'Well？' Garstang demanded。
'I'm afraid Mr Madoc is unable to speak to you at present。 But I now have his full authority。 You shall have all that you require。'
Garstang drew the ashen face of Wisten within vision and pressed the hand weapon to his temple。
'That's a special service hand…strobe；' Morgawr whispered to Fergus。 'I worked on those。 But he shouldn't have one； they haven't been fully tested yet。'
'Something up design…wise？' Fergus asked hopefully。
'Just a bit。 They have an alarming habit of feeding back if you don't let them cool between discharges。 Very messy。'
'Oh good；' grinned Fergus。 'Now speak to him； he looks rather anxious。'
Jason did so。 'The captive is being brought up to you； Mr Garstang。 Then the floors between you and the research labs will be cleared。' The screen went blank。
'So they feed back； do they？' Fergus asked cheerfully。 'And would Mr Garstang be aware of this； do you think？'
Jason Morgawr winked。 'I can't see how he would。'
Fergus Shaman did a big ear to ear job。 'There are going to be one or two vacancies on the board。 If this works out I might just put your name forward。'
'Should I clear the floors then？'
'Why not； and get Mr Presley up to him。 Place your men in concealment。 Don't forget to inform them about the little gremlin in Garstang's gun。' Jason hurried away； rubbing his hands together in glee。
'What did he say？' asked the heavily swathed Mungo。
'Everything is being taken care of； sir。'
'Pardon？ You'll have to speak up a bit。'
'Everything is being taken care of； sir！'
'The last bit again。'
'Oh； never mind； you great buffoon；' muttered Fergus； which was a shame； because skill in lip…reading was amongst Mungo's newer modifications。
Mungo smiled benignly。 I'll get you for that； he thought。
'So； Rex；' Dan was all smiles； 'what do you have to say for yourself？'
'Plenty。' Rex eyed a tray of sweetmeats and his stomach made an unmentionable sound。 Rex let his thoughts be felt。
'Go on then；' said Dan； 'eat your fill。'
'My thanks； Dan。 Morning Gloria。 Having another day； I'm pleased to see。'
Gloria made a disgusted face and turned up her nose。 'You need a bath。'
'Just had one as it happens。' Rex began to fill his face。
'So； how goes your search then？ Anything to report？'
The eater dragged a sleeve across his mouth。 'I have a lead； yes。 And a good one。'
Dan looked puzzled。 'Oh； yes？'
'At considerable risk to myself； I have managed to trap two Devianti upon the roof of Odeon Towers。 One is the Rambo Bloodaxe you were so keen to meet。 Exactly how he and his crony managed to escape the enemy missile； I've no idea。 Perhaps they have charmed lives also。 Anyhow； I'm sure Bloodaxe can be persuaded to yield up all he knows about your mystery man。 Good； eh？'
Dan nodded dumbly。 'Very good。'
'I would suggest you send over your big lads fast。 The flames lick even now about the feet of Rambo Bloodaxe。'
'Quite so。' Dan tapped the inter and issued instructions。 Rex munched on； grinning inwardly。 His sister eyed him with open contempt。
'He put up quite a struggle；' munched Rex。 'In fact； I fear that he has totally destroyed my apartment； if not the whole building。'
'Ah；' said Dan。 'That is most regrettable。'
'It is；' Rex agreed。 'Many of my priceless family heirlooms gone up in smoke。 But no matter； all in a good cause； I'm sure I will be fully pensated。 And with the bonus you offered for Mr Bloodaxe； I shall find superior lodgings and in time forget the sad losses。'
'For it is written；' said Dan； quoting scripture； 'that even should he put his hand down a toilet； it will e up smelling of roses。'
'Perhaps Rex might like to demonstrate this skill upon my bidet；' Gloria suggested。
'Still not fixed； eh？' Dan chuckled。 'The service engineers are in dispute； I believe。 I will have a word with them when I have a spare moment。'
Rex allowed Gloria the full benefit of his undisguised smirk。
'I have to go now；' she announced。 'The show must go on； you know。'
'Oh； indeed you must。 Leave us to it； men's talk； you know。' Gloria stormed from the room； a sensual hurricane。 Such abominable disrespect for the living God King； thought Rex； as loudly as he could； surely the Inmost One must demote her on the spot。
'Don't push your luck； Rex；' said Dan； giving the thinker the old third eye。 'You know what I mean？'
