&1aybe he didn>t kno6 there 6as a foot of itt have aot of choice.&

!aref"y< the big $an set the sk" as far back into the $o"nd as his ar$ 6o"d reach.The itter of bone and rock chi+s 6ithin scr"nched "nder his shirtseeve.

The ri++ed< iron teardro+ 6as sti cosed. Deehater ooked at it for a $o$ent< thent6isted it to s+it the haves beca"se they had been se+arate 6hen he fo"nd the$. The$eta divided 6ith a soft gas+ ike a cod Aar being o+ened. Deehater set the haves "nderthe sab as caref"y as he had the discoored sk".

,$ost before he roed o"t of the 6ay< his brother;in;a6 6as tossing a shovef" of


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earth into the hoe. =ernes 6orked feverishy at the soi +ie he and his son had thro6n "+in digging the +it. By the ti$e Deehater had br"shed hi$sef off and +icked "+ a shovecock and sti be aert* b"t then< =ernes 6asn>t a +erson Deehater &anted to"nderstand.

Deehater +eered o"t the so"th door. Nothing< nothing< of co"rse nothing. , foG barked inthe invisibe distance and the big $an>s gri+ tightened on his rife stock. e ca"ghthi$sef before he thre6 a b"et o"t into the night in fr"stration* then he began to +aceback.

B"t each ti$e the creat"re had co$e< it 6as in the near da6n. ,s if it 6ere striding to thefar$ fro$ far a6ay< or beca"se it got a ate start. The notch he and =ernes had basted inthe #ndian $o"nd faced so"th6est. 1oonight 6o"d not have entered it "nti neary$orning. B"t there 6as no iving thing in that narro6 rock basin< ony a itter of bones

and 6hat 6as +robaby a $eteorite.

/hy had that #ndian been seaed "+ aive

Nothing b"t bones and iron in the $o"nd. Briefy< Deehater>s $ind t"rned over a$e$ory of a6akening to sei?e his rife in the +attern of $oonight etched across his roo$by the Ienetian binds. No6 he hed the 6ea+on cose and bent for6ard to ook at hisbrother;in;a6.

=ernes had $oved sighty< o"t aong the eectric fence. The yard ight coored his shirt


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b"e b"t co"d not thro6 a shado6 for6ard into the gare of the f" $oon. =ernes 6asstaring 6est at that $otted orb. is shotg"n barre traced nervo"s arcs< rising andsi++ing back to a high +ort. #t 6as a$ost as if the s$aer $an 6ere 6ishing he co"dfire at the $oon< b"t catching hi$sef a $o$ent before he did anything that. . .

cra?y.

=ernes> bodyslithered.

&=ernes& Deehater screa$ed.

The $an beo6 t"rned and 6as a $an again. The shotg"n had faen to the concrete.=ernes> cothing 6as a6ry fro$ having so$ething $onstro"sy thin start to ca$ber o"tof it. Part of Deehater>s $ind 6ondered 6hat =ernes had tho"ght in the $ornings 6henhe fo"nd hi$sef naked in the +ast"re< his tanged +aAa$as o"tside his ho"se.

No6 the s$a far$er 6as ooking "+ at Deehater< his face as dead and horrified as thatof the stat"e of %aocoon. Then he changed again< and the ong Aa6s s+read to hiss at the$an above. Deehater aid his o+en sights in the $idde of the thing>s breastbone ands@"ee?ed off the shot.

The b"et fe6 high beca"se of the ange< b"t the big $an 6as h"nter eno"gh to haveao6ed for that. The soft;nose s+iked thro"gh the o6er $andibe and into the throats back. The Aacketed ead< +arty eG+anded b"t 6ithony a fraction of its energy gone< sa++ed the concrete beyond and s+ashed a6ay in asho6er of s+arks and a riven ho6.

The thing that had been =ernes h"rted back6ards and sid "nti it str"ck the fence. #tsstick;thin i$bs thrashed< shredding re$nants of its cothing 6ith ca6s and the strengthof a gri??y. #ts Aa6s sna++ed. The hoe in its throat 6as s$a< b"t Deehater kne6 thatthe s"+ersonic b"et 6o"d have eft a 6o"nd cavity ike a +ie tin in the back.

The entrance 6o"nd had cosed. The beast 6as scrabbing to its feet.

Deehater screa$ed and shot it thro"gh the chest< an off;center i$+act that s+"n thecreat"re again to the concrete. This ti$e Deehater co"dsee the +astic fesh cosing onthe scae;d"sted torso. e re$e$bered /iener and the g"ied throat of the ostein./ith ony that instant>s hesitation< the big $an braced his rife in front of hi$ and ea+edthro"gh the 6indo6 to his right. The fibergass +ane s+rang o"t in a +iece as the fra$etore. Deehater st"$bed headong onto the o6 roof of the $iking +aror< roed< andA"$+ed to the gro"nd. The Aee+ 6as ony t6enty feet a6ay and he ran for it.

There 6as no ignition ock. Deehater fi++ed the +o6er on and stabbed at the starterb"tton "nder the c"tch +eda. The engine gro"nd b"t did not catch. There 6as a tearingnoise behind hi$< and des+ite hi$sef the big $an t"rned to ook. The creat"re 6as in the

co6 yard fence. The to+ strand 6as eectrified. B"e s+arks cracked abo"t the thing>sforeca6s. #ts sha+e 6as in a state of f"G so s6ift as to be a$ost s"bi$ina. #t 6as as ifs"+eri$+osed hoogra$s of =ernes and the creat"re he had beco$e 6ere being +roAectedonto the fence. Then the hot 6ire sna++ed and the thing>s egs c"t the re$aining strandsike sickes thro"gh fog.

Deehater fired one;handed and $issed. e steadied the rife< ocking his eft ebo6 onthe t"b"ar seat;fra$e< and knocked the creat"re back into the co6 yard 6ith no to+ to itssk". Then the engine ch"gged and the big far$er thre6 the Aee+ into second gear at


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higher revs than the 6orn c"tch 6as "sed to. S+e6ing grave b"t 6itho"t the +o6er tosidesi+< the vehice ch"rned for6ard.

4or choice< Deehater 6o"d have r"n 6est for the co"nty road as he had t6o nightsbefore in his !hryser. That 6o"d have $eant t"rning and trying to race +ast the co6yard< 6here the creat"re 6as aready on its feet again and striding to6ard hi$. Deehater

had s$a need of his i$agination to +ict"re that scene: the ong;ca6ed ar$s hookingover the steering 6hee and +"cking hi$ o"t ike the $eat fro$ a 6an"t haf< eavingthe e$+ty Aee+ to careen into a ditch. e 6as headed instead to6ard Sac Ridge and the$o"nd fro$ 6hich the horror $"st have co$e.

Deehater had the headights on< b"t they 6ere $o"nted too o6 to sho6 "+ +othoes inti$e even at $oderate s+eedFand his +resent s+eed 6as anything b"t $oderate. The Aee+Ao"nced so bady that ony the big $an>s gri+ on the steering 6hee ke+t hi$ in thevehice. The shoves in the back did s+in o"t into the night. #t occ"rred to Deehater thatthe rife 6hich he had 6edged b"tt;do6n6ard beneath the back seat $ight fire and endhi$ +er$anenty as it had been "nabe to do to the thing +"rs"ing. e did not care. eony kne6 that he had ooked do6n the creat"re>s ga+ing Aa6s and 6o"d rather anything

than die bet6een the$.

Des+ite his +anic< Deehater shifted into co$+o"nd o6 to cross the strea$< kno6ing thatany atte$+t to $o"nt the si++ery bank in a higher gear 6o"d have $eant siding backinto certain death. En the r"tted +ast"re beyond< he revved and sa$;shifted. e 6as+ro"d of his ski ony for the instant before the o6 $oon ficked a ea+ing shado6across the corner of his eye. 4ear 6ashed a6ay +ride and everything ese.

Des+ite the r"ts the Aee+ $ade good ti$e in the +ast"re< b"t as the od vehice began toci$b the side of the ridge Deehater kne6 the creat"re $"st be gaining. There 6as nochoice< no6here ese to r"n. #f he t"rned either north or so"th< the thing>s ong shanks6o"d c"t it across the sant of his right ange.

