Part 44 (1/2)

Nothing for it but to ride the tiger now.

The door was locked.

”Lookit here, Mel. I got time to deal with you.” I faked a swat. She buzzed and pouted. Her husband and family materialized. A typical pixie debate commenced. The subject, Melondie's drinking, got lost in the general uproar.

Tinnie opened up, sheepish and defiant. I grumbled, ”I hope we aren't headed there.” I jerked a thumb at the wee folk. ”It isn't sport to me.”

Shaking his head, Silverman eased past Tinnie. He didn't fail to note her fine points. As usual, she did fail to note his appreciation.

We met Dean and Singe in the hall. They carried an array of refreshments. Silverman's good opinion was important to my resident stiff.

Silverman wasn't intimidated by the Loghyr. Maybe, like the Dead Man, he had roots so deep in time nothing bothered him anymore. He settled into my chair. His eyes widened when Old Bones made contact. He didn't react otherwise. He built a complicated cup of tea, sipped, relaxed, asked, ”Now, sir, why did you lure me away from my art?”

Old Bones meant to have fun with it. Whatever it was. He didn't include me in the conversation. I soothed my bruised feelings by easing over to Tinnie, where I got some exercise getting my hands slapped.

Chuckles stopped that. Silverman is a jeweler, Garrett. A custom designer of uniquely powerful pieces. Shall I have him create something special for you two Silverman is a jeweler, Garrett. A custom designer of uniquely powerful pieces. Shall I have him create something special for you two?

Panic.

Amus.e.m.e.nt from the realm of the dead.

Sigh of relief from me once I understood that Tinnie hadn't caught any of that.

But I could include her.

”I'll be good.”

More amus.e.m.e.nt.

I have to get over this, somehow.

Silverman didn't say much. The Dead Man answered his questions before he articulated them.

Singe got the expense ledger and cashbox. I caught the twinkle of n.o.ble metal as she put money into Silverman's wrinkled pale hand. Under instruction, of course. Then, not under instruction, she sidled over to show me the inside of the cashbox.

It contained a handful of gritty green copper and two cracked, blackened silver pieces of indeterminate but exaggerated age. The kings could no longer be recognized.

”I knew it! What have I been telling you all? You people have finally done it!”

Quiet. You will recover your investment. In time. Ah. At long last. I had no trouble sensing his relief. Plainly, he'd been worried about something. Stand by to answer the door Stand by to answer the door.

”And make sure Melondie doesn't get in. I can't afford to support her bad habit.”

You go, Garrett. Take your stick.

”She gonna be that much problem?”

Do not be contrary. It does not become you. The stick is a precaution, unlikely to be needed.

That wasn't rea.s.suring, even so.

I was going to be a whole lot contrary for a big long time. They really were spending me into the poorhouse.

I did as he suggested. The situation, of course, wasn't as bad as my instructions implied. Dean didn't show up trying to figure out how to work his crossbow.

75.

I was speechless. A state apparently desirable, if some can be credited.

Tap-tap-tapping was the A-Laf deacon Old Bones had cut loose. Looking determined but bewildered. Like someone naturally slow on the uptake valiantly pressing forward in life. With him was a matched pair of bruisers, mortified by having to appear publicly in disguise. Twins, distraught because they couldn't wear their signature ugly pants.

There'd been guys like that in the Corps. The uniform helped them define who they were. Without it they became rudderless.

Will you cease dallying? Time is critical. Colonel Block's minions have noted their arrival. Someone may want to investigate.

”Wouldn't mind finding out what-”

Move it!

Whoa! Somebody was getting cranky.

I moved it, not without sulking.

The Ugly Pants crew entered without pleasantries. With a ”My feelings are bruised just by being here” kind of att.i.tude.

I grumbled, ”I might be a little better motivated if I knew what the h.e.l.l you were up to.”

I am trying to wrap this neatly, with maximum benefit to all. Before the advent of the new millennium. Bring them here. Today am trying to wrap this neatly, with maximum benefit to all. Before the advent of the new millennium. Bring them here. Today.

Sometimes you've just got to go along and see what happens.

I herded the daft deacon and his water buffalo into the presence. ”Anything else you need? Dancing girls? Tinnie might come stumble around. Or can we get to the point?”

I wonder if that samsom weed might not he coming back on you again wonder if that samsom weed might not he coming back on you again.

That was a thought. I did my best to ignore it. But there could've been something to it.

The A-Laf deacon went straight to Silverman. One of the big boys placed a box in the old man's lap. Silverman produced a loupe. He opened the box.

I jumped.

The casket contained a nickel dog. A pup. All right! A jackal.