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Frobisher was a big man, over six feet tall, with a barrel chest that flowed into a belly that hung over his wide, military belt He wore a yellow plaid shirt that would have hurt the eyes even if it hadn't clashed with the red suspenders that struggled to hold his pants up under the weight of his belly The pants were tucked into knee-high, rubber fisherh the day was desert dry His thick, pure white hair was cut in bangs that hung over rectangular, horn-rilasses

Frobisher paid for the control board, and led the way out of the store to a dusty and dented Chrysler K-car He told the Trouts to call hiested that they follow him to his house where the Kovacs Society had its headquarters As the vehicles headed out of town, Gamay turned to Paul, as at the wheel

"Does our new friend Froby remind you of anyone?"

Trout nodded "A tall and loud Captain Kangaroo"

"Kurt is going to owe us after this one," Gaet sucked down into a whirlpool"

The road went higher, winding through the hills above the town Houses becaravel drive, bouncing like a rubber ball on its worn-out shock absorbers, and parked in front of a doll-sized adobe house The yard was filled with electronic junk, rese a smaller version of

the Black Hole

As they walked the path between piles of rusting rocket casings and electronic housings, Froby waved his arm expansively

"The labs have an auction every month to sell off their stuff Guess I don't have to tell you that I'm at every sale," Froby said

"Guess you don't," Gaent smile

They went into the house, which was surprisingly well ordered in contrast to the haphazard nature of its surplus landscaping Frobisher ushered the room furnished with institutional leather-and-chro cabinets were pushed against a wall

"Everything in this house coed He noticed Trout looking at a radioactive warning sign on the wall and gave hirin "Don't worry That's there to cover a hole in the wall As president of the Lazlo Kovacs Society, I'd like to welcome you to the world headquarters Meet our founder" He pointed to an old photograph that hung on the wall next to the sign It showed a fine-featured man in his forties with dark hair and intense eyes

"How many members does the society have?" Gamay said

"One You're looking at hianization"

"I noticed," Gamay said with a sweet smile