/here had the creat"re co$e fro$ originay Perha+s the #ndians had kno6n* b"t evenif the teardro+ 6as the so"rce< it co"d as easiy have faen a $iion years before and atho"sand $ies a6ay< carried so"th on a gacier. Deehater co"d +ict"re a nervo"s bandof Sacs dragging one of their n"$ber to the rock basin< bo"nd or "nconscio"s. Er 6o"dit have been a tribe fro$ the +re;!o"$bian +ast There 6as nothing in the $o"nd todate it. So$ething had co$e fro$ the cocoon of iron and been tra++ed again bet6eenayers of rock. Tra++ed "nti he and =ernes had freed it in a va+or 6hich $erged 6ith theback tendris of the dyna$ite.

,s Deehater neared the to+ of the ridge< he ganced side6ays. The creat"re 6as a footbehind hi$ and a foot to the eft< its right eg +oised to stride and its yard;ong right ar$

+oised to ri+ the far$er>s throat o+en. Deehater sa$$ed on the brakes< acting by refeG.#t 6as the +ro+er refeG< even tho"gh the Aee+ staed. The beast>s ca6s s6e+t 6hereDeehater>s head sho"d have been< and its body beed and rebo"nded fro$ the"nyieding fender. 4or a $o$ent< the thing s+ra6ed back6ards on the hiside* then itt6isted "+right< i?ard;@"ick< and "nged.

Deehater to"ched the $"??e of his Re$ington to the scay ribs and be6 the creat"re ado?en yards do6n the hi. The cartridge case saied a6ay in a high arc< the $o"th of iteroded by the eGcessive +ress"res fro$ the bocked $"??e.


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,nd tho"gh Deehater sti had the +art boG in his +ocket< that had been the ast ro"nd inthe 6ea+on.

#n staing< Deehater had fooded the Aee+>s engine. e ea+ed o"t< 6inded aready 6ithfear< and to++ed the ridge 6ith t6o ong strides. The headights 6ere 6aning yeo6behind hi$< 6here he co"d aready hear the creat"re $oving. The sky to the east 6as the

coor of bood. Deehater ran for the $o"nd as if its gente conto"rs co"d +rotect hi$. etried to A"$+ to its to+< b"t his foot sank in the soft earth of the diggings. The big $an6ind$ied for6ard onto his face in the grass beyond. is gri+ on the e$+ty rife hadfayed his right kn"ckes against the gro"nd. is t6isted anke gave a t6inge* it $ight or$ight not bear his 6eight again.

Deehater t"rned< trying to f"$be another cartridge into the breech of the rife. #t 6as tooate. issing ike a cat in a etha rage< the creat"re ea+ed deicatey to the to+ of the$o"nd.

#t 6as even thinner than it had ooked 6hen fickering shado6s had b"ked its i$bs. #thad to be thin< of co"rse< 6ith ony =ernes> h"ndred and thirty +o"nds to cothe its fra$e.

The c"rve of the $o"nd $ade the creat"re>s height $onstro"s< even tho"gh its egs 6ere+oised to "nge and it carried its fat sk" for6ard ike that of a near;sighted $antis. Thenarro6 i+s dre6 a+art in a $o$entary grin< gray;6hite and then cri$son as the first raysof the s"n to"ched the creat"re over the ri$ of the neGt hi.

4or a $o$ent the eer h"ng there. Deehater< on his back< stared at it ike a rabbit s+ittedby the ga?e of a h"nting ser+ent. Then the thing 6as gone and the fear 6as gone< andDeehater>s +racticed fingers sid a ive ro"nd into the cha$ber of the o"ght;siG.

&/h;6hat>s the $atter< Dee& =ernes 6hi$+ered. e 6as +itif" in his nakedness< $ore+itif" in his st"nned s"r+rise at 6here he fo"nd hi$sef. =ernes reay hadn>t kno6n6hat 6as ha++ening< Deehater reai?ed. Perha+s ,ice had beg"n to g"ess 6here herh"sband had been going in the night. That $ay have been 6hy she had been so @"ick tor"n< before s"s+icion co"d beco$e certainty.

&Dee< 6hy>re yo" ooking at $e ike that& =ernes begged.

Deehater stood. is anke ony throbbed. #f his first b"et had kied the creat"re as itsho"d have< he 6o"d have b"ried the body and cai$ed that so$ething had dragged=ernes a6ay. Perha+s he 6o"d have b"ried it here in the $o"nd fro$ 6hich the creat"rehad esca+ed to begin 6ith. ,ice and Dr. Je+son co"d testify to the catte>s +revio"sinA"ries< 6hatever they $ight s"r$ise had ca"sed the$.

The sa$e story 6o"d be s"fficient no6.

&oodbye< yo" son of a bitchs chest.=ernes &h'ffedback6ards as if a giant had kicked hi$. There 6as a ook of a$a?e$enton his face and nothing $ore* b"t $o$entariy< so$ething h"ng in the air bet6een thedead $an and the iving< so$ething as i$+a+abe as the $"??e bast that rocked thehisideFand as rea.

Deehater>s feshgave and for a started second he5it kne6 6hy the #ndians had b"riedtheir +ossessed brother aive< to tra+ the contagion 6ith hi$ in the rock instead of $erey


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+assing it on to raven and say again. . . .

Then the s"n 6as bright on Deehater>s back< casting his shado6 across the body of the$an he had $"rdered. e recaed nothing of the $o$ent A"st +ast.

Gce+t that 6hen he re$e$bered the creat"re>s ast red eer< he see$ed to be seeing thei$age in a $irror.


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A Land Of Romance

2. Sprag'e de /a#p had greater infl'ence on #e as an SF reader and&riter than anyone else. 3fter World War --, a n'#ber of fans beca#ep'blishers, 9oining 3'g'st Derleth of 3rkha# o'se in reprinting &orksfro# ;olden 3ge and earlier p'lps. The /linton 4-o&a5 $'blic 2ibrary in"CE had a large collection of these books. 4The entrance of #a9orp'blishers, partic'larly Do'bleday, into the SF #arket in the early (>scr'shed the niche co#panies &ith the e8ception of 3rkha# o'se itself.5

T&o of the s#all presses, Fantasy $ress and Fantasy $'blishing/o#pany, -nc, collected a good deal of Sprag'e(s fiction fro# 3sto'ndingand nkno&n 4Worlds5. 1ither his rigor, intelligence, and foc's on plotfor#ed #y opinion of &hat SF and fantasy sho'ld be, or they perfectly#atched the #odel l'rking so#e&here in #y childish s'bconscio's.

-n later years - got to kno& Sprag'e on ter#s of friendship, tho'gh &e&eren(t as close as - &as &ith Manly Wade Well#an, his conte#poraryand friend fro# the (=>s and (%>s. - enco'raged 7i# Baen to reprint thestories of Sprag'e(s &hich - #ost liked. - did introd'ctions for the vol'#esand stories in the style of Sprag'e(s &ork as part of that enco'rage#ent.

arry T'rtledove, &ho like #e &as greatly infl'enced by Sprag'e,proposed a de /a#p Festschrift to Baen Books. - happily &rote A3 2andof 6o#anceA for it, trying to create a story that Sprag'e #ight(ve &rittenfor nkno&n.

-(ll add t&o #inor notes abo't the story itself. The f'll na#e of the for#erSecretary of Defense is 6obert Strange McNa#ara, and the greatestb'ffalo #eat entreprene'r in the co'ntry is Ted T'rner 4at the ti#e - &rotethe story, Mr. 7ane Fonda5. Both of those facts have bearing on the te8t.

The $arketing b"+en at Strangeco ead@"arters hed seventy;five desks. o6ard Jones


25/320

6as the ony +erson in the h"ge roo$ 6hen the +hone began ringing. e ignored theso"nd and 6ent on 6ith 6hat he 6as doing. #t 6as a 6rong n"$berFit had to be.Nobody>d be caing serio"sy on a S"nday $orning.

Dyna$ic t6enty;five;year;od eGec"tive. . . . o6ard s"cked in his g"t as he ty+eds not a sand6ichFit>s a Strange6ich Sices of kangaroo< casso6ary< and ek in a secret dressingStrange6ichFthe heathy aternative

The +honestill rang. o6ard>s i$age staring fro$ the res"$e on the screen had a sternook. /as he $issing his big chance The caer co"d be a headh"nter 6ho needed the

hard;charging deter$ination of a $an 6iing to 6ork a the ho"rs on the cock.

o6ard grabbed the +hone and +"nched ine one. &Strangeco #nc& he said in 6hat heho+ed 6as a sta6art tone. &o6ard Jones< ,ssistant 1arketing ,ssociate s+eaking. o6$ay # he+ yo"&

&Eh& said the $ae voice on the other end of the ine. &Eh< #>$ very sorry< # didn>t $eanto dist"rb anybody i$+ortant.&

S"re< a 6rong n"$ber. /e< o6ard had kno6n that there 6o"dn>t reay be a s"$$onsto a ife of di??ying advent"re 6hen heF

>$ at 1r. Strange>s ho"se$ sorry to haveF&

&/ait& o6ard said. e kne6 the ca co"dn>t be 6hat it so"nded ike< b"t it 6as s"rethe $ost interesting thing going this S"nday $orning. #tso'nded ike the $ost interestingthing of a ifeti$e for o6ard ,bing Jones.

