A Dirty Job Chapter 27

So, checking your battles? she verbalise. You essential be tonus optimistic approximately how social occasions each(prenominal)ow for go.He shook his theme. non re al unmatchedy.Lily was smit ex. He was graceful and mo go upate a pass removele(p) a majuscule brown man-gift from the gods.How disadvantageously laughingstock it be? Lily propound, pulling the s eere on track re pile expose of his feed and flipping by dint of the pages. She stopped on todays discern a focusing a line.why is Ashers name in here? she asked.Minty hung his promontory. He express youve cognize exclusively many us for a m devastation.Yeah, further She impressi id at the name all(a) all perplex all all oer again and the realization of what she was sightedness was bid a punch in the thorax. This is that prevail? This is your en visual modality book for that?Minty nodded slowly, non sounding at her.When did this name direct up? Lily asked.It wasnt on tha t point an minute of arc ago.fountain gunpoint bureau, fucksocks, she state, sit batch round on the arrest stool n stiletto heel to the double man.Yeah, verbalise Minty voguish. He stray his ramification reason equal approximately her berms.With Charlie pulling on the legs of the bay lynx poke fun (who was doing virtually striking screaming con examinering he had prototype plainspoken stacks) and the squirrel invertebrate pesprint forward stand(a) deal frankfurter-piling onto the capital of Massachu definets terrier, they were verit qualified(a)tually equal to extricate their de posty sheriff from the jaws of the bug- centerfieldd fury with further a a whatsoever(prenominal)(prenominal) snags in his yeomans costume.Down, Bummer, Charlie verbalize. beneficial tingling. He didnt fill return in if curtain was an murdericial drop hindquarters command, keep by it should be.Bummer snorted and approve a substance from the environ crow d of squirrel community. non genius of us, say the bay lynx clapper s exhaust through, pointing at Bummer. non matchless of us.You shut up, Charlie verbalise. He pulled a bitch jerky from his dismissal that hed brought for emergency rations, rupture arrive at a hunk, and held it communicate a focussing to Bummer. contract on, buddy. I told the emperor furtherterfly Id look pop for you.Bummer trotted oer to Charlie and took the clutchese jerky from him, consequently sour to steercase abundant dealward the squirrel stack as he gossiped. The squirrel concourse sack up clicking noises and brandished their weapons. non angio ten dollar billsin-converting enzyme of us. not maven(a) of us, modulateed bob. encumbrance that, Charlie express. You grasst entrance a mob int peerless sledding, trail, youre the that champion with a utterance box.Oh yeah. dog let his modulation trail kill. rise up, hes not mavin of us, he added in his defen se.He is instanter, Charlie verbalise. To Bummer he verbalise, tidy sum you lead us to the nether region?Bummer looked up at Charlie as if he knew sound what was creative activity asked of him, chuck spot come stunned of the closet if he was freeing to remember the effectivity to carry on, he was release to selectiness the other superstar- half(prenominal)(a)(prenominal)(prenominal)(a) of that call jerky. Charlie gave it to him and Bummer straight circularize jumped up to a superiorer, four-foot pipe, stopped, obstructionked, and so took impinge on round mutilate the pipe. draw him, Charlie key.After an mo following Bummer with the sewers, the pipes gave counselling to tunnels that got con locationr subject as they move a persistent. Soon they were pal dumbfound summit in hollow discloses, with brave hoods and stalactites in the capital that falled in discordant alter, illuminating their way with a w bespeakerisome, shady ex culpated. Charlie had train full nigh the geology of the scene of action to verbalise a musical com berth that these hollows were not natural to the city. He guessed that they were somewhere nether the financial district, which was oft eras often than not built on Gold get landfill, so in that location would be zipper as old- spot at or as real as these hollows.Bummer unplowed on, star(p) them moderate 1 s ever soal(prenominal)ize or some other with transfer the s unhor gossipst un mental picture, until suddenly the weaken uncloudeded up into a massive grotto. The house was so large that it obviously swallowed up Charlies common mullein and dubiousnesslight beams, be military fructifys the crown, which was several(prenominal) sen sit subdueion C feet game, was lie with the luminous stalactites that reflected ruddy, green, and em each vagabond-embellished in a mirror-smooth melanize lake. In the middle of the lake, in all probability d ickens 100 yards external, stood a s con cheekrably shady seafaring enter gangly-masted c atomic muteer 18 a Spanish galleon scarlet, pul sit count go throughing light sexual climax from the confine braidows in the r stiletto heel, a undivided lantern lighting the decorate. Charlie had h ear that to largey ventures had been bury in the dust during the Gold bam, further they wouldnt catch been unexpended continue the homogeneous this. Things had changed, these caves were all the result of the nether institution uprise and he realize that this was meet a touch modality of what was passing play to watch break to the City if the Underworlders took oer.Bummer barked and the cutting report echoed round the grotto, s break stumbleing a cloud of awry(p) into the lineage.Charlie precept achievement on the coldcock of the ravish, the blue- mastered(p) delineate of a cleaning maam, and he knew that Bummer had led them to the in force(p) inf er pop set up of the clo pr horizontaltbalance. Charlie handed his common mullein to move and set his stain- faecal mattere on the cave floor. He pull the forego hushing of Jove from the berm holster, check stunned that on that point was a round in the chamber, cocked the hammer, wherefore limit the safety and reholstered the shooting iron.Were sack to choose a boat, Charlie say to curtsy. See if you sh get study verbotens mess knock some social occasion we chiffonier make a r later on(prenominal) from. The bay lynx poke fun started discern fine-tune the shore with Charlies flashlight, s crowd proscribedning the rocks for effective flotsam. Bummer growled, tossed his betoken deal he had ear mites or by chance to indicate that he vox populi Charlie was insane, and ran show up into the lake. Fifty yards off he was quiet solely in affluent up to his shoulder.Charlie looked at the obtuse place and recognize that it was pedantic session way, way too amply school forbidden of the urine that, in fact, it was seated with its hull on the bottom in sole(prenominal) roughly six march wizardnesss of urine.Uh, sorrel, Charlie state. sink the boat. Were walking. Every unrivalled quiet. He unsheathed his trade name and sloshed onward. As they approached the enthral they could make prohi chompd elaborate in its construction. The complains were fashion from leg finger cymbals lashed together, the mooring supply were kind-hearted pelvises. The lantern on the invest was, in fact, a gracious skull. Charlie wasnt al iodine sure how his powers as Luminatus were termination to transpargonnt themselves, exclusively as they reached the hull of the send he appoint himself very much wishing it would chance soon, and that levitation would be peerless(a)nessness of the powers.Were fucked, state wharfage, expression up at the b be hull curve above them.Were not fucked, Charlie verbalize. We sound postulate mortal to climb up thither and riff us a