Fantasy fiction; Science fiction; Subconsciousness -- Fiction
It is hard to say what the fellow expected to see, as he turned
his head awkwardly to look above him, but judging by subsequent
developments, it is a pretty safe guess that it was not a redhead in a
dangerous black evening gown, lounging radiantly on the shoulders of
his partners, graciously blowing kisses to the audience. To say that
the man was shaken, is to tell the whole story.
There was a dreadful series of whacking sounds as the forces of gravity
worked swiftly to bring the entire act to an untimely end. As for
Toffee, she alone descended gracefully, looking much like a streamlined
ballerina, knocking off the swan after a busy day in the woods. As
she bowed in the spotlight, the audience went nearly crazy with loud
appreciation.
"I knew they couldn't hold it long," she said breathlessly, rushing up
to Marc. "They're not as strong as they look."
"Never mind that!" Marc yelled. "Let's get out of here, before Ruby and
Manny wake up. If they get ahold of us now, they'll tear us to ribbons."
"But, I thought you wanted to talk to Manny about your brief case."
"I don't think he'll be feeling very conversational," Marc rasped,
grabbing Toffee's arm, and shoving her through the crowd. "Besides, he
doesn't know anything about it. That was just a gag. All I'd get out of
Manny would be a fractured skull. That's what Ruby was counting on."
"But what are we going to do now?"
"There's only one thing to do," Marc said, glancing hastily at his
watch. "It's nearly eleven now. I'll have to go to the cemetery and try
to make a deal."
"Is a cemetery anything like a night club?" Toffee asked excitedly.
Marc glanced back at the unheeded litter of prostrate figures that
graced the Loma Club. "Quite a bit like this one," he said wryly.
* * * * *
Toffee settled herself comfortably on an ornate tombstone, and leaned
languorously back to rest her head on the buttocks of a stone cupid.
"Get down from there," Marc said sternly. "You look obscene."
"In this moonlight, you're no work of art, yourself," Toffee replied
lazily, making no effort to move.
Marc shrugged helplessly, and seated himself watchfully at the base of
the stone. "It's past eleven," he murmured. "I wish someone would show
up. If I don't get that copy back, I might as well kiss my business
goodbye right now."
"Maybe Manny's got it after all," Toffee suggested. "And he's still
out."
"I don't think so. And speaking of him, I'd sure like to know who the
little man under the table was. He just about saved my life when he
grabbed Manny's ankle." Marc glanced around peering intently into the
darkness that, except for occasional patches of bright moonlight that
filtered through the trees, was all around them. "It looks like we're
all alone here with the spooks."
"What are spooks?" Toffee leaned forward, interested.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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