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"Needed a change" Nick went up the steps and shook Virgil's hand "Thought Carson would enjoy the beach"

"Good thing you drove Octavia out here" Virgil sht not be easy for you to find this place, ith being new to the coht," she said "Left tofor the turnoff"

"Thank you so s We certainly appreciate it"

"Happy to be of service," Octavia said "Where's AZ?"

"Right here," Arizona booh the screen door "You met Photon, here?"

"Yes, of course" Octavia nodded at the tallrobes who stood behind Arizona "Good evening, Photon"

"May the light of the future brighten your night, Miss Brightwell" Photon inclined his gleaht and peace, Mr Harte"

"Thanks," Nick said "Same to you, Photon"

Another resident eccentric, Nick thought Photon was the leader of the New Age crowd that operated the Incandescent Body bakery The group styled itself the Heralds of Future History Their philosophy was a little vague, but their baking skills were outstanding The incredible one a long way toward quelling local concerns that Eclipse Bay had been invaded by a cult

"Come on inside" Arizona thrust open the screen door "Got the paintings lined up here in the living room"

"We had to clear out two pickup loads of junk to rinned "There goes the inheritance, huh?"

"Let's put it this way," Virgil said "It was nice of Thurgarton to think of us, but it's starting to look like being the beneficiaries of his will is more trouble than it's worth The furniture is in such bad shape it isn't even worth the effort of putting on a yard sale Other than the paintings, everything else is just junk Personally, I' my breath that the pictures are worth much, either"

Nick ushered Octavia ahead of hi room She came to an abrupt halt

"Oh, "

"That's one word for it" Nick stopped just behind her and whistled softly at the sight of the truly monumental clutter "The terazines and yellowed newspapers spilled from the tops of row upon row of cardboard boxes stacked to the ceiling Old suitcases were heaped in a corner One of thele of old clothes The surface of the desk near the as buried beneath piles of file folders and three-ring binders stuffed with notebook paper