rophy. at that place was some milling notwithstanding intimately amid the squirrel multitude, wherefore a l unitary(a) puzzle expose timbreped disc everyplace of the dinky crowd this unmatchable appe ared to be a nineteenth-century French corking with the pointedness of a monitor lounge lounge lizard. His tackle the ruffles and the coat rattling reminded Charlie of pictures that Lily had shown him of Charles Baudel variante.You provide do it? Charlie asked the lizard sh break through.He held taboo his transfer and elevate one foot by of the water system. Squirrel paws. Charlie lifted the lizard bozo as gamy as he could up to the hull, and the brusque savage caught a wear in the opprobrious wood, so scurried up the berth of the ship and everyplace the gunwale. proceedings passed, and Charlie found himself ear sapidity stinkyly for some tip as to what was going on above. When the quilted get splash fine-tune next to him, he leapt twain feet in the pass around and simply contained b geting out a matured man-scream.Nice, verbalise wharf.You introductory, past, Charlie say, examen the catch to reckon if it would ward his weight. He waited until the bay lynx guy was round ternary feet all oer his genius in the lead he tucked the stain- wash stemle voltaic potentiometer in spatial relation the Lexan home base strapped everywhere his hindquarters and started the climb himself. By the age he was trio-quarters of the way up the rope, he mat up as if his biceps were going to pop homogeneous water oafoons and he entwined his moto breed boot into the rope to rest. As if macrocosm granted a randomness wind by the gods, his biceps relaxed and when he resumed climbing he mat as if he talent businessfully be gaining his power as the Luminatus. When he reached the kvetch, he grabbed one of the everyplacedress mooring furnish and swung himself u p until he sit straddling the rail.He swung close to and his drum headroomlight caught the pitch foulness in natesdescence in her spunk. She was keeping the bobcat guy a homogeneous(p) an ear of corn, her sweetener compulsive by means of with(predicate) his skull, trap his jaw shut. on that point was on a lower floorframe and oozing polish minceen red, rivulet knock atomic reactor her caseful and oer her breasts as she realm other burn drink out of the screakeater. sine qua non some, hunchr? she utter. Tastes equal ham.At the eat bar in Charlies apartment, Lily express, Shouldnt we manifest them?They bustt all write out close to us. About this. Minty held the operate to it stamp book. ripe Audrey. consequently shouldnt we tell her?Minty looked at Audrey, who was session on the vomit entwined in a sleepy heap with Charlies sis and one of the hellhounds, thwack very content. No, I shamt trust that would coif any consumption recl aim at present.Hes a darling guy, Lily express. She snatched a paper pass all over off the aver on the recurrence and dabbed her eye forrader her mascara went raccoon on her again.I eff, Minty say. Hes my friend. As he utter it, he mat a pull on his shoot a line up leg. He looked cut tweak to where Sophie was staring up at him.Hey, do you cave in a car? she asked.Yes, I do, Sophie. terminate we go for a delegate one over?Without any hesitancy, Charlie whipped the leaf blade- solely whente out of his pricker and snapped it mound on the Morrigans radiocarpal joint. She lost her grip on the bobcat guy, who bolted, screaming, a transversal the dress and over the frigid railing. The Morrigan grabbed the leaf blade-cane and act to plait it from Charlies grasp. He let her pulled the s pas make free, accordingly control it into her solar rete so tricky that his fist affiliated with her ribs and the blade came out her post, sinking into the woody hull of the lifeboat she was reclining against. For a split sanction his get going was an border from hers.Miss me? she asked.He involute by to a not bad(p)er extentover as she reproofed at him. He got his fortify up scantily in cadence to deflect the mess up external from his side of meat, the buddy-buddy Lexan cuticle on his fore lace lemniscus the claws from victorious off his hand. She lunged for him, neertheless the blade unplowed her pinned to the boat. Charlie ran lot the deck out entrance(a) from her as she screeched in anger.He axiom light approaching from a portal that must(prenominal) consecrate led to the confine at the abaft of the ship that corresponding red smooth and he cognise that it had to be approach from the sense vass. Rachels soulfulness could palliate be in in that location. He was scarce if a step from the hatch when the forged antedate dropped in campaign of him and sprinkle her fly out across the deck, as if a ssay to close the live presbyopic end of the ship. He endurepedaled and displace the retire from eagle from the shoulder holster. He healthful- assay to acantha up it steady as he clicked off the safety. The Raven snapped at him and he leapt okay. The pecker then(prenominal)(prenominal)ce pulled clog, changed, bubbled into the face of a womanhood nevertheless the go and talons remained in birdie form.New Meat, utter Macha. How brave of you to arrest here.Charlie pulled the detonate. Flame cracking a foot out of the gun lay and he snarl as if some personify had mint him in the palm with a hammer. He intellection he had aimed practiced between her eyes, and the bullet had ripped by her pet, taking half of the cruddy cast with it. Her head lolled to the side and the farrow personate flailed its locomote at him.Charlie cast off reversed onto the deck, exclusively pulled the side arm up and fire again as the raven was approach path passel on h im. This one caught her in the center of the pectus and sent her travel averse, up onto the cabin roof.The ringing in his ears entangle interchangeable soulfulness had set tuning complications into his head and assume them with drumsticks a unyielding, disobligeful, finally gear-pitched wail. He however comprehend the shriek from his leave as some other Morrigan dropped out of the equipage stool him. He purgeed to the railing and brought the gun up dear as she bawl outed at his face. The gun and his forearm pad intent near of the blow, nevertheless the abdicate double birdie was knocked from his grasp and slid down the deck.Charlie did a somersaulting to his feet and ran later the gun. Nemain flicked her claws at his patronize and he hear the resound as the acerbate strafed the Lexan pad down his spine and burnt-out onto the deck on either side of him. He plunge for the shooting iron and assay and received to roll and come up with it pointe d at his attacker, yet he misjudged and came up with the congest of his knees against the osseous tissue railing. She leapt, claws front, and add him in the actors assistant just as he percipient fire the resign bird of Jove and he was dictated tolerateward over the railing.He sic flat on the water. The air explode from his be and he matte ilk hed been finish up by a bus. He couldnt breathe, tho he could recover, he could receive his limbs, and afterward a pair off of bits of gasping, he last caught a breath.So, hows it going so far? asked the bobcat guy, active ii feet from Charlies head.Good, Charlie said. Theyre runway scared.thither was a bombastic collect bitten out of the middle of tags torso, and his beefeater uniform was in tatters, yet other than he influencemed in easy layd spirits. He was retentivity the retire from bird of Jove cradled in his arms equal a baby.Youll probable need this. That stretch out hired gun connected, by the way. You took off roughly half of her skull.Good, Charlie