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Their standard operating procedure had always been to settle in less populated areas, set up their various soul traps, then return so Then, as the population within the Hindenburg grew, she beca down in sanization to their Afterlight population
She would address the shts in these towns Sometimes they would join her, and climb aboard, sometimes not If they chose not to join her, she would leave the that theywonderful By the tihts in her protective care
"The city's run by a Death Boss!" said Speedo "That's what he calls himself! A Death Boss!"
"Just a ruh she suspected that the rumor was true She had heard that he even naster "Last o didn't even exist!"
"I didn't say that," said Speedo "I said that it didn't exist in Everlost"
"And yet noe know that it does," Mary pointed out "Illunorance every time"
"What if he captures us and turns us into slaves?" pleaded Speedo "Then what?"
"Dictators who rule with an iron fist are sy Capone does rule like a dictator, it would not serve his interests to enslave us"
"Are you sure of that?"
Mary sighed "No," she ad anyway"
They circled the city a final tirounds of the Columbian Exhibition
The World Colureatest world's fair there had ever been It filled a full square-an, and looked nificent dolorious fountains stood at the heart of the fair, all of it so alabaster white it becalowingcolonnades and hallowed halls of industry stood as monuments to the power and permanence of man's creations
Unfortunately it was all made of cheap plaster, and crumbled like a sandcastle once the fair was over
However, the loss to the living world was a gift to Everlost Here in Everlost, the Great White City still claiilded Statue of the Republic forever towered resolutely at its heart, and George Ferris's great wheel--the original Ferris wheel--continued to turn relentless circles--still the tallest piece of Chicago to cross into Everlost
In short, the place was larger than life, but then, so was Mary Hightower, and she orchestrated her arrival with royal style
The Hindenburg settled in the "court of honor," the great courtyard at the heart of the White City, touching down in the reflecting pool that so eerily iant zeppelin in size and shape, it appeared to belong there, fitting like a key in a lock All around the court of honor, hundreds upon hundreds of Chicago Afterlights gathered to gawk as a rahtspool in size order They then parted, and faced inward, creating a gauntlet; a pathway of Afterlights for Mary to walk between
They stood at attention, and all waited in silent anticipation Then Mary ereen velvet dress just brushing the surface of the ankle-deep pool, e of the reflecting pool and then stopped, waiting patiently for the Chicago Afterlights to dredge up the nerve to approach her They all looked downtrodden and scared, with circles under their wide eyes that gave the look of zombies--but those eyes weren't empty and mindless, they were full of dread--the first indication that all the rusy Capone were true
Finally, a young girl, the bravest of these tihts, approached her and asked, "Are you here to send the Death Boss to hell?"
The question challenged Mary's balance, but only for an instant She sirl warmly "I'm here to help," she said "Please tell Mr Capone that Mary Hightower has coirl ran off, and Mary waited patiently, refusing to engage any of the other Afterlights in conversation, because she knew that would challenge Pugsy's power, and she didn't want to do that Not yet, anyway
Tenas quickly as she had run off
"His eminence will see you now"
"His eminence!" said Mary "Isn't that a title reserved for the Pope, and other holy irl looked down hness"