Page 60 - The Myth and the Moment

Afternoon

they come to me. Up and out. Up and out. I wonder if anyone—or
anything—ever intentionally enters this pool. There. Mission
accomplished, sir: the prisoners are all in dry dock. Should I stand at
attention with the pole held at shoulder-arms? Nope, would
definitely detract from the seriousness of my purpose. But I am
getting giddy. Too much sun, not enough food. Maybe dehydrated,
blood sugar down to the bottom of my liver. So sit down and wait.
Yeah, they’ve settled it. No winners, just more garbage. Aestheria
approaches, with what on her face: frown? Can’t tell in this glare.
Wish I had my sunglasses. Another headache cause, no doubt.
“Nate, I’m going now. You see how things are here.”
“No, I don’t, unless you mean this sort of nickel-and-dime feuding
is typical of Trousdale Estates in general, and the Kolpak residence
in particular.”
“So you’re still in your mood. You did seem reasonable a few
minutes ago. They should have listened to you.”
“Did you tell that to Phil’s wife?”
“She’s in no frame of mind to hear it. Perhaps I’ll discuss it with
her later.”
“You think she’ll listen?”
“Oh, you don’t know Lin. A very stubborn personality, but capable
of adjusting her position.”
“Into a new stubbornness.”
“Perhaps. But I don’t think you’re in any frame of mind to listen to
me, either. So long, Nate. Don’t let your anger make you ill; find
some other outlet.”
“Thanks.”
She’s loyal to these turkeys. Well, I can’t make her see their nasty
auras. Perfectly visible to me. Phil: gold with mold-green overtones,
flicking like snakes’ tongues. Lin: ice blue, shading off to squamous
iridescent royal purple permafrost around the shoulders. Yeah. So
long, Miss Holier-than-Thou. And off go the caterers, muttering and
slamming their gear into a panel truck. Was my solution really
rational? What if Phil tries to use it on me? All right, Nate, you got
me, but you’ll never be able to prove it in a court of law. You do
pose a certain threat to my business, of course; you have a
measurable nuisance value. So here’s the deal, Nate, take it or leave it:
I’ll give you half of what’s in this file, and you shut up and get out of

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