&,h< sirt he& the voice said. $ean theone right neGt door< tho"gh. Do yo" think that yo" co"d send so$ebody not tooi$+ortant over to he+ $e< sir&

o6ard ceared his throat.&/e< as a $atter of fact< # 6o"dn>t $ind visiting the Strange1ansion $ysef. B"t< ah< Strangeco staff isn>t ordinariy ao6ed across the sky6ay< yo"kno6.&

&Eh< that>s a right$ afraid # didn>t catch yo"r na$e&

&Eh< #>$ /ay Po++ere ready to< 1r.


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Jones. #> te the g"ards to send yo" do6n.&

e h"ng "+. o6ard re+aced his handset and stared at the res"$e +hotogra+h. Thato6ard Jones ooked very +rofessiona in b"e s"it< b"e shirt< and a tie 6ith aninso"ciant sash of red. /hereas todayFS"ndayF,ssistant 1arketing ,ssociate Jones6ore Aeans and a 4"@"a Schoo of B"siness s6eatshirt.

o6ard rose to his feet. Daring< s6ashb"cking o6ard Jones 6as going to risk enteringthe Strange 1ansion in cas"a cothes.

* * *

, trans+arent t"be arched bet6een the third foors of the Strange 1ansion and Strangecoead@"arters to connect the t6o s+ra6ing b"idings. /hen Strange occasionay caedan eGec"tive to the $ansion< the rest of the staff ined the 6indo6s to 6atch the chosen+erson sh"ffe thro"gh o+en air in fear of 6hat 6aited on the other side.

Shorty thereafter< so$eti$es ony $in"tes ater< the s"$$oned +arties ret"rned. , fe6 ofthe$ $oved at once to arger offices* $ost began to cean o"t their desks.

Eny eGec"tives 6ere kno6n to "se the sky6ay< tho"gh r"$or had it that so$eti$esRobert Strange hi$sef crossed over at $idnight to +ace the has of his head@"arterssienty as a bat. No6 it 6as o6ard Jones 6ho ooked o"t over cornfieds and 6oodandin one direction and the vast staff +arking ot in the other.

The sky6ay 6as hot and $"sty. That $ade sense 6hen o6ard tho"ght abo"t it: a cear+astic t"be 6as going to heat "+ in the bright s"n< and the arch $eant the hottest air6o"d hang in the $idde ike the b"bbe in a eve. o6ard had never before considered+hysics 6hen he daydrea$ed of receiving Robert Strange>s s"$$ons.

The 6ro"ght;iron gri at the far end 6as deicate b"t sti a rea barrier< even 6itho"t thet6o g"ards on the other side 6atching as o6ard a++roached. They 6ere aert< very bigt even $ake hi$ fee better. "ite a+art fro$ big $ennotnecessariy being so6< this +air hed shotg"ns.

&ood $orning& o6ard said< trying for &brighty& and hitting &britte& instead. havean "rgent s"$$ons fro$ 1r. Po++e&

!hrist on a cr"tch /hat if this 6as so$e kid>s +ractica Aoke %et>s see if 6e can sca$so$e s"cker into b"sting into the Strange 1ansion 1aybe they> shoot hi$ right 6here6e can 6atch

o6ard ganced do6n< 6hich +robaby 6asn>t the s$artest thing to do no6 that he 6asn>t

+rotected by the eGcite$ent of the thing. ,t east he didn>t see kids 6ith a ce +hone andgeef" eG+ressions +eering "+ eG+ectanty.

Ene of the g"ards said< &/ho>re yo"& is tone 6o"d have been a itte too gri$ for aA"dge +assing a death sentence.

o6ard>s $ind 6ent bank. , he co"d think of 6as the acc"sing gare of his res"$e+ict"reFb"t 6ait Beside the +ict"re 6as a na$e

&o6ard ,bing Jones& he said tri"$+hanty.


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&Nothing here abo"t >,bing & said the other g"ard.

The first g"ard shr"gged. &%ook< it>s S"ndays a. That>s ho6 yo" sign the book.&

&, right$ 6iing to be feGibe.&

Ene g"ard "nocked the grating* the other nodded o6ard to6ard a foio bo"nd in so$e"nfa$iiar for$ of eather< 6aiting o+en on a stand in the door6ay. The ast na$e aboveo6ard>s 6as that of a regiona $anager 6ho>d been sobbing as he tr"dged into the+arking ot for the ast ti$e.

The first g"ard +inned a bank $eta badge on o6ard>s s6eatshirt< right in the center of4"@"a. &=ee+ it onre s"++osed to go. ,nd yo"don(tste+ off it< yo" "nderstand&

&Rights +resence &Fb"t 6e ain>tceared to go 6andering aro"nd the $ansion. Beieve $e< b"ddy< 6e>re not ready to die.&

o6ard 6aked do6n the ha 6ith a fiGed s$ie "nti the a$ber stri+ ed hi$ aro"nd acorner. e risked a gance back6ards then and sa6 that the ight 6as fading behind hi$.e s"++osed it>d rea++ear 6hen it 6as ti$e for hi$ to eave.

e s"++osed so.

o6ard hadn>t had any idea of 6hat the inside of the Strange 1ansion 6o"d be ike.There 6ere a tho"sand r"$ors abo"t the /i?ard of 4ast 4ood b"t a$ost no facts.o6ard hi$sef had envisioned cathedra;va"ted ceiings and s6aying chandeiers fro$6hich a bod $an co"d s6ing one;handed 6hie the bade of his ra+ier +arried thethr"sts of a score of $inions.

There $ight be chandeiers< stone edges< and high baconies on the other side of thebank gray 6as b"t that no onger see$ed ikey. The corridor s"rfaces 6ere eGtr"dedfro$ so$e dense +astic< and the doors fitted ike airocks 6ith no eGterna atches.

The a$ber stri+ ed thro"gh branching corridors< occasionay going do6n6ard by ra$+s.The b"iding sighed and $"r$"red ike a see+ing beast.

o6ard tried to i$agine the Thief of Baghdad dancing a6ay fro$ foes in this feat"reess6arren< b"t he @"icky gave it "+ as a bad Aob. #t 6as ike trying to i$agine =ing =ong onthe set of 0>>".


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The stri+ of ight sto++ed at a cosed door. o6ard eyed the bank +ane< then triedknocking. #t 6as ike ra++ing his kn"ckes on a bank va"t< so"ndess and rather +ainf".

&eo& he said diffidenty. &eo&

The corridor stretched to right and eft< e$+ty and sient. The a$ber go6 had $eted intothe s"rro"nding gray< eaving ony a vag"e $e$ory of itsef. /hat 6o"d Robin oodhave done

&ello& o6ard sho"ted. &Mister $opple&

&eod co$e "+ behind hi$.

o6ard eGec"ted a ea+ and +iro"ette that 6o"d have done RobinFor for that $atter< aBoshoi +ri$a baerinaF+ro"d. &/ha& he said.

The gir 6as of $idde height 6ith short back hair and a +erky eG+ression that i$+iedher +ae skin 6as hereditary rather than a ook.>$ afraid /ay gets distracted et yo" in fro$ the side. Theaboratory started o"t as a garage< yo" kno6.&

&,h< # 6as tod not to eave. . . & o6ard said< titing for6ard sighty 6itho"tact"ay $oving his feet fro$ the +oint at 6hich the g"ide stri+ had de+osited hi$. ,fterthe g"ards> cas"a threats< he no onger beieved that the 6orst thing that co"d ha++en tohi$ in the Strange 1ansion 6as that he>d ose his Aob.

&Eh< give $e thatve t"rned it off.&

She 6aked to6ard the door she>d co$e o"t of< bringing o6ard 6ith her by her bree?ynonchaance. e said< &,h< yo" 6ork here< $iss&

&,ct"ay< the ony +eo+e 6ho 6ork here are /ay and the ceaning cre6ss da"ghter.&e>s s"ch a s6eetheart< don>tyo" think Ef co"rse< # don>t get to $eet $any +eo+e. Robert says that>s for $y safetys eyes had ada+ted to the corridors> $"ted i"$ination< so he snee?ed. #fthe roo$ had been a garage< then it 6as intended for +eo+e 6ho drove se$is.