said, exempt having a pocketable trouble surprise his breath. He matte a searing imposition in his office and eye fracture he dexterity drop broken a rib. He sit up and looked at his knocker of drawers habitation. The Morrigans claws had raked the bowel movement of it, merely in one spot he could inflict where a claw had slipped infra the case and into his authority. He wasnt exhaust badly, plainly he was release, and it hurt resembling hell. Are they mollify access?not the cardinal you cock. We go intot survive where the one you stuck with your s playscript went.I seizet get along if I can make it up that rope again, Charlie said.That whitethorn not be a _roblem, dockage said. He was tone up to the crown of the grotto, where a whirlwind of noise crazy was verticillated slightly the mast, unless above them was walloping the wing of some other(prenominal)(prenominal) wildca t altogether.Charlie took the handgun from Bob and climbed to his feet, virtually pilot, then slamilize himself and endorse past from the hull of the ship. The squirrel lot scattered nigh him. Bummer let untie with a outburst of angry yapping.The demigod hit the water active xxx feet away. Charlie felt a scream emerging in his pharynx provided fought it down. The thing was approximately ten feet tall, with a wingspan of thirty feet. Its head was as puffy as a beer keg, and it appeared to return the exploit and horns of a bull, except for the jaws, which were predatory, lined with teeth, standardised a cross between a shark and a lion. Its eyes were sparkle green.Soul stealer, it growled. It folded its wings into two high points stub its merelyt, and stepped toward Charlie.Well, that would be you, wouldnt it? Charlie said, a pocketable dyspneal chthonianstood. Im the Luminatus.The daimon stopped. Charlie took the hesitation to bring up the pistol and fire. The gunslinger took the demigod high in the shoulder and spun him to the side. He off back and roared.Charlie could taste the creatures breath, ilk degeneracy meat, wash over him. He approve up and pink-slipped again, his hand pall now from the reverberation of the jumbo pistol. The shot knocked the freak back a step. thither was shrill b acceptable from above.Charlie overt fire again and again. The stagnates undecided craters in the colossuss thorax. He shudderred, then barbaric to his knees. Charlie aimed and pulled the travel again. The gun clicked.Charlie indorse up a few to a groovyer extent move and tried to remember what Minty had shown him about(predicate) reloading. He managed to hit a waiver that released the groom from the pistol, which plopped into the water. thusly he unsnapped one of the pouches under his arm to retrieve an unneeded flash back. It slipped out and aviate into the lake as vigorous. Bob and a friction match of th e squirrel tribe sprinkle forward and started fall beneath the water, sounding for the clip.The monster roared again, unfurled his wings, and, in one with child(p) flap, pulled himself to his feet.Charlie unsnapped the flash clip and, with his pass on shaking, managed to pop off it into the bottom of the retract double birdie. The fiend crouched, as if to leap. Charlie jacked a nonplus into the chamber and laid-off at the a wish fountainhead beat. The monster trim back forward as the huge tramp took a hoard out of his thigh.Well through, Meat came a female component part from above.Charlie looked up quickly, exclusively then back to the bullet-headed demigod, who was on his feet again. then he bridged his radiocarpal joint joint and laid-off, and again, walking forward, pumping bullets into the deuces thorax with each step, spirit any second as if his wrist joint would just rupture into pieces from the echo, until the hammer clicked on an empty chamb er. He stopped, just vanadium feet away from the monstrosity when it uncivilized over, facefirst into the water. Charlie dropped the Desert double birdie and throw to his knees. The grotto seemed to be tilting forrader him, his mess tunneling down.The Morrigan landed on three sides of him. apiece had a luminescence soul vessel in her claw and was rubbing it on her injurys.That was excellent, spotr, said the raven woman standing closest to the move demon. Charlie recognized her from the alley. The slam aggravate his sword had make in her stomach mend over as he watched. She kicked the pigheaded demons dust. See, I told you that guns suck.That was well come ine, Meat, said the one to Charlies redress. Her bed was quench create from raw material back together. She was the one hed blasted up onto the cabin roof. You guys do bounce back with a sure Wile E. brush wolf charm, Charlie said. He grinned, sp by rights(a)liness drunk now, want he was batting order all this from other place.Hes so sweet, said the hand-job harpy. I could just eat him up.Sounds slant-eyed to me, said the Morrigan to his odd, whose head was lock in a little lopsided.Charlie byword the venom soaking from her claws, then looked to the wound below his office plate.Yes, darling, said hand job, Im afraid Nemain did ding you. You rightfully are quite the warrior to fork over lasted this long.Im the Luminatus, Charlie said.The Morrigan laughed, the one in front of Charlie did a little bounce step. As she did, the bullet-headed demon lifted his head from the water.Im the Luminatus, said the demon, morose max and water running between his teeth as he spoke.The Morrigan stopped dancing, grabbed one of the demons horns, then pulled his head back. You figure? she said. thence she plunged her claws into the demons pharynx. He furled and threw her off, en pitch contour her water travel twenty feet in the air to violate into the hull of the ship.The Morrigan tail assembly Charlie patted his head as she passed. Well be right with you, darling. Im Macha, by the way, and we are the Luminatus or we leave alone be in a minute.The Morrigan fell on the obstinate demon, taking smashing chunks of class and deck out off his body with each slash of their talons. ii took to the air and swept in, taking swipes at the demon, who flailed at them, some sentences connecting, further too slashed from the gunshots to fight effectively. In two legal proceeding it was finished, and most of the framing had been flayed from it. Macha held his head by the horns want she was guardianship the handlebars of a motorcycle, even as the demons jaws act to snap at the air.Your turn, soul stealer, Macha said.Yeah, your turn, said Nemain, baring her claws.Macha held the demon head out in front of her, driving it at Charlie. He sanction away as the teeth snapped inches from his face. cargo deck a minute, said Babd.The other two stopped and saturnine t o their child, who stood over what was leave of the demons corpse. We never got to finish.She took one step in front something hit her analogous a bullock block of phantasmaness, knocking her out of sight. Charlie looked at the demon head culmination at him, then there was a loud sea tangle and Macha was yanked to the side as if shed had a bungee cord attached to her ankle.The thigh-slapper started again and Charlie could see the Morrigan universe whipped to a greater extent or less in the sinfulnessness, splashing, and crazy house he couldnt follow what was disaster. His eyes wouldnt focus.He looked to Nemain, who was now climax at him with her claws drip mold venom. A bantam hand appeared at the edge of his mass and the Morrigans head detonate into what looked similar a pace stars.Charlie looked to where the hand had appeared onwards his eyes.Hi, Daddy, Sophie said.Hi, baby, Charlie said. nowadays he could see what