A Dirty Job Chapter 23

23A bollocks DAYIt was a shaged-up day in the City by the Bay. At first light, flocks of vultures perched on the superstructures of the grand Gate and Bay Bridges, and glargond bolt imbibe at commuters as if they had a lot of goddamn g both to res organizeed be alive and driving. Traffic find surfaceters that were diverted to photograph the ranks of automobilerion birds hold angio tensin converting enzymed up c e rattlingwhereing a spiral cloud of bats that circled the Transamerica pyramid for ten-spot minutes, and thence seemed to evaporate into a dimmed mist that floated bulge give away everywhere the Bay. Three swimmers who had been competing in the San Francisco Triathlon drowned in the Bay, and a helicopter camera photographed something below the water, a dark shape approaching one of the swimmers from below and pull him under. Numerous replays of the tape revealed that rather than the sleek shape of a shark, the marionette had a wide wingspan and a distinct ly horned head, opposed any ray or skate that anyone had ever seen before. The ducks in Golden Gate Park suddenly took to the wing and left the ara, the hundreds of sea lions that commonly lounged in the sun dash off at Pier 39 were deceased as well, and confine up the pigeons seemed to hand disappe ared from the City.A g playactt reporter who had been masking piece the overnight police blotter noniced the coincidence of seven reports of furiousness or felling persons at local-area secondhand lines, and by early change sur flavor the television stations were mentioning it, along with spectacular themeage of the Book em Danno building tan in the Mission. And t tapher were hundreds of singular events experienced by individuals creatures wretched in the shadows, voices and screams from the sewer grates, milk souring, cats scratching owners, dogs howling, and a thousand people woke up to find that they no longer cared for the taste of chocolate. It was a throw a go at ited-up day.Charlie spent the rest of the night fretting and checking locks, then double-checking them, then sounding for on the meshing for clues ab by the blazeers, unless in case someone posted a brand-new ancient document since hed last checked. He wrote a bothow for, and several(prenominal) permitters, which he walked spin breakside and put in the mailbox out on the avenue rather than with the out sacking mail on the counter of the store. past, al nearly dawn, completely exhausted yet with his Beta Male imagination move at a thousand miles an hour, he took deuce of the sleeping pills Jane had devoted him and slept through and through the fucked-up day, to be awakened in early level by a omen from his darling daughter.Hello.Aunt flame tree is an anti-Semite, verbalise Sophie.Honey, its six in the morning. Can we discuss Aunt royal poincianas politics a little later?It is non, its six at night. Its bath epoch, and Aunt Cassie wont let me bring Alvin and Mohammed into the earth-closet with me for my bath, beca habit shes an anti-Semite.Charlie looked at his watch. He was sort of blessed that it was six in the evening and he was talking to his daughter. Whatever happened musical composition he was sleeping at least hadnt affected that.Cassie is not an anti-Semite. It was Jane on the former(a) line.Is too, express Sophie. Be careful, Daddy, Aunt Jane is an anti-Semite sympathizer.I am not, Jane say.Listen to how smart my daughter is, verbalise Charlie. I didnt exist words same anti-Semite and sympathizer when I was her age, did you?You commodet conceive the goyim, Daddy, verbalise Sophie. She lowered her voice to a whisper. They hate baths, the goyim.Daddys a goyim, too, baby.Oh my God, theyre everywhere, handle pod people He attempt a lie his daughter drop the phone, scream, and then a door slammed.Sophie, you unlock this door this instant, Cassie said in the derriereground.Jane said, Charlie, where does she sign th is stuff? Are you teaching her this?Its Mrs. Korjev shes descended from Cossacks and she has a little residual wickedness for what her ancestors did to the Jews.Oh, Jane said, not interested now that she couldnt blame Charlie. Well, you shouldnt let the dogs in the bathroom with her. They eat the soap and some fourth dimensions they get in the tub, and then let them go with her, Jane, Charlie interrupted. They may be the only thing that can defend her.Okay, save Im only letting them eat the cheap soaps. No French-milled soaps.Theyre graceful with domestic soap, Jane. Look, I drew up a holographic will last night. If something happens to me, I penury you to raise Sophie. Its in thither.Jane didnt answer. He could hear her breathing on the other end.Jane?Sure, sure. Of course. What the hell is going on with you guys? Whats the boastful danger Sophies in? wherefore are you being spooky like this? And why didnt you call earlier, you fucker?I was up all night doing stuff. hence I took two of those sleeping pills you gave me. Suddenly twelve hours are gone.You took two? Never take two.Yeah, thanks, Charlie said. Anyway, Im sure Ill be hunky-dory, save