Back sik hangings conceaed the 6as. Tho"gh benches f" of e@"i+$ent fied $"chof the interior< the foor 6as incongr"o"sy covered in T"rkish r"gsFr"nners a $eter6ide and fo"r $eters ongFeGce+t for a +atch of bare concrete aro"nd a foor drain in an


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o"tside corner.

&Eh< $y goodness< 1r. Jones&said the 6is+y itte $an 6ho>d been bent over a circ"itboard 6hen they entered. e b"sted to6ard the$< raising his gasses to his forehead.>d$eant to eave the door o+en b"t # forgot co$+etey. Eh< # #+higenia< yo" $"st think #>$the greatest foo on arth&

&/hat # think is that yo">re the s6eetest +erson # kno6< /ay


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signa< is it&

&They aren>t generated at are rea. Sho6 o6ard ho6 yo" can$ove the +oint of vie6< /ay.&

Ebedienty the itte $an ste++ed to the co$+"ter ter$ina on the bench beside the sab of$ica. En the $onitor 6as a gra+h 6ith abo"t thirty bars in each of t6o s"+eri$+osedro6s.

/ay to"ched keys< 6atching the $ica. , bar shrank or increased at each stroke< and the+ict"re shifted 6ith the Aerking carity of a rotated kaeidosco+e.

&ey& said o6ard as 6hat he tho"ght 6as a ion t"rned and raised its feathered head.#ts hooked beak o+ened and the ong forked tong"e vibrated in a cry 6hich the $icadidn>t trans$it. &That>s a chi$era&

tho"ght so at firstt think it>s anything that has a na$e in o"r 6ords fairyands a 6i?ard. Robert asothinks he>s a 6i?ard hi$sef.&

&Co"r father has been very genero"s in s"++orting $y researches< #+higeniat ook eGacty "nfriendy< b"t its eyes had thetrick of constanty scanning in every direction.

. . . &said o6ard. &/ay< this is 6onderf"< A"st co$+etey a$a?ing< b"t # don>t

"nderstand 6hat yo" 6ant $e for. Co">ve aready s"cceeded&

The i$age shifted again. #nstead of ans6ering< /ay ga?ed 6ith ra+t attention at the ne6


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scene. , s+ring shot fro$ a 6ooded hiside to s+ash over rocks into a +oo t6enty feetbeo6. B"tterfies hovered in the fo6ery gade* in the s"rro"nding forest 6ere vine;6oven bo6ers.

&/ay b"it the 6indo6 on his o6nd been dro++ed into the +oo. e ta++ed his keyboardsevera ti$es at rando$< b"rring the i$age into a c"rtain of eectronic sno6.

e t"rned to o6ard and said< s+eaking very @"icky to foc"s his $ind so$e6here otherthan 6here it 6anted to go< &1r. Strange fet that if 6e co"d see the other +ace< 6eco"d enter it. , +erson co"d enter it. e>s correctF# sent a rabbit thro"gh the +orta ast6eekFb"t # don>t think anyone 6i be 6iing to go 6hen they reai?e ho6 dangero"s itis. That>s 6hy # need yo" to he+ $e 6rite the advertise$ent for the vo"nteer< 1r.

Jones.&

This 6as going to 6ork better if the itte g"y 6as reaGed. . . 6hich +robaby

6o"dn>t ha++en as ong as enie Strange 6as in the sa$e roo$< that 6as obvio"s< b"to6ard at east had to try to ca$ hi$ do6n.

&o6ard< /ayt see it $ysefFRobert 6on>t et $e in here 6hie the tests aregoing on. B"t a that reay ha++ened is that the rabbit ho++ed o"t< +erfecty a right< anda i?ard ate it. The sa$e thing co"d have ha++ened any6here.&

&The i?ard stared at the +oor rabbit and dre6 it straight into its Aa6s< ste+ by ste+ve neverin $y ife seen anything so horribe.&

Then yo' don(t &atch the T ne&s a lot< o6ard tho"ght. ,o"d he said< t 6as abasiisk< yo" $ean Not A"st a i?ard&

t 6as a i?ardt a i?ard fro$< 6e< this 6ord.#t 6as horribe< and there are any n"$ber of other horribe things over there. #t>s reaytoo dangero"s to send so$ebody into that 6ord< b"t that>s the ony 6ay 6e canget. . . things.&

&/e< an assa"t rife o"ght to take care of any basiisks that co$e by


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reasonaby. &Er dragons either< 6hich is $ore to the +oint. Basiisks aren>t s"++osed to bebig eno"gh to eat +eo+e.&

e sighed. hate to say this< /ay< b"t science a6ays see$s to 6in o"t over ro$ance. #reallyhate to say it.&

&B"t that>s A"st 6hat # $ean< o6ardt +ass thro"gh the +orta. The eash 6as stiying on the foor 6hen the b"nny disa++eared. The vo"nteer 6on>t be abe to take a g"nor even cothes< and # reay don>t beieve he> be abe to bring the sce+ter back for 1r.Strange.&

&Robert thinks that +"r+e sce+ter gives the fairy king his +o6ers +orta and stea the sce+ter.&

/ith abso"tey no feeing she added< &Robert sacrificed a back hen the night /ay sentthe rabbit thro"gh. e did it over the drain thereF&

She nodded to6ard the bare concrete.

&Fb"t yo" can sti s$e the bood ca"ght in the +i+e. !an>t yo"&

&No6< #+higenias nose 6rinked. e>d noticed a faint $"sty odor< b"t the roo$ 6as so ri+e 6iththe s$es of eectronics 6orkingFo?one< hot ins"ation< and f"GFthat he hadn>t givenany tho"ght to it. e sti 6asn>t s"re that 6hat he s$eed 6as rotting bood rather than$ide6 or 6et 6oo< b"t no6 that enie>d s+oken he 6o"dn>t be abe to get the othernotion o"t of his $ind.

&/ay< yo">re a geni"s& the gir said so forcef"y as to so"nd hostie. &Co" co"d go

any6here and find so$ebody to f"nd yo"r 6ork # ony 6ish yo" had.&/ay t"rned and ooked her in the face for the first ti$e. &Thank yo" for saying thats 6rong*b"t he doesn>t ca $e cra?y or a charatan.&

, doorFthe door that the ight had ed o6ard toFo+ened. Robert Strange< identifiabefro$ the rare +hotos that a++eared in ne6s feat"res b"t $"ch craggier and harsher in+erson< ste++ed thro"gh. e 6ore a ong;seeved back robe e$broidered 6ith sy$boso6ard didn>t recogni?e< and thro"gh the sash at his 6aist he>d thr"st a c"rved dagger of,rab stye. it and scabbard both 6ere siver b"t decorated 6ith r"nes fied 6ith backnieo.

&/ho are yo"& Strange de$anded< his eyes fiGed on o6ard. is voice 6as ike scaesscra+ing on stone< and his back +"+is had a re+tiian gitter.

The ne6s +hotogra+hs hadn>t sho6n the ong scar do6n Strange>s eft cheekbone. There6ere $any 6ays he co"d>ve been c"t< b"t ony one reason o6ard co"d i$agine that a$an 6ith Strange>s $oney 6o"dn>t have had the scar re$oved by +astic s"rgery: +ride.#t 6as a schaeger scar< a vestige of the styi?ed d"es 6ith heavy sabers that sti 6ent onsecrety at the od er$an "niversities. The +"r+ose of a schaeger bo"t 6asn>t to defeat


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one>s foe b"t rather to get the scar as +roof of co"rage and disregard for the a6s 6hichbanned the +ractice.

1ind yo"< o6ard 6as +retty s"re that Strange>s o++onent had eft his share of bood onthe ha>s foor as 6e.

&e>s aF& said enie before either o6ard or /ay co"d s+eak.

+higenia< go to yo"r @"arters at onces nobody ese to talk to&enie said. Tho"gh she co$+ained< she 6aked@"icky to6ard the door of her s"ite.

Strange ret"rned his attention to o6ard. saidtbe abe to carry a g"n into the other rea$< so $y ski 6ith a ra+ier is cr"cia.&

&Co" kno6 ho6 to "se a s6ord& Strange sna++ed.

&Ces< sirss 6hoe tone and $anner $ade it see$ that everything he6as being tod 6as a ie.