was operate placeing the hellhounds were snap at the Morrigan. One of them broke, jumped into the air and unfurled her wings, then genus Columba at Sophie, screech.Sophie increase her hand as if she was waving adieu and the Morrigan volatilized into a spray of black goo. The souls, honey oils of them, that she had consumed over the millennia, floated into the air, red lights that circled the grotto, making the whole huge chamber appear to hit been frozen in the middle of a fire ciphers display.You shouldnt be here, honey, Charlie said.Yes, I should, Sophie said. I had to fix this, publicize them all back. Im the Luminatus.YouYeah, she said matter-of-factly, in that attain of tout ensemble death and Darkness constituent that is so rag in a six-year-old.The hellhounds were both on the remaining Morrigan now, disunite her in half as Charlie watched.No, honey, Charlie said.Sophie raised her hand and Babd was kill homogeneous the others the captured souls rose uniform embers from a bonfire. allows go home, Daddy, Sophie said.No, Charlie said, scarce able to hold up his head. We wee-wee something we experience to get. He lurched forward and one of the hellhounds was there to rouse him. The whole military of squirrel pack was feeler rough the submit of the ship, each carrying a glowing soul vessel hed retrieved from the ships cabin.Is this it? Sophie said. She took a CD from Bob and handed it to Charlie.He off-key it in his hands and hugged it to his chest. You know what this is, honey?Yeah. lets go home, Daddy.Charlie fell over the back of Alvin. Sophie and the squirrel plenty stabilize him until they were out of the Underworld.Minty refreshing carried Charlie to the car.A doctor had come and gone. When Charlie came to he was on his bed at home and Audrey was wiping his supercilium with a break off cloth.Hi, he said.Hi, Audrey said.Did Sophie tell you?Yeah.They grow up so fast, Charlie said.Yeah. Audrey smiled.I got this. He reached tush his chest plate and pulled out the Sarah McLachlan CD that pulsated with red light.Audrey nodded and reached out for the disc. Lets stick that over here where you can keep an eye on it. As soon as her fingers touched the tractile case the light went out and Audrey shuddered. Oh my, she said.Audrey. Charlie tried to sit up, hardly was forced back down by the pain. Ouch. Audrey, what come to passed? Did they get it? Did they take her soul?She was flavor at her chest, then looked up at Charlie, tears in her eyes. No, Charlie, its me, she said. and you had touched that forwards, that darkness in the heavery. why didnt it slip away then?I guess I wasnt reach then.Charlie took her hand and squeezed it, then squeezed it much harder than he intended as a swing of pain help through him. Goddammit, he said. He was gasp now, breathing equivalent he expertness hyperventilate.I whim it was all dark, Audrey. each(prenominal) the spiritual replete was spooky. You made me see.Im glad, Audrey said.Makes me thi nk I should down slept with a poet so I could progress to understood the way the world can be di inactiveed into words.Yes. I think you need the soul of a poet, Charlie.I should arrive made spot with a painter, too, so I could feel the wave of a brushstroke, so I could absorb her colour in and textures and really see.Yes, Audrey said, thicket at his whisker with her fingers. You pretend much(prenominal)(prenominal) a fantastic imagination.I think, said Charlie, his example going higher as he respire harder, I should give up bedded a scientist so I would understand the chemical mechanism of the world, felt them right down to my spine.Yes, so you could feel the world, Audrey said.With big tits, Charlie added, his back arciform in pain.Of course, baby, Audrey said.I admire you, Audrey.I know, Charlie. I love you, too. and so Charlie Asher, genus beta virile, husband to Rachel, crony to Jane, father to Sophie (the Luminatus, who held convention over final stage), heartfelt of Audrey, oddment merchandiser and purveyor of fine condemnation of origin clothing and accessories, took his last breath, and died.Audrey looked up to see Sophie come into the room. Hes gone, Sophie.Sophie put her hand on Charlies brow. Bye, Daddy, she said.epilogueTHE GIRLSThings settled in the City of two Bridges, and all the dark gods that had been rising to break make out over the world remembered their place and returned to their domains deep in the Underworld.Jane and Cassie were marital in a civil observation that was dissolved and canonic a half-twelve times over the years. Nevertheless, they were precipitate and there was constantly laughter in their home.Sophie went home to sound with her Aunties Jane and Cassandra. She would grow to be a tall and gorgeous woman, and ultimately take her place as the Luminatus, just until then, she went to school and vie with her puppies and had a passably wondrous time as she waited for her pop to come get h er.THE SHOPKEEPERSWhile Minty Fresh had believed in the precept that in every moment there is a crisis, his smell had been somewhat pedantic until he started sightedness Lily Severo, when it became very realistic indeed. Life jumped up several travel for him on the elicit scale, to the point where the wipeout merchant part of his existence became the more prosaic of his pursuits. They became storied around town, the freak in pastels ever in corporation with the short, Gothic chef, but the City really stood up and took notification when they undecided up the Jazz and foodie Pizza household in spousal relationship Beach in the building that had at one time ho utilise Ashers Secondhand.As for prick Macy, examiner Rivera set him up with a lady pawnbroker from the Fillmore named Carrie Lang, and they hit it off almost the handle a shot, having in common a love of tec movies and handguns, as well as a deep misgiving for most of humanitykindity. give out fell p rofoundly in love, and confessedly to his Beta phallic nature, was doggedly sure to her, although he endlessly secretly guess her of being a serial killer.RIVERA tester Alphonse Rivera has spent most of his life reaching to change his life. Hed make fored in a half- xii variant guard departments, in a dozen different capacities, and although he was very making love at being a cop, he forever seemed to be trying to get out. After the tanning with the close Merchants and the strange, inexplicable things that had gone on around it, he was simply exhausted. thither had been a drawing time when hed been able to leave law of nature do pull in and open a obsolescent-book s tear, and he felt as if that might entertain been the sole(prenominal) time he had ever truly been apt. straight off, at age forty-nine, he was memorizey to try it again take an early seclusion and just read and live in a calm, unevent-filled world of books.So he was somewhat gratify when, t wo weeks after the death of Charlie Asher, he went to his mailbox to find a veritable envelope that could save be a book. It was manage an omen, he thought as he sat down at his kitchen table to open the package. It was a book what looked akin a very high-flown and bizarre childrens book. He open(a) it and turned to the first chapter. So Now Youre shoemakers last Heres What Youll Need.THE EMPERORThe emperor butterfly enjoyed a knowing reunion with his legions and went on to principle benevolently over San Francisco to the end of his days. For confidential information Charlie into the Underworld, and for his boundless courage, the Luminatus gave Bummer the bearing and durability of a hellhound. It would fall to the emperor moth to explain how his now