[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
was the man charged with ending the killings. It was also out that he wasn t
having much luck. The scale and scope of the mess were getting exaggerated.
The precursors of hysteria filled the air which made no sense because people
get murdered every day, curse or no curse.
I think Blocks mistake was offering a reward for Winchell, despite that being
the Dead Mans idea. That focused attention. Attention got the poor fool
working on an ulcer. His buddy Rupert couldn t shield him from all the high
ranking dolts who just had to explain to him the best way of doing his job.
The Prince himself was guilty of forgetting they were after a killer who was a
bit out of the ordinary.
Tell the man, Block grumbled. He don t listen to me.
Getting disenchanted?
Not yet. But close. I can still realize that he s got his own problems and
that s why he can t give us more help. Its just a tad irritating when he shuts
out whatever he doesn t want to hear, though.
I shrugged a cynics shrug. I had no faith in his prince.
So Block made excuses for him. He does have enemies, Garrett. Plenty of
people think TunFaire is just dandy the way it is now. Mostly they re people
whose fortunes would suffer from an outbreak of law and order.
If it isn t law and order it ll be an outbreak of something. The signs were
growing stronger. I ran into some old ladies who want to demolish all the
breweries, wineries, and distilleries.
That s going too far.
I tried to tell them. I said, there is no civilization without beer. Beer is
the lifeblood in the veins of society. They wouldn t listen.
That put a smile on his face. Fanatics. What can you do? We get fifty
complaints a day about these religious nuts, Mississans, whatever they are.
Page 143
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
His grin meant he thought I d invented the old ladies. I hadn t. They were
working the Chancery steps a few levels above Barking Dog, crowded into a spot
nobody else wanted. I wasn t worried about them. In no rational society would
theirs be an idea whose time could come.
I saw a lot of Amato, spending my days at the Chancery. He wasn t the same
Barking Dog. The old fervor had gone. I made a point of catching him on his
break. What s happening, hey? Something gone wrong?
I m scared. He didn t beat around it.
Scared? You? Barking Dog Amato?
Yeah. Me. People haven t really noticed yet, but they will. You did. Then
where ll I be?
Whats the matter? What happened? Maybe he had somebody persecuting him for
real.
My daughter. Suddenly I m vulnerable. When I didn t know about her, nobody
could get to me.
You re safe. Hardly anybody knows about her now. We re not talking. I
sniffed the air. What was that? Aha! Amato wasn t nearly as aromatic as once
he d been.
Yeah. I guess. I keep telling myself them what knows is decent folk. Then I
get scared of her.
I raised an eyebrow.
I snuck down to the Tenderloin. I figured she had to hang out around that
Hullars place sometimes, else how would he know to hire you. Right? Everybody
thinks he s an investigator. So I hang out and hang out and finally I get me a
look at the gal they call Sas.
And?
She looked all right.
I told you that. She s got people to look out for her.
Now I know about her, there s no way I can get around meeting her face to
face and that scares the shit out of me. What do you say to your kid you ain t
seen since she was this high?
It would terrify Sas too. When the time came. She didn t know that he was
aware of her existence. I kept debating whether or not to tell Hullar. It
would piss him off, but I guessed I d better. I understand. But don t let the
stress get you. You may have a valuable mission ahead.
Huh?
You should get out among the people. Hang around the taverns and sidewalk
cafes. Plotting urban revolution isn t a poor boys hobby. Poor folks stay too
busy working to keep body and soul and family together.
Amato shook his head. I wouldn t fit in.
Sure you would. Get yourself some new clothes. Put in some time getting in
Page 144
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