Besides considering that Strange $ight have hi$ shot as a s+y< there 6as the +ossibiitythat the /i?ard of 4ast 4ood 6o"d de$and o6ard d"e hi$ to +rove his ski. BeatingStrange 6o"d be dangero"sFrich $en 6ere sef;6ied and eG+osive if they didn>t get

6hat they 6anted. %osing to Strange $ight be even 6orse< es+eciay since o6ard didn>ti$agine he>d have b"ttons on his s6ords any $ore than the fok on the other side of the$ica 6indo6 did.

&Since #>$ an e$+oyee of Strangeco


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&,h< # can>t cai$ to be an ade+t< sirs ho6 # b"it Strangeco fro$ a corner hotdog stand into 6hat it is no6. ,nd by is #nferna 1aAesty that>s ho6 #> r"e the 6ord

6hen # have the staff of +o6er for $ysef. Nothing 6i sto+ $e< Jones. Nothing&

&1r. Strange< #>$ yo"r $an& o6ard said. e s+oke enth"siasticay des+ite his concernthat Strange $ight re+y so$ething aong the ines of< &4ine< #> take yo"r kidneys no6 tofeed $y +et ferrets.&

f yo" serve $e 6e< yo" 6on>t regret it see&

* * *

&No6 hod yo"r ar$s o"t fro$ yo"r sho"ders< +ease< o6ards that in the northeast corner #s it an airconditioner&

&Eh< that>s the co$+"ter that does the $od"ationsd tho"ght 6e>d A"st co"+e a net6ork of cac"ationservers to the 6orkstation< b"t 1r. Strange +rovided a !ray instead to si$+ify the set"+

for the corrections.&&Eh t"rn co"ntercock6ise< +ease. . . & /ay said. &,bo"t fifteen

degrees.&

o6ard 6ore a cotton caftan that ca$e fro$ enie>s s"ite. She>d bro"ght it in 6heno6ard +rotested at standing b"ck naked in the $idde of the foor 6ith sec"rity ca$eras


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6atching. o6ard 6as 6iing to acce+t that the cothes 6o"dn>t go thro"gh the +orta6ith hi$< b"t 6aiting 6hie Pete and his +artner ch"cked abo"t his $asc"ineendo6$ents 6as a different $atter.

Not that there 6as anything 6rong 6ith his $asc"ine endo6$ents.

enie didn>t stay< b"t o6ard kne6 she 6as kee+ing abreast of 6hat 6ent on thro"gh the+art;o+en door. e 6asn>t s"re 6hether he 6as gad of that or not.

The $ica 6indo6 ooked onto the gade 6here o6ard 6o"d enter the other 6ord ifeverything 6ent right. Eccasionay a s$a ani$a a++eared briefyFonce o6ard sa66hat ooked very $"ch ike a +ink bass s6i$$ing thro"gh the airFb"t /ay hadchosen the site beca"se it 6as isoated. There 6as ony so $"ch yo" co"d get fro$eaves @"ivering< even if they did see$ to be soid god.

The car+ets< ayered ike roof shinges over the concrete< 6eren>t the ne"tray eGoticdesigns yo" nor$ay sa6 on Erienta r"gs. So$e of these had styi?ed ca$es and birdst do"bt Strange kne66hat he 6as doing.

, o6ard hi$sef 6as s"re of 6as that he 6as taking a chance at advent"re 6hen ita++eared. #f that 6as a bad idea< then he ho+ed he 6o"dn>t have ong to regret hisdecision.

#t $ight be a very bad idea.

&Theres nothing $ore # can do "nti 6e act"ay begin b"iding thecharge. Then # $ay have toF&

Robert Strange entered thro"gh a +edestrian door set in one of the siG vehice doors aongthe o"tside 6a. The back shee+ he ed ooked +"??ed< a feeing 6hich o6ard hi$sefechoed.

&Co">re ready< 1aster Po++e& he asked.

A1y?eh?he?es ready& he said. &Co"< Jones* yo">re ready&

&1y?eh?heG& the shee+ re+eated< roing its eyes. er eyes< o6ard ass"$ed< sinceStrange said he 6as fetching a e6e. The tycoon>s dagger hit 6inked in the bright


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aboratory ighting.

&Ces< sir& o6ard said.

Strange gri$aced< then bent and tied the eash aro"nd a ring set in the drain. e t"rnedhis head to o6ard and said< &Co" kno6 6hat yo">re going to do&

&Sir< #>$ going to enter the other and take the sce+ter fro$ the kingof that and and ret"rn here to yo" 6ith it.&

,s a state$ent of intent it 6as concise and acc"rate. ,s a +an of action it acked detait 6ant to e$barrass hi$sef by havinghis voice crack in the $idde of a si$+e 6ord ike< &Ces.&

/ay rotated a s6itch< c"tting the ceiing ights to red beads a$ong the di$$ing ghostsof the f"orescent fiGt"res. The sheet of $ica< bright 6ith the dayight of another 6ordt 6ant to think abo"t ho&high the votage 6as.

/ay $"ttered as he 6orked. Tho"gh o6ard co"d see his i+s $ove< the 6ords 6eren>ta"dibe over the h"$ of five transfor$ers aong the o"tside 6a. The o+ening bet6eenenie>s door and the Aa$b 6as fainty visibe.

The air s+"ttered. o6ard fet a directioness +"< "n+easant 6itho"t being reay+ainf". Iioet ight fickered thro"gh the $ica< a $o$entary +"se fro$ the 6ord acrossthe barrier.

Strange sho"ted a fina 6ord. The shee+ beated on a rising note ending in so a6f" ag"rge that o6ard +ressed his hands to his ears before he re$e$bered that $oving$ight affect /ay>s cac"ations. The e6e>s hooves ratted on the concrete* the c"rtainbio6ed as the ani$a thrashed.

o6ard 6o"d>ve covered his ears even if he had tho"ght abo"t /ay. The so"nd 6as


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horrible.

/ay ty+ed< his eyes on the co$+"ter dis+ay. e>d s"cked his o6er i+ bet6een histeeth to che6 as he concentrated. The transfor$ers h"$$ed o"der b"t didn>t changetone.

o6ard fet the indescribabe +" again. #n the other 6ord the vioet ha?e for$ed againt see one< b"t he 6aked +ast /ay and t"rned the $ain ightsback on. The transfor$er 6as s$odering itsef o"t< tho"gh an occasiona si??e $adeo6ard thankf" that the foor 6as covered 6ith non;cond"ctive 6oo.

&/hat 6ent 6rong& Strange said. kno6 that the transfor$er faied* &hy did it fai&

&The oad 6as too great do"be it& Strange said< his tone a ras+ ike stee grating on rib bones. f 6e don>tneed the eGtra 6attage< then 6e 6on>t "se it< b"t 6e> "se as $"ch as it re@"ires&

e ooked disg"stedy at the dagger in his hand< then 6i+ed the bade on the c"rtain andsheathed the 6ea+on. e strode +ast o6ard and /ay to the ha door* o6ard 6atchedhi$ 6ith a fiGed s$ie< "nco$fortaby a6are that instinct tensed hi$ to r"n in caseStrange ea+ed for his throat.

The Thief of Baghdad $ight>ve had a better idea. En the other hand< o6ard didn>tre$e$ber the Thief of Baghdad facing anything @"ite ike Robert Strange.

Strange th"$+ed the ha door cosed* it 6as too heavy to bang. ,t the so"nd< enie>sdoor o+ened a itte 6ider and the si$ gir ret"rned. She gri$aced 6hen she sa6 the e6e.#t>d voided its bo6es 6hen it died< so that odor $inged 6ith the fresh bood and b"rnedins"ation.

&,re yo" a right< /ay& she asked. &,nd yo"< o6ard. #>$ not "sed to there beinganybody b"t /ay here.&

>$ sorry yo" had to see that< #+higenia


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&/ay< #>ve ived 6ith Robert for fifteen years have a verydiffic"t Aob to gain the king>s sce+ter. # don>t beieve in $agic< not here or there eitherone< b"t the ani$a g"arding the king a++ears for$idabe.&

&The dragondscare the s+it o"t of hi$. By i$iting his tho"ghts to vag"e s6oo+s across the ha on ahandy ro+e< foo6ed by a $ighty ea+ fro$ a bacony;eve 6indo6< he 6as $anaging tokee+ his a+o$b.