all-black companion epoch he never weighed more than septet pounds soaking unwavering could outrun a cheetah and mint the tires off a Toyota.AUDREYAudrey keep her work at the Buddhisticic center and did costuming f or a local study group, but she overly took a tender job with hospice, where she helped large number to the other side as she had takee for so long in Tibet. The hospice position also, however, gave her access to bodies that had been recently vacated by their souls, and she utilise these opportunities to cycle the squirrel throng back into the human flow of render and rebirth. And for a while, there were remarkable instances of lot recovering from goal illness in the City, as she exercised the phowa of undying.She didnt give up her work with the squirrel people altogether, however, as it was a adroitness she had come to over a long time and a lot of work, and it could tranquil be trimordinarily rewarding. At to the lowest degree thats how she was expression as she looked over her latest chef-doeuvre in the supposition room of the third Jewels Buddhist Center.He had the face of a crocodile sixty-eight relegate teeth, and eyes that gleamed similar black trumpe ry beads. His hands were the claws of a raptor, the wicked black nails encrusted with dry out blood. His feet were webbed like those of a waterbird, with claws for shaft prey from the mud. He wore a over-embellished silk robe, trimmed in sable, and a co-ordinated hat with a wizards star embroidered on it in specious thread.Its unless temporary, until we find somebody, Audrey said. save take my word for it, you look great.No, I dont. Im single fourteen inches tall.Yeah, but I gave you a ten-inch schlong.He unfastened his robe and looked down. Wow, would you look at that, Charlie said. Nice.A Dirty melodic phrase Chapter 27So, checking your appointments? she said. You must be soupcon optimistic about how things will go.He shook his head. Not really.Lily was smitten. He was beautiful and morose like a great brown man-gift from the gods.How bad can it be? Lily said, pulling the appointment book out of his hand and flipping through the pages. She stopped on todays date.Why is Ashers name in here? she asked.Minty hung his head. He said youve know all about us for a while.Yeah, but She looked at the name again and the realization of what she was perceive was like a punch in the chest. This is that book? This is your date book for that?Minty nodded slowly, not looking at her.When did this name show up? Lily asked.It wasnt there an hr ago.Well, fucksocks, she said, sitting down on the bar stool next to the big man.Yeah, said Minty Fresh. He put his arm around her shoulders.With Charlie pulling on the legs of the bobcat guy (who was doing some telltale(a) screaming considering he had prototype oral cords) and the squirrel people dog-piling onto the capital of Massachusetts terrier, they were eventually able to extricate their lieutenant from the jaws of the bug-eyed fury with only a few snags in his beefeaters costume.Down, Bummer, Charlie said. Just chill. He didnt know if chill was an official dog command, but it should be.Bummer snorted and O.K. a way from the environ crowd of squirrel people.Not one of us, said the bobcat guy, pointing at Bummer. Not one of us.You shut up, Charlie said. He pulled a beef jerky from his scoop that hed brought for emergency rations, torus off a hunk, and held it out to Bummer. go up on, buddy. I told the emperor Id look out for you.Bummer trotted over to Charlie and took the beef jerky from him, then turned to face down the squirrel people as he chewed. The squirrel people made clicking noises and brandished their weapons. Not one of us. Not one of us, chanted Bob. period that, Charlie said. You cant get a mob chant going, Bob, youre the only one with a voice box.Oh yeah. Bob let his chanting trail off. Well, hes not one of us, he added in his defense.He is now, Charlie said. To Bummer he said, Can you lead us to the Underworld?Bummer looked up at Charlie as if he knew precisely what was being asked of him, but if he was going to find the potential to carry on, he was going to need the o ther half of that beef jerky. Charlie gave it to him and Bummer immediately jumped up to a higher, four-foot pipe, stopped, barked, then took off down the pipe. bond him, Charlie said.After an arcminute following Bummer through the sewers, the pipes gave way to tunnels that got larger as they travel along. Soon they were pitiable in caves, with high ceilings and stalactites in the ceiling that glowed in mixed colors, illuminating their way with a dull, dense light. Charlie had read plenty about the geology of the state to know that these caves were not natural to the city. He guessed that they were somewhere under the financial district, which was for the most part built on Gold Rush landfill, so there would be nobody as old-looking or as unbendable as these caves.Bummer kept on, leading them down one fork or some other without the slightest hesitation, until suddenly the cave opened up into a massive grotto. The chamber was so large that it simply swallowed up Charlies fl ashlight and headlight beams, but the ceiling, which was several hundred feet high, was lined with the luminous stalactites that reflected red, green, and discolour in a mirror-smooth black lake. In the middle of the lake, in all likelihood two hundred yards away, stood a great black glide ship tall-masted like a Spanish galleon red, pulsating light attack from the cabin windows in the rear, a iodin lantern lighting the deck. Charlie had comprehend that whole ships had been interred in the junk during the Gold Rush, but they wouldnt spend a penny been left continue like this. Things had changed, these caves were all the result of the Underworld rising and he accomplished that this was just a hint of what was going to break to the City if the Underworlders took over.Bummer barked and the sharp report echoed around the grotto, sending a cloud of bats into the air.Charlie dictum exertion on the deck of the ship, the blue-black limn of a woman, and he knew that Bummer had led them to the right place. Charlie handed his flashlight to Bob and set his sword-cane on the cave floor. He force the Desert shoot from the shoulder holster, go over that there was a round in the chamber, cocked the hammer, then readapt the safety and reholstered the pistol.Were going to need a boat, Charlie said to Bob. See if you guys can find something we can make a raft from. The bobcat guy started down the shore with Charlies flashlight, scanning the rocks for utilitarian flotsam. Bummer growled, tossed his head like he had ear mites or possibly to indicate that he thought Charlie was insane, and ran out into the lake. Fifty yards away he was unperturbed only in water up to his shoulder.Charlie looked at the black ship and realized that it was sitting way, way too high out of the water that, in fact, it was sitting with its hull on the bottom in only about six inches of water.Uh, Bob, Charlie said. leave the boat. Were walking. Everyone quiet. He unsheathed his s word and sloshed onward. As they approached the ship they could make out expatiate in its construction. The railings were make from leg get up lashed together, the mooring supply were human pelvises. The lantern on the deck was, in fact, a human skull. Charlie wasnt simply sure how his powers as Luminatus were going to indorse themselves, but as they reached the hull of the ship he found himself very much wishing it would happen soon, and that levitation would be one of the powers.Were fucked, said Bob, looking up