He stopped short and swung about. It was more than a qualm this time; it was a full-blown mental flip-flop. What the hell was he thinking about, turning his back on a guy with a loaded gun in his hand? Maybe it was romantic as the devil to stand around orating to a beautiful woman on manners and morals in the face of death and destruction but it certainly wasn't good sense. And now that he came to think of it, what in heaven's name was he doing in a preposterous situation like this anyway? Whatever was going on it certainly couldn't be allowed to go any further. "Now, look, fella," he said soothingly, turning back to Mario, "let's cut out all this nonsense before someone gets hurt." _Mario came toward him, his putty face impassive. Evelyn started from the shadows._ _"You're not going to kill him?" she cried. "Mario!"_ "No, Mario!" Fleetwood said with a feeling of complete madness. "No. You musn't get yourself worked up like this!" _"Shut up!" Mario snapped. "Maybe you gave out the invitations, honey, but it's still my party."_ _"You said you wouldn't!" Evelyn said. "You promised, Mario!"_ "Yes, Mario," Fleetwood murmured worriedly, staring at the gun, "you promised." _"How stupid can you broads get?" Mario sneered. "You think I'm going to let him talk?"_ _"No, Mario! No!"_ "She's right, Mario," Fleetwood said, nodding in vigorous accord. "You should listen to her. Besides I won't talk. I wouldn't even know what to say." _"Turn around, Rover Boy," Mario said, motioning with his gun._ Fleetwood fully realized by now that he couldn't possibly make himself heard to them, but the situation demanded at least a try. He turned to Evelyn. "Talk to him," he urged. "Do something. Call the police!" _"Mario!" Evelyn cried, and covered her face with, her hands. "Not here! Please don't do it here!" She began to cry hysterically._ _There was a pause, then a grunt from Mario that might have meant anything. A battalion of ants began to crawl up and down Fleetwood's spine. Mario's plodding footsteps sounded directly behind him. He tensed against whatever was about to happen. Then, in a rush, a small whirring sound descended swiftly behind his ear and his head split with pain. The floor opened into a black abyss in front of him and he plunged toward it headfirst._ * * * * * In the same moment, the counter, the girl, the magazine, and the world that contained them became blindingly vivid and real. His mind suddenly cleared and he picked himself up from the floor in a mood of fretful indignation.