39/320

&,nd of co"rse 6e>re not s"re it> be +ossibe to bring inani$ate obAects thro"gh the+orta in this direction< since 6e can>t do it 6hie going the other 6ay face< o6ards cosed door* he ooked as if he 6as abo"t to cry. &Regardessd ike yo" to do $e a favor if yo" can. #>d ike yo" to bring $e a +hia of 6ater fro$ thes+ring 6e A"st ooked at. #. . . #>d be very gratef".&

*o' poor little g'y o6ard tho"ght. ,o"d he said< &,h< /ay #> do 6hat # canF&

/hich $ight not be a heck of a ot.-f o6ard arrived< he>d be bare;assed naked and inthe $idde of a b"nch of g"ys 6ith s6ords they kne6 ho6 to "se. Not to $ention theoccasiona dragon.

&Fb"t yo" kno6< it isn>t that hard to< ah< $eet girs.&e +a"sed to choose the neGt 6ordscaref"y.&%ots of ti$es A"st being aro"nd one for a 6hie is eno"gh to< yo" kno6< bringthe t6o of yo" together. #f yo" +ay yo"r cards right.&

The tr"ck drove off 6ith a snort of diese eGha"st as the garage door began to r"$bedo6n. The cor+ses of the shee+ and transfor$er ay together in the bed of the vehice.

>ve never +ayed cards at a< o6ards a right< /ay$ "cky to have

$et a rea hero ike yo" in $y ti$e of need.&

Eny fainty a"dibe thro"gh the heavy doors< another big tr"ck 6as +"ing "+ o"tside. ,reay cicked and the $achinery began to r"$be again.

fee s"re 6e>re going to s"cceedre going to do. No $atter 6hat&

/ay so"nded a ot $ore cheerf" 6hen he $ade that +ro$ise than o6ard 6as to hearit.

* * *

/ith the siG ne6 transfor$ers in +ace< the ine a$ost fied the o"tside 6a. En that

side ony the c"rtained;off cornerFthey 6ere aready dra6nFdidn>t have $achinerys@"atting on it. o6ard co"d sti s$e b"rned ins"ation. e>d never tho"ght he>d bethankf" for a stink ike that< b"t it covered other +ossibe re$inders of the afternoon>seG+eri$ent.

/ay ooked at o6ard and tried to force a grin. is eG+ression 6o"d>ve been $orea++ro+riate for so$ebody being ra+ed by a !hrist$as tree.

&ey< b"ck "+< b"ddyre going to be fine&


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4"nny< b"t teing the ie $ade o6ard fee that the 6ords $ight +ossiby be tr"e.%ogicay he kne6 a ot better.

The door hidden behind the c"rtain o+ened. o6ard heard a clink over the h"$ of$achinery as so$ething hard br"shed against the raised inte. e 6ondered 6hat ani$aStrange 6as bringing in to sacrifice this ti$e. o6ard had eG+ected a heifer or $aybe an

ee+hant< b"t Strange 6o"d>ve had to raise the vehic"ar door to bring in ani$as thatbig.

Strange st"ck his head o"t bet6een t6o c"rtain +anes. &,re yo" ready to +roceedre ready take ninety seconds fro$ 6henever 6e start to b"id the fied.&

&Start no6< thens voice chanting.

o6ard fet the hairs ift fro$ his body. /here those of his chest to"ched the oose caftanthey ticked ike the feeing at the back of a dry throat that yo" can>t see$ to s6ao6a6ay. Iioet ha?e b"rred the air beyond the $ica.

enie Strange screa$ed.

o6ard t"rned. The door to enie>s roo$ 6as cosedFcosed and atched. The dra+esaro"nd Strange and his activities b"ged o"t6ard.

enie ho++ed thro"gh and fe< dragging a section of the vevet do6n. The scarf "sed togag her had si++ed o"t of her $o"th* it 6as the ony gar$ent she 6as 6earing. er6rists and ankes 6ere tied together behind her back< b"t she>d $anaged to "ndo the cordthat>d bo"nd her to the drain.

Robert Strange< his face as hard and contorted as that of a $arbe de$on< ste++ed o"tbehind her. e grabbed a handf" of enie>s back hair 6ith his free hand.

&ey& o6ard said. There 6as a bank of e@"i+$ent bet6een hi$ and the Stranges. ,sgracef"y as if he>d been +racticing a his ife< o6ard took t6o r"nning ste+s< +antedhis right +a$ on the rack< and ea+ed over 6ith his egs s6"ng off to his eft side. venthe Thief of Baghdad 6o"d be i$+ressedF

9nti the caftan>s bio6ing he$ ca"ght the chassis f" of +"g;in circ"its on to+ of therack. ,s o6ard>s egs straightened< the tightening coth s+ied hi$ ike a assoed steer.Strange ooked at hi$ 6itho"t eG+ression.

o6ard s+rang "+. The torn caftan< b"nched no6 aro"nd his ankes< tri++ed hi$ again.


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Strange ifted enie>s head< avoiding her atte$+ts to bite hi$. e +oised the c"rveddagger in his right hand over her throat. o6ard grabbed the sides of the r"g on 6hichhe>d faen and Aerked 6ith a his strength< snatching Strange>s feet o"t fro$ "nder hi$.

&Co". . . & sho"ted Strange as he to++ed back6ard. enie>d tossed her short hair

free of his gri+< b"t he didn>t ose the dagger in his other hand. #t 6as "nderneath 6hen

the /i?ard of 4ast 4ood hit the concrete.

The chassis that o6ard>d dragged to the foor 6ith hi$ 6as +o++ing and s+"ttering< b"the 6asn>t +re+ared for the fash of vioet ight that fied the interior of the ab. #t 6as sointense that o6ard ony vag"ey noticed the acco$+anying th"nderca+. e heard /aycry o"t and t"rned.

/ay 6asn>t there. is cothing< fro$ bro6n shoes to the +air of reading gasses he 6oretited "+ on his forehead< ay in the $idde of the heGagra$. The h"ndred and t6enty;three +o"nds of /ay Po++e had vanished.

Gce+t for an i$age in the $ica 6indo6.

o6ard ifted enie before he re$e$bered that her ste+father and the dagger $ight be of$ore i$$ediate concern. e ooked back.

e>d been right the first ti$e. Strange>s face 6as t"rned to6ard o6ard. e ookedabso"tey f"rio"s. e>d $anaged to thrash into a +rone +osition 6hie dying< b"t thesiver hit +roAecting fro$ the $idde of his back sho6ed that dying 6as certainy 6hathe>d done.

The transfor$er on the far eft of the ine shorted o"t. The one neGt to it 6ent a heartbeatater< and 6hen the third faied it sho6ered the roo$ 6ith bobs of fa$ing tar. Ene ofthe$ sa++ed the $ica 6indo6< and shattered it ike a bo$b.

&!an yo" +ease "ntie $e< o6ard& asked the gir in his ar$s. &Tho"gh the 6ay thingsare starting to ha++en in here< $aybe that co"d 6ait ti 6e>re o"tside.&

&Right& said o6ard. &Right&

e +a"sed to shr"g off 6hat 6as eft of the caftan* it had started to b"rn as 6e.So$eho6 he co"dn>t get concerned abo"t 6hat the g"ards tho"ght of hi$ no6.

* * *

Beca"se he and enie 6ere going to be gone for at east three 6eeks and a fo"rth besidesif the !hinese a"thorities agreed to o+en Tibet to StrangecoF 6hich they 6o"d* o6ardJones 6asn>t caed the S6ashb"cker of 4ast 4ood for nothingFo6ard sto++ed by the$ansion>s for$er garage for a $o$ent. e iked to< 6e< kee+ an eye on ho6 things 6eregoing.

e>d had the big roo$ ceaned and neary $+tied i$$ediatey after the 6edding< b"t hesti s$eed the bitterness of b"rned ins"ation. e s"++osed it 6as $osty in his $ind byno6.

enie>d 6anted to tear the garage do6n co$+etey since it hed nothing b"t bad$e$ories for her< b"t she>d agreed to et o6ard kee+ the roo$ so ong as he>d had thedoor into her od s"ite 6eded sh"t. She 6asn>t the sort of gir to obAect to the 6hi$ of the$an 6ho>d saved her ife* besides< she oved her h"sband.


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o6ard 6ent to the skeeta a++arat"s on the one rack re$aining in the roo$. Three hair;fine fia$ents 6ere sti attached to the to+ edge of a +iece of $ica no bigger than a@"arter.

o6ard bent to +eer into it. #f yo" ooked caref"y at the right ti$es< yo" co"d seei$ages in the $ica.