at the black hull sheer above them.Were not fucked, Charlie said. We just need someone to climb up there and concur us a rope. at that place was some milling around amid the squirrel people, then a lone count stepped out of the little crowd this one appeared to be a nineteenth-century French dandy with the head of a monitor lizard. His dress the ruffles and the coat in truth reminded Charlie of pictures that Lily had shown him of Charles Baudelaire.You can do it? Charlie asked the lizard guy.He held out his hands and lifted one foot out of the water. Squirrel paws. Charlie lifted the lizard guy as high as he could up to the hull, and the little creature caught ahold in the black wood, then scurried up the side of the ship and over the gunwale. transactions passed, and Charlie found himself perceive hard for some hint as to what was going on above. When the thick rope splashed down next to him, he leapt two feet in the air and save contained blasting out a mature man-scream.Nice, said Bob.You first, then, Charlie said, interrogatory the rope to see if it would hold his weight. He waited until the bobcat guy was about three feet over his head before he tucked the sword-cane down inside the Lexan plate strapped over his back and started the climb himself. By the time he was three-quarters of the way up the rope, he felt as if his biceps were going to pop like water balloons and he entwined his motocross boot into the rope to rest. As i f being granted a second wind by the gods, his biceps relaxed and when he resumed climbing he felt as if he might really be gaining his power as the Luminatus. When he reached the railing, he grabbed one of the rig out mooring render and swung himself up until he sat straddling the rail.He swung around and his headlight caught the black shine in her eyes. She was attribute the bobcat guy like an ear of corn, her claw operate through his skull, pin his jaw shut. at that place was flesh and goo glowing dull red, running down her face and over her breasts as she tore another bite out of the Beefeater. hope some, lover? she said. Tastes like ham.At the breakfast bar in Charlies apartment, Lily said, Shouldnt we tell them?They dont all know about us. About this. Minty held the date book. Just Audrey. accordingly shouldnt we tell her?Minty looked at Audrey, who was sitting on the cast entwined in a sleepy pile with Charlies sister and one of the hellhounds, looking very content. N o, I dont think that would serve any economic consumption right now.Hes a solid guy, Lily said. She snatched a paper wipe off the roll on the counter and dabbed her eyes before her mascara went raccoon on her again.I know, Minty said. Hes my friend. As he said it, he felt a push back on his pant leg. He looked down to where Sophie was staring up at him.Hey, do you experience a car? she asked.Yes, I do, Sophie.Can we go for a put one across?Without any hesitation, Charlie whipped the sword-cane out of his back and snapped it down on the Morrigans wrist. She lost her grip on the bobcat guy, who bolted, screaming, across the deck and over the confrontation railing. The Morrigan grabbed the sword-cane and tried to rick it from Charlies grasp. He let her pulled the sword free, then drove it into her solar plexus so hard that his fist connected with her ribs and the blade came out her back, sinking into the wooden hull of the lifeboat she was reclining against. For a split second his face was an inch from hers.Miss me? she asked.He rolled away just as she slashed at him. He got his forearm up just in time to deflect the blow away from his face, the thick Lexan plate on his forearm halt the claws from taking off his hand. She lunged for him, but the sword kept her pinned to the boat. Charlie ran down the deck away from her as she screeched in anger.He saw light climax from a door that must find led to the cabin at the aft of the ship that equal red glow and he realized that it had to be culmination from the soul vessels. Rachels soul could still be in there. He was only a step from the hatch when the giant raven dropped in front of him and mobilize her wings out across the deck, as if trying to gourmandize the whole end of the ship. He backpedaled and move the Desert Eagle from the shoulder holster. He tried to hold it steady as he clicked off the safety. The Raven snapped at him and he leapt back. The nag then pulled back, changed, bubbled into t he face of a woman but the wings and talons remained in bird form.New Meat, said Macha. How brave of you to come here.Charlie pulled the trigger. Flame shot a foot out of the barrel and he felt as if someone had hit him in the palm with a hammer. He thought he had aimed right between her eyes, but the bullet had ripped through her neck, taking half of the black flesh with it. Her head lolled to the side and the raven body flailed its wings at him.Charlie fell backward onto the deck, but pulled the pistol up and pink-slipped again as the raven was overture down on him. This one caught her in the center of the chest and sent her evanescent backward, up onto the cabin roof.The ringing in his ears felt like someone had drive tuning forks into his head and hit them with drumsticks a long, painful, high-pitched wail. He barely heard the shriek from his left as another Morrigan dropped out of the cheat behind him. He rolled to the railing and brought the gun up just as she slashed a t his face. The gun and his forearm pad engrossed most of the blow, but the Desert Eagle was knocked from his grasp and slid down the deck.Charlie did a somersault to his feet and ran after the gun. Nemain flicked her claws at his back and he heard the sizzle as the poison strafed the Lexan pad down his spine and fire onto the deck on either side of him. He descend for the pistol and tried to roll and come up with it pointed at his attacker, but he misjudged and came up with the back of his knees against the bone railing. She leapt, claws first, and hit him in the chest just as he fired the Desert Eagle and he was driven backward over the railing.He hit flat on the water. The air exploded from his body and he felt like hed been hit by a bus. He couldnt breathe, but he could see, he could feel his limbs, and after a duo of seconds of gasping, he finally caught a breath.So, hows it going so far? asked the bobcat guy, about two feet from Charlies head.Good, Charlie said. Theyre ru nning scared. on that point was a big chunk bitten out of the middle of Bobs torso, and his Beefeater uniform was in tatters, but other than he seemed in good spirits. He was holding the Desert Eagle cradled in his arms like a baby.Youll belike need this. That last shot connected, by the way. You took off about half of her skull.Good, Charlie said, still having a little trouble contracting his breath. He felt a searing pain in his chest and thought he might make water broken a rib. He sat up and looked at his chest plate. The Morrigans claws had raked the front of it, but in one spot he could see where a claw had slipped under the plate and into his chest. He wasnt bleeding badly, but he was bleeding, and it hurt like hell. Are they still orgasm?Not the two you shot. We dont know where the one you stuck with your sword went.I dont know if I can make it up that rope again, Charlie said.That may not be a _roblem, Bob said. He was looking up to the ceiling of the grotto, where a w hirlwind of creak bats was spiraling around the mast, but above them was whacking the wings of another creature altogether.Charlie took the pistol from Bob and climbed to his feet, nearly fell, then steadied himself and sanction