if for some resolve Im not, you need to take Sophie and get out of the City for a while. I imagine like up in the Sierras. I also displace you a letter explaining everything, as much as I whap, anyway. completely open it if something happens, okay?Nothing better happen, you fuck. I just wooly-minded Mom, and I why the hell are you talking like this, Charlie? What descriptor of trouble are you in?I cant ordain you, Jane. You have to trust me that I didnt have any choice in the matter.How can I help?By doing on the dot what youre doing, taking care of Sophie, property her safe, and passing the hellhounds with her at all times.Okay, scarcely nothing better happen to you. Cassie and I are going to get married and I want you to give me forward. And I want to borrow your tux, too. Its Armani, pow erful?No, Jane.You wont give me away?No, no, its not that, Id pay her to take you, its not that.Then you dont theorise that jovial people should be allowed to get married, is that it? Youre finally culmination clean. I knew it, subsequently all I just dont telephone that mirthful people should be allowed to get married wearing my tux.Oh, Jane said.Youll wear my Armani tux and Ill have to contract some piece of crap or buy something new and cheap, and then Ill go through eternity looking like a sum up dork in the espousals pictures. I do how you guys like to memorialise wedding pictures its like a disease.By you guys, you mean lesbians? Jane said, sound very much like a prosecuting attorney.Yes, I mean lesbians, dumbfuck, said Charlie, sounding very much like a hostile witness.Oh, okay, Jane said. It is my wedding, I presuppose I can buy a tux.That would be nice, Charlie said.Im sort of needing the knickerbockers cut a little looser in the seat these days anyway, Jane said.Thatta miss.So youll be safe and give me away.Ill sure move. You think Cassandra will let me bring the little Jewish kid?Jane laughed. Call me every hour, she said.I wont do that.Okay, when you can.Yeah, Charlie said. Bye. He smiled to himself and rolled out of bed, wondering if this might be the last time he would ever do that. Smile.Charlie showered, ate a peanut- scarcelyter-and-jelly sandwich, and put on a thousand-dollar suit for which he had paid xl bucks. He limped around the bedroom for a a few(prenominal) minutes and indomitable that his leg felt pretty good and he could do without the bubble walking cast, so he left it on the floor by the bed. He put on a pot of coffee and called inspector Rivera.It was a fucked-up day, Rivera said. Charlie, you need to take your daughter and get out of town.I cant do that. This is round me. Youll keep me informed, justifiedly?Promise you wont try to do anything stupid or heroic?Not in my DNA, Inspector. Ill call you if I se e anything.Charlie disconnected, having no idea what he was going to do, but feeling like he had to do something. He called Janes house to enunciate good night to Sophie.I just want you to know that I love you very much, honey.Me, too, Daddy. Why did you call?What, you have a merging or something?Were having ice cream.Thats nice. Look, Sophie, Daddy has to go do some things, so I want you to stay with Aunt Jane for a few days, okay?Okay. Do you need some help? Im free.No, honey, but thank you.Okay, Daddy. Alvin is looking at my ice cream. He looks hungry, like bear. I have to go. fill in you, honey.Love you, Daddy.Apologize to Aunt Cassie for calling her an anti-Semite.Kay. Click.She hung up on him. The apple of his eye, the light of his life, his pride and joy, hung up on him. He sighed, but felt better. Heartbreak is the natural habitat of the Beta Male.Charlie took a few minutes in the kitchen to sharpen the edge of the perplex-cane on the bum of the voltaic can opener he an d Rachel had received as a wedding present, then he headed out to check on the store.As briefly as he opened the door to the underpin staircase Charlie hear strange creature noises approach shot from the store. It sounded as if they were coming from the bet on room, and there were no lights on, although he could see plenty of light filtering in from the store. Was this it? split of solved the problem of what he was going to do.He drew the sword from his cane and crept down the stairs in a crouch, moving along the edge of each step to minimize squeakage. Halfway down he saw the source of the animal noises and he recoiled, leaping nearly center(a) back up the staircase.For the love of GodIt needed to be done, Lily said. She was astride beam of light Macy, her plaid pleated skirt (merci risey) draped out over him, concealment the parts that would have caused Charlie to have to tear his eyes out, which he was idea about doing anyway.It did, balance beam agreed breathlessly.Ch arlie peeked down into the back room they were muted at it, Lily riding Ray like he was a machinelike bull, one bare breast bouncing out of the lapel of her chef s coat.He was despondent, she said. I found him giving himself hickies with the shop vac. Its for the greater good, Asher.Well, stop it, Charlie said.No, no, no, no, no, said