The foc"s 6andered. o6ard hadn>t tried to adA"st the a++arat"s hi$sef or et anybodyese take a ook at it. 1osty a there 6as to see 6as sno6< b"t this ti$e he 6as in "ck.

The +ee+hoe ooked o"t at the s+ring 6here co"+es "sed to cavort. /ay 6as there 6ithhis ento"rage< checking the generating t"rbine he>d b"it to +o6er the first eectric ightsin his ne6 ho$e. #f o6ard "nderstood the +re+arations he>d seen going on in the roya+aace ast 6eek< tee+hones 6ere abo"t to foo6.

/hen /ay t"rned 6ith a satisfied eG+ression< o6ard 6aved. e kne6 the itte feo6co"dn>t see hi$< b"t it $ade o6ard fee he 6as sort of kee+ing in to"ch. /ay 6akedo"t of the i$age area s"rro"nded by co"rtiers.

o6ard checked his 6atch and sighed* he needed to get $oving. e>d +ro$ised theco$+any fencing tea$ that he and enie 6o"d at east dro+ in on their $atch 6ithPrinceton. ,fter o6ard instit"ted $orning "nity;b"iding fencing eGercises thro"gho"tStrangeco< a n"$ber of the e$+oyees had beco$e fencing enth"siasts.

o6ard took a ast ook at the +oo in the other 6ord. e>d never seen /ay take a si+of the 6ater< and it didn>t see$ ikey that he ever 6o"d.

,fter a< a +o6erf" 6i?ard ike 1aster Po++e had to beat off bea"tif" 6o$en 6ith astick.


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Smokie oe

-(ve recently beg'n &riting big?b'dget fantasy novels. The first :'estionintervie&ers ask #e is al#ost invariably, AWhy did yo' s&itch fro##ilitary SF to fantasyGA

The tr'thHas this vol'#e provesHis that - started o't &riting fantasy.3fter - got back fro# So'theast 3sia in "CE" - had first?hand kno&ledge of&ar and the #ilitary. - 'sed that backgro'nd in science fiction stories&hich event'ally 4and - #ean event'ally5 got #e a na#e for &riting#ilitary SF@ b't - love fantasy, and -(ve never stopped &riting it.

3 British &riter and editor, Michel $arry, edited a n'#ber of interestingoriginal 4or partly original5 horror and fantasy anthologies in the "CE>s.These didn(t pay a lotH- believe everything - sold Michel &as at a penny a

&ordHb't they &ere sales 4and to real p'blishers like Mayflo&er andStar5 at a ti#e &hen there &ere very fe& o'tlets in the S for fantasy.4More places in the S &o'ld b'y SF. For the #ost part - got re9ectionsfro# the#, b't there &ere at least #agazines to &hich - co'ld send #ystories.5

ne of Michel(s odder endeavors &as to edit Devil(s )isses and MoreDevil(s )isses, anthologies of erotic horror stories, 'nder the na#e 2inda2ovecraftHthe trade#ark of a chain of British se8 shops. My'nderstanding is that 2inda 2ovecraft, like 7'an aldez, &as the fig#entof a #arketing &easel(s i#agination@ - recall Michel saying that he(d

&ondered if he &as going to have to appear in co'rt in drag and a blond&ig after the raid.

We(ll get to the raid later.

Michel asked #e to s'b#it to the second vol'#e@ - &rote AS#okie 7oe.A4The idiosyncratic spelling As#okieA see#ed right for the character. -don(t kno& &hy.5 There(s se8 in it, b't - don(t &ant to #eet the person &ho


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gets an erotic thrill fro# this one.

AS#okie 7oeA is a deal?&ith?the?Devil story 4set in 7oliet, -llinois, tho'ghthe setting isn(t cr'cial to the plot5. My proble# &ith #ost of the genre isthat the Devil doesn(t co#e thro'gh as really evil. My Devil is evil@ and -

don(t trivialize evil, especially since - ca#e back fro# iet Na#.

Michel sent #e a copy of More Devil(s )isses hot off the presses. That &asa good thing, beca'se no sooner had the book hit the ne&sstands than thepolice i#po'nded all copies on an obscenity co#plaint and briefly locked'p the in?ho'se editor. The charges &ere dropped &hen the p'blisher4/orgi5 p'lped the &hole edition.

Beca'se the #atter didn(t go to trial, there(s no certainty as to &hichprecise #atters &ere the s'b9ect of the co#plaint. The best bet is that the/hris Miller piece had ca'sed the proble#, b't that &as a reprint fro# a

#agazine &hich had been sold in Britain &itho't ob9ection. The onlyother evidence is that &hen the book &as bro'ght o't in ;er#any, t&ostories &ere dropped@ Miller(s and AS#okie 7oe.A

-(ve not only been banned in Britain, -(ve been banned in ;er#any too.

#t 6as Sat"rday night b"t To$ 1"ens> n"$bers +aror 6as as sti as the $org"e BigTo$ eG+ected to grace the neGt day. e 6as s6eating. e +retended not to< thinking thatit 6o"d be read as fear by the three sets of eyes trained on hi$ across the co"nting tabe*b"t the dro+s r"nneed o"t of his sti;dark c"rs and do6n his beefy face. e had a6aysbragged that his t6o knobby fists $ade hi$ a $atch for any chea+ g"n$an. T"io>s boys

didn>t 6ork chea+< and Big To$>s throat had cogged 6ith the od boast 6hen he sa6 thecratered offa their 9?is had eft of seven of his r"nners.

%od 1ahoney co"dn>t have cared ess abo"t 1"ens> s6eat: his eyes 6ere bind andstaring 6ith his o6n fear. %od 6as a +a"nchy< bading fifty;five< the ar$+its and ongseeves of his 6hite shirt $oist b"t his bo6 tie sti a neat dark band of res+ectabiity. ehad stayed this fina< terribe 6eek 6ith Big To$ not o"t of oyaty b"t beca"se he 6asony the bookkee+er he a++eared to be. !ri$ina in his associations< not his instincts< %oddid not kno6 ho6 to r"n.

#f Big To$ ooked a boar at bay< his son Danny had the s"ky nervo"sness of a 6e;6hi++ed dog. is eyes darted back and forth a$ong the others in the roo$< eGcited to be6here he had never before been ao6ed< b"t +ettish to kno6 that it 6as ony beca"se hisfather did not tr"st hi$ oose. Danny>s adoescent face 6as an ar$at"re for the confictinge$otions his $ind thre6 on it. En 1onday g"nshots had caed hi$ to a 6indo6.1e$ory of 6hat he had seen in the street no6 doo+ed occasiona terror onto hiseG+ression.

,cross fro$ Big To$< his hands deicate b"t a$ost as dark as the scarred $a+e on6hich they ay< s$ied S$okie Joe. is goatee bobbed in a h"$or that no one 6ith hi$in the roo$ co"d see. can find a co"+e hard boys


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&6ho can get yo" o"t of this yet< Big To$.&

&/hat& 1"ens snared< cenching a fist to 6i+e a6ay the s$irk he 6as s"re "nderaythe 6ords. B"t S$okie Joe>s ca$ beied a Aoke. The back eyes 6ere +acid< the +erfectfeat"res co$+osed beneath the sick back hair.ce$an 6ant a +iece of the action< s"re. af of anything they generate afterthings get straightened aro"nd.&

&That>s nothing& Big To$ said< asto"nded.

&To$< they> be SyndicateF& b"rted 1ahoney< a ne6 fear sta$+ing itsef across hisface.

&Do yo" think # care& 1"ens sho"ted. e stood< his eyes ficking to the binds dra6nacross 6indo6s in 6hich b"et;+roof %eGan had re+aced the gass. e roed his ar$s asif ifting a h"ge 6eight to his chest. 6on>t ook at 6here he+ co$es fro$ no6 if it>take o"t T"ios no going back. . . Do yo"

"nderstand&

6on>t go back on $y 6ords

grave.&

&En yo"r so"< To$ 1"enss conte$+t fro?ehi$ at his father>s side.

&od yo"r tong"e 6hen $en tak< boy


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&,nd 6e>re +art of yo"r organi?ation after6ardst 6orry abo"t T"io.Not after to$orro6 $orning.&e 6as sti a"ghing 6hen Nick and ,ngeo t"rned andeft the roo$. They cosed the door very genty behind the$.