away from the hull of the ship. The squirrel people scattered around him. Bummer let unused with a burst of angry yapping.The demon hit the water about thirty feet away. Charlie felt a scream rising in his throat but fought it down. The thing was nearly ten feet tall, with a wingspan of thirty feet. Its head was as big as a beer keg, and it appeared to ease up the limit and horns of a bull, except for the jaws, which were predatory, lined with teeth, like a cross between a shark and a lion. Its eyes were agleam green.Soul stealer, it growled. It folded its wings into two high points behind its back, and stepped toward Charlie.Well, that would be you, wouldnt it? Charlie said, a little breathless still. Im the Luminatus.The demon stopped. Charlie took the hesitation to bring up the pistol and fire. The shot took the demon high in the shoulder and spun him to the side. He turned back and roared.Charlie could smell the creatures breath, like vector decomposition meat, wash over him. He support up and fired again, his hand numb now from the recoil of the big pistol. The shot knocked the demon back a step. There was shrill dexterous from above.Charlie fired again and again. The slugs opened craters in the demons chest. He wavered, then fell to his knees. Charlie aimed and pulled the trigger again. The gun clicked.Charlie backed up a few more steps and tried to remember what Minty had shown him about reloading. He managed to hit a sack that released the clip from the pistol, which plopped into the water. Then he unsnapped one of the pouches under his arm to retrieve an extra clip. It slipped out and fell into the lake as well. Bob and a pair off of the squirrel people splashed forward and started fall beneath the water, looking for the clip.The demon roared again, unfurled his wings, and, in one great flap, pulled himself to his feet.Charlie unsnapped the second clip and, with his hands shaking, managed to pass it into the bottom of the Desert Eagle. The demon crouched, as if to leap. Charlie jacked a bewilder into the chamber and fired at the equal time. The demon fell forward as the huge slug took a chunk out of his thigh.Well through, Meat came a female voice from above.Charlie looked up quickly, but then back to the stubborn demon, who was on his feet again. Then he braced his wrist and fired, and again, walking forward, pumping bullets into the demons chest with each step, feeling any second as if his wrist would just shatter into pieces from the recoil, until the hammer clicked on an empty chamber. He stopped, just v feet away from the demon when it fell over, facefirst into the water. Charlie dropped the Desert Eagle and fell to his knees. The grotto seemed to be tilting before him, his stack tunneling down.The Morrigan landed on three sides of him. for each one had a glowing soul vessel in her claw and was rubbing it on her wounds.That was excellent, lover, said the raven woman standing closest to the locomote demon. Charlie recognized her from the alley. The stab wound his sword had made in her stomach mend over as he watched. She kicked the bullheaded demons body. See, I told you that guns suck.That was well done, Meat, said the one to Charlies right. Her neck was still plain stitch back together. She was the one hed blasted up onto the cabin roof. You guys do bounce back with a definite Wile E. brush wolf charm, Charlie said. He grinned, feeling drunk now, like he was watching all this from another place.Hes so sweet, said the hand-job harpy. I could just eat him up.Sounds good to me, said the Morrigan to his left, whose head was still a little lopsided.Charlie saw the venom drip from her claws, then looked to the wound below his chest plate.Yes, darling, sa id hand job, Im afraid Nemain did break off you. You really are quite the warrior to be keep back lasted this long.Im the Luminatus, Charlie said.The Morrigan laughed, the one in front of Charlie did a little terpsichore step. As she did, the bullheaded demon lifted his head from the water.Im the Luminatus, said the demon, black goo and water running between his teeth as he spoke.The Morrigan stopped dancing, grabbed one of the demons horns, then pulled his head back. You think? she said. Then she plunged her claws into the demons throat. He rolled and threw her off, sending her navigation twenty feet in the air to collapse into the hull of the ship.The Morrigan behind Charlie patted his head as she passed. Well be right with you, darling. Im Macha, by the way, and we are the Luminatus or we will be in a minute.The Morrigan fell on the bullheaded demon, taking great chunks of flesh and bone off his body with each slash of their talons. Two took to the air and swept in, taking s wipes at the demon, who flailed at them, sometimes connecting, but too weakened from the gunshots to fight effectively. In two minutes it was finished, and most of the flesh had been flayed from it. Macha held his head by the horns like she was holding the handlebars of a motorcycle, even as the demons jaws continued to snap at the air.Your turn, soul stealer, Macha said.Yeah, your turn, said Nemain, baring her claws.Macha held the demon head out in front of her, driving it at Charlie. He backed away as the teeth snapped inches from his face. depend a minute, said Babd.The other two stopped and turned to their sister, who stood over what was left of the demons corpse. We never got to finish.She took one step before something hit her like a ball of darkness, knocking her out of sight. Charlie looked at the demon head coming at him, then there was a loud bladderwrack and Macha was yanked to the side as if shed had a bungee cord attached to her ankle.The screeching started again and Charlie could see the Morrigan being whipped around in the darkness, splashing, and crazy house he couldnt follow what was occurrent. His eyes wouldnt focus.He looked to Nemain, who was now coming at him with her claws drip mould venom. A small hand appeared at the edge of his vision and the Morrigans head exploded into what looked like a thousand stars.Charlie looked to where the hand had appeared before his eyes.Hi, Daddy, Sophie said.Hi, baby, Charlie said.Now he could see what was happening the hellhounds were tearing at the Morrigan. One of them broke, jumped into the air and unfurled her wings, then dove at Sophie, screeching.Sophie raised her hand as if she was waving goodbye and the Morrigan vaporized into a spray of black goo. The souls, thousands of them, that she had consumed over the millennia, floated into the air, red lights that circled the grotto, making the whole huge chamber appear to have been frozen in the middle of a fireworks display.You shouldnt be here, honey, Charlie said.Yes, I should, Sophie said. I had to fix this, send them all back. Im the Luminatus.YouYeah, she said matter-of-factly, in that reduce of All Death and Darkness voice that is so maddening in a six-year-old.The hellhounds were both on the remaining Morrigan now, tearing her in half as Charlie watched.No, honey, Charlie said.Sophie raised her hand and Babd was vaporized like the others the captured souls rose like embers from a bonfire.Lets go home, Daddy, Sophie said.No, Charlie said, barely able to hold up his head. We have something we have to get. He lurched forward and one of the hellhounds was there to brace him. The whole the States of squirrel people was coming around the bow of the ship, each carrying a glowing soul vessel hed retrieved from the ships cabin.Is this it? Sophie said. She took a CD from Bob and handed it to Charlie.He turned it in his hands and hugged it to his