Ray.Its a charity thing, Lily said.You know, Lily, Charlie said, covering his eyes, you could exercise your charity in other ways, like Salvation Army Santa or something.I dont want to fuck those guys. Most of them are raging alcoholics, and they stink. At least Ray is clean.I dont mean do one, I mean be one. Ring the toll with the little red kettle. Jeez.I am clean, said Ray.You shut up, Charlie said. Shes tender teeming to be your daughter.He was suicidal, Lily said. I may be scrimping his life.She is, Ray said.Shut up, Ray, Charlie said. This is pathetic, desperate pity sex, thats all it is.He knows that, Lily said.I dont mind, said Ray.Im do ing this for the cause, too, Lily said. Ray was holding out on you.I was? said Ray.How? Charlie said.He found a woman who was buying all the mind vessels. She was with the clients you missed. Somewhere in the Mission. He wasnt going to tell you about her.I dont know what youre talking about, Ray said. Then added, Faster, please. signalise him the address, Lily said.Lily, Charlie said, this isnt really necessary.No, Ray said.There was a loud smack. Charlie opened his eyes. They were lighten there, doing it, but Rays remediate cheek was bright red and Lily was winding up to slap him again.Tell himIts on Guerrero Street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth, I dont know the number, but its a boastfully green Victorian, you cant miss it. Three Jewels Buddhistic Center.SMACKOuch, I told him, Ray whined.Thats for not getting the address, BITCH Lily said. Then to Charlie There you go, Asher. I want a prime position when you take over the Under terra firmaCharlie view that one of the firs t things he was going to change when he took over was expanding The Great Big Book of Death to include how to bobby pin situations like this. But instead he said, You got it, Lily. Youll be in laden of dress code and torture.Sweet, Lily said. Scuse me, Asher, I have to finish this. Then to Ray Hear that? No more flannel shirts for you, grommet SMACKThe grunts coming from Ray increased in frequency and intensity.Sure, Charlie said. Ill just go out the other door.See ya, Ray said.Im never going to look all one of you in the eye again, okay?Sounds good, Asher, Lily said. Be careful.Charlie crept back up the steps, went out the front door of his apartment and down the elevator to the highroad entrance, suppressing his gag reflex the whole way. On the street he flagged down a cab and rode into the Mission, trying to wipe the image of his shagging employees out of his mind.The Morrigan had followed the contribute souls that had escaped through the drains to a deserted street in the Mission. without delay they waited, watching the green Victorian building from storm-drain grates at either end of the street. They were more cautious now, their rapacious nature having been dampened somewhat by having been ill blown up the night before.They called them the gift souls because the little patchwork creatures brought the souls right to them in the sewers the gifts showing up in the Morrigans weakest moment. After the accursed capital of Massachusetts terrier had chased them through miles of pipelines, leaving them battered and exhausted on a high ledge at a pipe junction, along marched twenty dollar bill or so of the darling little nightmares, all spruced up up in finery and carrying just what they needed to heal their wounds and replenish their strength pitying souls. And thus renewed, they were able to scare away that obnoxious little dog. The Morrigan were back not to the strength theyd achieved before the explosion, maybe not even enough to fly, but certainly enough to venture Above once again, curiously with so many souls at hand.No one was out on the streets tonight except the junkies, the hookers, and the homeless. After the fucked-up day in the City, most everyone had decided that it was just a better idea to stay in, safer. To the Morrigan (for all they cared), they were safer in their homes the same way a tuna fish is safer in a can, but no one knew that yet. No one knew what they were secrecy from except Charlie Asher, and he was getting out of a cab right in front of them as they watched.Its New nubble, said Macha.We should give him a new name, said Babd. I mean, hes really not that new anymore.Hush, dim Macha.Hey, lover, Babd called out of her drain. Did you miss me?Charlie paid the cabbie and stood in the middle of the street looking at the big jade-green Queen Anne. There were lights on in the turret upstairs and in one window downstairs. He could just make out the sign that read THREE JEWELS BUDDHIST CENTER. He started t o step toward the house and saw movement in the lattice under the porch eyes shining. A cat maybe. His cell phone rang and he flipped it open.Charlie, its Rivera. I have some good news we found Carrie Long, the woman from the pawnshop, and shes still alive. She was tied up and thrown in a Dumpster a cram from her store.Thats great, Charlie said. But he wasnt feeling great. The things that had been moving under the porch were coming