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I opened the sht crystal monocles in six neat red velvet cups nested there

“My luggage,” said Fritz “All that I saved and took to bring to Aroin and my talent”

“Which was huge”

“Stop” Fritz dutch-rubbed my skull “Give only insults, bastard child I show you these—” he nudged the monocles—“to prove all is not lost All cats, and Roy, land on their feet What else is in the glove compartment?”

I found a thick raphed script

“Read that without throwing up and you’ll be aGo Come back, tomorroo-thirty, the coh cut of Jesus on the Dole or Father, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me Ja? ”

I got out of his car in front of my house

“Sieg Heil,” I said

“That’sht: Crumley

Soon after sunset, I rode out to Venice on my bike

23

I hate bikes at night, but I wanted to be sure no one followed

Besides, I wanted time to think just what I would say tolike: Help! Save Roy! Get him rehired Solve the riddle of the Beast

That made me almost turn back

I could hear Cruhs as I spunback the beer to drown his contempt for my lack of real hammered-out Swedish-steel-spiked facts