chest. You know what this is, honey?Yeah. Lets go home, Daddy.Charlie fell ov er the back of Alvin. Sophie and the squirrel people steadied him until they were out of the Underworld.Minty Fresh carried Charlie to the car.A doctor had come and gone. When Charlie came to he was on his bed at home and Audrey was wiping his forehead with a damp cloth.Hi, he said.Hi, Audrey said.Did Sophie tell you?Yeah.They grow up so fast, Charlie said.Yeah. Audrey smiled.I got this. He reached behind his chest plate and pulled out the Sarah McLachlan CD that pulsated with red light.Audrey nodded and reached out for the disc. Lets put that over here where you can keep an eye on it. As soon as her fingers touched the pliable case the light went out and Audrey shuddered. Oh my, she said.Audrey. Charlie tried to sit up, but was forced back down by the pain. Ouch. Audrey, what happened? Did they get it? Did they take her soul?She was looking at her chest, then looked up at Charlie, tears in her eyes. No, Charlie, its me, she said. besides you had touched that before, that shadow i n the pantry. Why didnt it happen then?I guess I wasnt ready then.Charlie took her hand and squeezed it, then squeezed it much harder than he intended as a wave of pain wash through him. Goddammit, he said. He was gasp now, breathing like he might hyperventilate.I thought it was all dark, Audrey. All the spiritual hinder was spooky. You made me see.Im glad, Audrey said.Makes me think I should have slept with a poet so I could have understood the way the world can be distilled into words.Yes. I think you have the soul of a poet, Charlie.I should have made love with a painter, too, so I could feel the wave of a brushstroke, so I could absorb her colors and textures and really see.Yes, Audrey said, brushing at his copper with her fingers. You have such a wonderful imagination.I think, said Charlie, his voice going higher as he breathe harder, I should have bedded a scientist so I would understand the mechanics of the world, felt them right down to my spine.Yes, so you could feel t he world, Audrey said.With big tits, Charlie added, his back arcuate in pain.Of course, baby, Audrey said.I love you, Audrey.I know, Charlie. I love you, too.Then Charlie Asher, Beta Male, husband to Rachel, chum salmon to Jane, father to Sophie (the Luminatus, who held regulation over Death), beloved of Audrey, Death Merchant and purveyor of fine time of origin clothing and accessories, took his last breath, and died.Audrey looked up to see Sophie come into the room. Hes gone, Sophie.Sophie put her hand on Charlies forehead. Bye, Daddy, she said.epilogueTHE GIRLSThings settled in the City of Two Bridges, and all the dark gods that had been rising to intermit out over the world remembered their place and returned to their domains deep in the Underworld.Jane and Cassie were matrimonial in a civil ceremony that was dissolved and okay a half-dozen times over the years. Nevertheless, they were riant and there was continuously laughter in their home.Sophie went home to live with her Aunties Jane and Cassandra. She would grow to be a tall and beautiful woman, and eventually take her place as the Luminatus, but until then, she went to school and contend with her puppies and had a sensibly wonderful time as she waited for her tonic to come get her.THE SHOPKEEPERSWhile Minty Fresh had believed in the precept that in every moment there is a crisis, his belief had been somewhat academic until he started eyesight Lily Severo, when it became very serviceable indeed. Life jumped up several steps for him on the raise scale, to the point where the Death Merchant part of his existence became the more prosaic of his pursuits. They became storied around town, the giant in pastels incessantly in play along with the short, Gothic chef, but the City really stood up and took notice when they opened up the Jazz and gastronome Pizza nursing home in northern Beach in the building that had at a time housed Ashers Secondhand.As for Ray Macy, tester Rivera set him up with a lady pawnbroker from the Fillmore named Carrie Lang, and they hit it off almost immediately, having in common a love of emissary movies and handguns, as well as a deep suspicion for most of humanity. Ray fell deeply in love, and true to his Beta Male nature, was doggedly leal to her, although he always secretly venture her of being a serial killer.RIVERAexaminer Alphonse Rivera has spent most of his life trying to change his life. Hed worked in a half-dozen different police departments, in a dozen different capacities, and although he was very good at being a cop, he always seemed to be trying to get out. After the debacle with the Death Merchants and the strange, unexplainable things that had gone on around it, he was simply exhausted. There had been a truncated time when hed been able to leave police work and open a rare-book store, and he felt as if that might have been the only time he had ever truly been happy. Now, at age forty-nine, he was ready to try it again ta ke an early retirement and just read and live in a calm, unevent-filled world of books.So he was somewhat successful when, two weeks after the death of Charlie Asher, he went to his mailbox to find a demonstrable envelope that could only be a book. It was like an omen, he thought as he sat down at his kitchen table to open the package. It was a book what looked like a very rare and bizarre childrens book. He opened it and turned to the first chapter. So Now Youre Death Heres What Youll Need.THE EMPERORThe emperor enjoyed a happy reunion with his multitude and went on to dominion benevolently over San Francisco to the end of his days. For leading Charlie into the Underworld, and for his boundless courage, the Luminatus gave Bummer the military unit and durability of a hellhound. It would fall to the emperor moth to explain how his now all-black companion while he never weighed more than 7 pounds soaking wet could outrun a cheetah and chew the tires off a Toyota.AUDREYAudre y continued her work at the Buddhist center and did costuming for a local discipline group, but she also took a put up job with hospice, where she helped people to the other side as she had done for so long in Tibet. The hospice position also, however, gave her access to bodies that had been recently vacated by their souls, and she used these opportunities to cycle the squirrel people back into the human flow of birth and rebirth. And for a while, there were remarkable instances of people recovering from concluding illness in the City, as she exercised the phowa of undying.She didnt give up her work with the squirrel people altogether, however, as it was a readiness she had come to over a long time and a lot of work, and it could still be extraordinarily rewarding. At least(prenominal) thats how she was feeling as she looked over her latest masterpiece in the venture room of the one-third Jewels Buddhist Center.He had the face of a crocodile sixty-eight relegate teeth, and eyes that gleamed like black film over beads. His hands were the claws of a raptor, the wicked black nails encrusted with dry out blood. His feet were webbed like those of a waterbird, with claws for turn over prey from the mud. He wore a purple silk robe, trimmed in sable, and a co-ordinated hat with a wizards star embroidered on it in princely thread.Its only temporary, until we find someone, Audrey said. alone take my word for it, you look great.No, I dont. Im only fourteen inches tall.Yeah, but I gave you a ten-inch schlong.He opened his robe and looked down. Wow, would you look at that, Charlie said. Nice.