out. woful up the stairs, standing on the porch, lining up and facing him. twenty or thirty of them, a little more than a foot tall, dressed in ornate period costumes. Each had the skeletal face of a dead animal, cats, foxes, bafflinggers animals Charlie couldnt identify, but just the skulls the eye sockets empty, down in the mouth. Yet they stared.You wont commit what she said put her there, Charlie. Little creatures, little monsters, she said.About fourteen inches tall, Charlie said.Yeah, howd you know?Lots of teeth and claws, like animal parts stuck together, all dressed up like they were going to a grand costume orchis?What are you telling me, Charlie? What do you know?Just guessing, Charlie said. He uncut the latch on his sword-cane.Hey, lover, came a female voice from behind him. Did you miss me? Charlie dour. She was locomote out of the drain almost directly behind him.The lamentable news, Rivera said, is we found the junk dealer and the bookstore guy from Book em Danno pieces of them.That is sad news, Charlie said. He started moving up the street, away from the sewer harpy and the porch full of Satans sock puppets.New Meat, came a voice from up the street.Charlie looked to see some other sewer harpy coming out of the drain, her eyes gleaming black in the streetlight. Behind him he heard the clacking of little animal teeth.Charlie, I still think you should leave town for a while, but if you dont, and dont tell anyone I told you this, you should get a gas, maybe a couple of guns.I think that would be a great idea, Charlie said. The two sewer harpies were moving very slowly toward him, awkwardly, as if their nerves were short-circuiting. The one closest to him, the one from the alley in North Beach, was licking her lips. She looked a little provoke compared to the night shed seduced him. He moved up the street away from them.A shotgun, so you wont need to learn to shoot. I cant give you one, but Inspector, Im going to have to get back to you.Im serious, Charlie, whatever these things are, they are going aft(prenominal) your kind.You have no idea how clear that is to me, Inspector.Is that the one who shot me? said the closest harpy. Tell him Im going to suck his eyeballs out of the sockets and chew them in his ear.You get that, Inspector? Charlie said.Shes there?They, Charlie said.This way, Meat, said the third sewer harpy, coming out of the drain at the far end of the block. She stood, extended her claws, and flicked a line of venom down the side of a lay car. The blushing mushroom sizzled and ran where it hit.Where are you, Charlie? Where are you?Im in the Mission. Near the Mission.The little creatures were coming down the steps now, down the walk toward the street.Look, said a harpy, he brought presents.Charlie, where exactly are you? said Rivera.Gotta go, Inspector. Charlie flipped the phone closed and dropped it in his coat pocket. Then he drew the sword from the cane and false to the harpy from the alley. For you, he said to her, whipping the sword in a flourish through the air.Thats sweet, she said. You always think about my needs.The 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was the perfect show-off of demolition machines. It consisted of nearly three tons of steel stamped into a massively mawed, high-tailed beast, lined with enough chrome to build a Terminator and still have parts left over most of it in long, sharp strips that crude off on impact and became lethal scythes to flay away go-cart flesh. Under the four headlights it sported two chrome bumper h eaters that looked like unexploded torpedoes or triple-G-cup Madonna death boobs. It had a noncollapsible steering column that would spike the driver upon any serious impact, electric windows that could pinch off a kids head, no seat belts, and a 325 horsepower V8 with such appallingly bad fuel efficiency that you could hear it trying to slurp liquefied dinosaurs out of the ground when it passed. It had a top speed of a hundred and ten miles an hour, mushy, bargelike suspension that could in no way stabilize the car at that speed, and undersized power brakes that wouldnt stop it either. The fins jutting from the back were so high and sharp that the car was a lethal threat to pedestrians even when parked, and the whole package sat on tall, whitewall tires that looked, and generally handled, like outsize powdered doughnuts. Detroit couldnt have achieved more deadly finned ostentatia if theyd covered a orca whale in rhinestones. It was a masterpiece.And the reason you need to know al l that, is that along with the battle-worn Morrigan and the well-dressed chimeras, a 57 Eldorado was rapidly approaching Charlie.The bloodred lacquered Eldo slid around the corner, tires hollo like flaming peacocks, hubcaps spinning off toward the curb, engine roaring, spewing blue tidy sum out of the rear wheel wells like a gassy dragon. The first of the Morrigan turned in time to take a bumper bullet in the thigh before she was dragged and folded under the car and spit out the back into a black heap. The headlights came on and the Caddy veered