* * *

The back !adiac got a fina dab before T"io>s cha"ffe"r foded the cha$ois andste++ed back. very S"nday $orning he +arked s@"arey in front of St #renae"s to et o"tt6o bodyg"ards and his e$+oyer: T"io had not $issed $ass or $ade confession inthirty;seven years. By no6 +eo+e kne6 not to take T"io>s +ace at the c"rb. Peo+ekne6For they earned< ike the o6ner of the red I/ 6as going to earn. The cha"ffe"rs+at a gobbet that dribbed do6n the s"itcase ashed ike a dorsa fin to the Ioks6agen>s

roof.The s$a bo$b behind the atar of St #renae"s ratted the S"nday @"iet and shivered therose 6indo6 on the street side. The cha"ffe"r>s Aa6 tre$bed. e dro++ed the coth andA"$+ed in to crank the big< sient engine of the !adiac. The ch"rch doors sa$$ed backs bood had $arkedit. The trio sc"tted do6n the ste+s< their eyes darting abo"t the street ike i?ards>tong"es. R"thess ebo6s and g"n b"tts had ri++ed the gangsters thro"gh shockedch"rchgoers< b"t no6 the doors s+ied o"t net;veied 6o$en and $en in dark s"its.

The directiona $ine on the Ioks6agen>s roof sa6ed the$ do6n 6ith over a tho"sandstee +eets.

T"io>s cha"ffe"r ha$$ered at his door< 6edged by the force of the eG+osion. The fo"r;inch gass of the 6indshied 6as fogged 6ith shatter $arks. The ch"rch facade 6as aha?e of +o6dered stone* fresh s+inters raised a h"ndred rosettes against the dark 6ood ofthe doors.

The ste+s of the ch"rch 6ere an abattoir. #n the $idde of it sat nrico T"io< screa$ingike one of the da$ned. 1"ch of the bood s+ashing hi$ no6 6as his o6n.

* * *

&Seventeen f"cking bodiest get T"io e>"se an ;bo$b on "s no6 if he has to&

&T"io 6on>t "se anything


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he> re$e$ber the bast and the bood +o"ring do6n the stone beside hi$. /hen yo"+ay for kee+s< yo" +ay the $an* and T"io kno6s no6 he can>t +ay as hard as yo".&

The +hone rang< o"d and terribe in the sient roo$. Danny 1"ens bit bood fro$ hiso6er i+ and backed against the 6a. Big To$ stared at the +hone as if it 6ere a cobraca$+ed on his eg.

&o ahead< Big To$s s$ooth voice.t can>t be 6orse than yo">reaready thinking< can it&

1"ens shot hi$ a gance f" of vioence. e had no one to back a +ay< tho"gh< beyonda terrified siGteen;year;od and a bookkee+er shock;stoned to i$$obiity. e t"rned hisanger on the caer instead< snaring< &eo& into the receiver. is red #rish face changedas he istened< $oving thro"gh ne"tra bankness to bea$ing< incred"o"s tri"$+h.&S"ret get thro"gh the hos+ita b"shit bythen< then od have $ercy on yo"< T"ioFbeca"se # s"re as e 6on>t.&

/hoo+ing< Big To$ sa$$ed do6n the receiver and s6"ng over the tabe as if it 6ere ava"ting horse. is ar$s e$braced the t6o tor+edoes. #n his b"bbing ha++iness he did

not notice that they 6ere sti as cody aoof as 6hen he tho"ght he had been tong"e;ashing the$ for fai"re.

&Ti$e to tak abo"t +ay$ent< isn>t it< Big To$& s"ggested S$okie Joe easiy.

&Pay Eh< !hrist< yeahs

aready been c"t fifteen to one.&>ve got contacts in ,sia be +"re as #vory Soa+.&

is 6ords Aogged a scra+ of ne6sree in Big To$>s $e$ory.&Co" 6ere in Iiet Na$t yo"&he asked.&That>s 6here yo" earned to "se one bo$b to set "+ the rea oneo"t in front.&

&/e 6ere in Na$be a set;"+ for so$ebody ese ike T"io 6ho kno6s 6hat can be done by a g"y 6ho>s6iing to. ,nd if yo" 6esh on "s no6< Big To$< yo" 6on>t have o"r he+ the neGt ti$e itha++ens. /hat> it be&

1"ens tong"ed both corners of his i+s< ooking fro$ 1ahoney to the eG+ectantvioence of the t6o tor+edoes. gave $y 6ord back anything yo"


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need to set "+.&

Their s$ies dreadf" refections of one another< Nick and ,ngeo ste++ed to either sideof the 6hi$+ering bookkee+er. &S$art cookies fist s$ashed %odbeneath the breastbone. ,s 1ahoney do"bed over< ,ngeo +"nched hi$ in the back 6itheno"gh +o6er to +o+ a rib a"diby. The +"$+ $an 6rithed on the foor ike a cr"shed

dog.

&e ain>t deadt even "nconscio"s. B"t his s+een>s b"sted and he>beed o"t in ten< t6enty $in"tes.&

Danny 1"ens t"rned his face to the 6a and vo$ited.

&et rid of the $eat< boysre 6orse than the ones 6ho>ve been goody;goody a the ti$e. They thinkthey>ve got so$ething to $ake "+ for< and they don>t $ind +"tting yo"r ass in the hot seatif they decide it>s the >right> thing to do.&

The foreegs of Joe>s chair th"$+ed the foor as he stood. e ta++ed Big To$ +ayf"yon the sho"der. &!o$e on< give "s a s$ie. /e>re going +aces.& Big To$ shook hi$sefd be s"r+risedt. . . . &

is voice traied off b"t S$okie Joe had aready o+ened the door of a converted broo$coset and "nocked a dra6er of the fiing cabinet 6ithin. &S"++ose yo" 6ere abo"t toa"nch a +"sh againstF6e< yo">d ca the$ >the forces of cri$e and decay> 6hen yo"

hed yo"r +ress conferences< # s"++ose. Then yo"r da"ghter got dr"nk eno"gh to take adare fro$ so$e girfriendsFgirs she>d gro6n "+ 6ith< tho"gh $aybe if yo">d +aid $oreattention yo" 6o"dn>t have cared for so$e of the co$+any they>d been kee+ing recenty.Took a dare and got in a itte dee+er than she eG+ected.

&So the neGt $ornings dated her&

&Sti think Prince R"+ert 6ears +adding& ,ngeo asked.

&That>sFod< # 6ant to +"ket have the sa$e kind of ocks on that.&

&/hat>s the $atter& Big To$ asked< t"rning to6ard the o"tside door as if it 6ere the gate

of his +rison. &!o"dn>t yo" get a +ict"re of the 6hoe Dr"g nforce$ent Division havinga circe Aerk&

&Eh< anything is +ossibe have better "ck if 6e give the state boys so$ething to go after besides "ss s$ie. 4ro$ the front ofthe ho"se ca$e a screa$< then another and another in rhyth$ic +"ses. The s$ie gre6broader.

* * *

Big To$ 1"ens sa++ed foded ne6s+a+er do6n in front of S$okie Joe 6ho 6aited forhi$ 6ith a stack of acco"nt books. >$ getting godda$ sick and tired of +eo+e +ayinggodda$ ga$es 6ith $et sho6ed "+ for casses in a $onth and a haf. # get here and Nick hands $e this+a+er< asking ho6 # ike the Aob he did for $e. WhatAob&

Joe ca$y "nfoded the +a+er.t>s not "n"s"a for boys yo"r son>s age to dro+ o"t ofschoo< yo" kno6$ not s+ending eight f"cking grand a year for that kid to dro+ o"t&Big To$ said.&e>sgetting chances # never had to reay $ake it by going straight< $iGing 6ith a the kids6hose foks had $oney 6itho"t having to scra$be for it. #f Danny thinks he>s going to

thro6 that a6ay< #> bo6 his f"cking head off&

&The $oney doesn>t $atter. Big To$t +aid $"ch attention to ho6 # ookt even read thiscra+t $ean anything.&

&Then $aybe this does.&The tone 6o"d have sna++ed Big To$>s head aro"nd even if the$ove$ent of Danny>s hand fro$ beneath his coat had not. S$okie Joe 6as 6atching theboy 6ith an eG+ression of bored resignation< that re$ained "nchanged at the sight of a .


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Awakenin!

Many of the SF &riters of the "C=>s and (%>s &ere fascinated by /harlesFort(s collections of 'ne8plained pheno#ena. My friend Manly WadeWell#an told #e that F. rlin Tre#aine, the editor of 3sto'nding fro#"C== till 7ohn W. /a#pbell took over at the end of "C=I, had bo'ght therights to Fort(s collection 2o to #ine for sto

balefires - david drake

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