toward the Morrigan nearest Charlie.The animal creatures scurried back up the sidewalk and Charlie ran up onto the hood of a parked Honda as the Eldo smacked the second Morrigan. She rag-doll-whipped over the hood as the cars brakes screamed, then flew twenty yards down the street. The Caddy peeled out and hit her again, this time rolling over her with a series of thumps and leaving her tossing down the tarmac, shedding pieces as she rolle d. The Caddy blazed on toward the final Morrigan.This one had a few seconds on her sisters and started running up the street, her shape changing, arms to wings, tail feathers trying to manifest, but she didnt seem able to make the transformation in time to fly. The Eldo plowed over her, then hit the brakes, reversed, and burned rubber on her back.Charlie ran up on the roof of the Honda, ready to leap away from the street, but the Caddy stopped and the blacked-out electric window wound down.Get the fuck in the car, said Minty recent.Minty Fresh hit the final Morrigan again as he speeded off down the block, took two screeching lefts, then pulled the car to the curb, jumped out, and ran around to the front.Oh, goddamn, said Minty Fresh (damn on the downbeat, with pain and sustain). Goddamn, my hood and wicket gate are all fucked up. Goddamn. I will tolerate the rising of shadower to cover the world, but you do not fuck with my ride.He jumped back in the car, threw it into gear, and screeched around the next corner.Where are you going?Im going to run over the bitches again. You do not fuck with my ride.Well, what did you think would happen when you ran them over?Not this. I never ran over anyone before. Dont act like thats a surprise.Charlie looked at the gleaming interior of the car, the bloodred leather seats, the dash fitted with walnut burl and gold-plated knobs.This is a great car. My mailman would love this car.Your mailman?He collects time of origin pimp wear.So what are you trying to say?Nothing.They were already on Guerrero Street and Minty floored it as they approached the target block. The first Morrigan he had hit was just getting to her knees when he hit her again, knocking her over two parked cars and into the side of a vacant building. The second one turned to face them and bared her claws, which raked the hood as he rolled over her with a drumroll of thumps, then he ran over the third ones legs as she was crawling back into the storm sewer.Jeez , Charlie said, turning and looking out the back window.Minty Fresh seemed to turn his full attention to driving safely now. What the hell are those things?I call them sewer harpies. Theyre the things that call to us from the storm sewers. Theyre a lot stronger now than they used to be.Theyre scary is what they are, said Minty.I dont know, Charlie said. remove you gotten a good look at them? I mean, they got the badonkadonk out back and some fine bajoopbadangs up front, know what Im sayin, dog? Buss a rock wid a playa? He offered his fist for Minty to buss him a rock, but alas, the mint one left him hangin.Stop that, Fresh said.Sorry, Charlie said.Talk same a Playa in Ten Days or Less careen Thug Edition? Minty asked.Charlie nodded. We got the CD into the store a couple of months ago. I practice in the van. How am I doing?Your Negro-osity is uncanny. I had to keep checking to make sure youre still white.thanks, Charlie said, then, as if a light went on Hey, Ive been looking for you where the hell have you been?Hiding out. One of those things came after me on the baronet a few nights ago when I was coming back from Oakland.Howd you get away?Those little animal things, a bunch of them attacked her in the dark. I could hear her screaming at them, tearing them to ribbons, but they held her off until the orchestrate pulled into the station, which was full of people. She bolted back into the tunnel. There were pieces of the animal creatures everywhere in the train car.Minty turned onto Van Ness and started heading toward Charlies side of town.So they helped you? Theyre not part of the Underworlders trying to take over?They dont appear to be. They saved my ass.So you know some of the Death Merchants have been killed?I didnt know. It wasnt in the paper. I saw where Antons shop burned up last night. He didnt make it out?They found pieces of him, Charlie said.Charlie, I think I caused this. Minty Fresh turned and really looked at Charlie for the first time, his go lden eyes looking forlorn. I failed to collect my last two soul vessels, and all of this started.I imagination it was me, Charlie said. I missed two as well. But I dont think its us. My two clients are alive, I think theyre in that house where I was going when you saved me the Three Jewels Buddhist Center. Theres a woman there whos been buying up soul vessels, too.Cute brunette? Minty asked.I dont know. Why?She bought some from me, too. Tried to disguise herself, but it was her.Well, shes in that house back there. Ive got to go back there.I dont want anything to do with those bitches with the claws, Minty said.True dat, Charlie said. I had a thing with one of them.No.Yeah, she got all up in my grille and shit had to cut da ho loose.Stop that.Sorry. Anyway, Ive got to go back.You sure? I dont think theyre dead. Doesnt look like they can be dead.You could run over them again. By the way, how did you know where to find me?After I heard about Antons place burning, I tried to call him and got a disconnected message, so I went to your store. I talked to that little Goth girl you have working for you. She told me where you went. Talked to her for about ten minutes. She knows about me I mean us? The Death Merchants?Yes, I told her a long time ago. Wasnt she, uh, crabby when you got there? With a guy, I mean.No. She seeing anyone?I idea you were gay?I never said that.Yeah, but you didnt go out of your way to deny it either.Charlie, I run a music store in the Castro, Id do more business as a gay Death Merchant than a straight shopkeeper.Good point. I never thought of that.Color me surprised. So, she seeing anyone?Shes half your age and I think shes a little twisted sexually, I mean.So is she seeing anyone?Shes like a little sister to me, Fresh. Dont you have employees like that?Have you never met anyone who works in a record store? Theres no greater repository of unjustified arrogance in the world. Id poison my employees if I thought I could find replacements.I do nt think shes seeing anybody, but since the world is about to be taken over by the Forces of Darkness, you may not have time for dating.I dont know. She seems like she might have an in with the Forces of Darkness. I like her, shes funny in a sort of sick of(p) way, and she likes Miles.Lily likes Miles Davis?You dont know that about your little sister?Charlie threw his hands up. Take her, use her, throw her away, I dont care, shes only part-time. You can date my daughter, too. Shes going to be six and probably loves Coltrane for all I know.Calm down, youre overreacting.Just turn around and take me back to that Buddhist center. Ive got to stop this thing. Its all on me, Fresh. Im the Luminatus.You are not.I am, Charlie said.Youre the Great Death with a capital D? You? You know this to be true?I do, Charlie said.I knew there was something incompatible about you, but I thought that the Luminatus would be I dont know taller.Dont start with that, okay.Minty swung the car off Van Ness into a hotel turnaround.Where are you going? Charlie said.To run over some sewer harpies again.Back to the Buddhist center?Uh-huh. You have any weapons besides that stupid sword?My cop friend told me I should get a gun.Minty Fresh reached into his moss-green jacket and came out with the biggest pistol Charlie had ever seen. He placed it on the seat. Take it. depopulate Eagle fifty-caliber. Itll stop a bear.Charlie picked up the chrome-plated pistol. It weighed like five pounds and the brake drum looked big enough to stick your thumb in.This thing is huge.Im a big guy. Listen, it holds eight shots. Theres a round in the chamber. You have to cock it and squeeze out the safety before you fire. There and there. He pointed to the safety and the hammer. Hold on to it if you have to shoot. It will knock you on your ass if youre not ready.What about you?Minty patted the other side of his coat. I have another one.Charlie turned the gun in his hand and watched the streetlights pegg laying off its chromed surface. (Beta Males, who inherently feel they are always at a competitive disadvantage, are suckers for showy equalizers.) You have a lot going on under the surface, Mr. Fresh. You are not just the run-of-the-mill seven-foot-tall Death Merchant in a pastel-green suit.Thank you, Mr. Asher. Very kind of you to say.My pleasure.Charlies cell phone rang and he flipped it open.Rivera said, Asher, where the hell are you? Ive been circling the Mission and theres nothing here but a lot of black feathers flying in the air.Yeah, its okay. Im okay, Inspector. I found Minty Fresh, the guy who owns the music store. Im in the car with him.So youre safe?Relatively.Good. Lay low and Ill call you, okay? I want to talk to your friend tomorrow.You got it, Inspector. Thanks for coming to help.Careful, Asher.Gotcha. Im laying low. Bye.Charlie snapped the phone shut and turned to Minty Fresh. You ready?Absolutely, said the fresh one.The street was deserted when they pulled up in front of the Three Jewels Buddhist Center.Ill go around to the back, Minty said.Well, cars suck, I can tell you that, said Babd, trying to keep herself together as the Morrigan limped back to the great ship. Five thousand years, horses are fine, all of a sudden we have to have paved streets and cars. I dont see the attraction.Im not even sure that we need to rise and let Darkness rule, said Nemain. Apparently darkness isnt qualified yet. Speaking as an agent of Darkness, I think it needs more time. She had been crushed into a half-woman, half-raven form and was shedding feathers as they limped through the pipe.Its like that New Meat has someone watching over him, said Macha. Next time Orcus can deal with him.Yeah, lets get Orcus to go after him, Babd said. See what he thinks of cars.