Two of Vance City's finest encouraged Elvis along the corridor with the business ends of their truncheons。 It's always forting to know that no matter where one travels to in this universe； there will always be a policeman with a truncheon。 Funny that there's still never one around when you need him； though。
'You know what I think； fella？' The boy adventurer turned upon one of his persecutors。 'I think your whole Goddamn planet sucks。 That's what。'
The uniformed duo glanced at one another and came to the unspoken agreement that a short sharp shock was the order of the day。 They were raising their truncheons just as Fergus Shaman appeared on the scene。
'Thank you； gents；' said he。 'I will take our guest from here。' He noted well the twin looks of disappointment。 'That will be all； thank you。' The two policemen shambled away； grumbling loudly。
'And who the fuck are you？' Elvis asked。
Fergus extended his hand。 'Fergus Shaman； pleased to meet you。'
'Where's my little green buddy？'
'Ah；' Fergus returned his unshaken hand to its pocket。 'Your little green buddy。 Now that is what I wanted to talk to you about。 You see I have this theory。'
'That to your theory；' Elvis made a gesture which Fergus Shaman didn't know the meaning of。 It involved a thrusting movement with the middle finger。
'Quite so。 But it's of great significance； nonetheless。 Have they been treating you all right？'
'Are you for real？ One of those bozos stuck his night…stick up my。。。'
Fergus made a pained face。 'I'm terribly sorry。 A slight misunderstanding。 Now if you will kindly follow me。' He turned to lead Elvis up the corridor。 Now it wasn't the American Way； striking a man from behind； this Elvis knew。 But he'd had a rough day。 And after all Fergus Shaman was an alien。
Fergus Shaman turned in mid stride。 Alien perhaps； but no fool。 'If you want to get back to 1958 then I suggest you e with me。'
The moment was lost。 Elvis went quietly。
Odeon Towers was well ablaze。 News teams from the Big Three were covering the event； jockeying for the key positions。 Fire…fighting squads stood at the ready awaiting their cues to make with the deeds of heroism。 Their union representatives discussed repeat fees and residuals with the media men。 Location directors shouted into handsets and prayed for the rain to keep off。 Someone on fire leapt from an upper window。
'Zoom in on the corpse。 Hold and cut。'
Rambo Bloodaxe peered over the parapet and sighed sadly。 Eric was trying to count his fingers and failing miserably。 'Hot for the time of year；' he observed。 Amidst the smoke and confusion a black Buddhavision security craft flopped down on to the roof。 Several heavily…armed henchmen stepped from it。
'Botheration；' Rambo exclaimed。 The old Bill。 Eric； me old mucker； it looks as if we are going to be next week's special guests on the Nemesis show。'
'Goody。' Eric gave up the unequal struggle with his fingers。 'I've always wanted to be on the telly。'
18
。。。 always whistling。 Didn't I mention that？ Maybe I forgot； it all gets a bit jumbled some times。 Like everything happened at once； not like it was spread out。 Always whistling。 He'd have this tune； whistle it for days and if； say； I left him on a street corner and he was whistling it； next time I'd bump into him he'd be continuing it right from where he left off。 Just like there had been no in between。 Used to give me the creeps。 It was like I didn't exist between the times I was with him。
But the tunes； see。 They'd get stuck in your head。 Real catchy。 Popular music tunes。 Pop it was called back then； or rock。 And then； maybe a week or a month later the same tunes would turn up on the radio。 And every one went to the number one slot。 Worldwide some of them。 So； I know what you're thinking。 He wrote them； right？ Me too。 I bought the records； but they were all big guys and well known。 He couldn't have been all of them； could he？
Although； I mean； he was a God。 Still is a God for all I know。
The Suburban Book of the Dead
When you wanna move； it's what's in the groove that counts。 James Brown
Soul is when the only way you can express yourself is to go
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwl right。
Same fella
'So；' said Fergus； as they reached the perforated boardroom door 'That is my theory and that is my plan。 Tell me； what do you think？'
Elvis checked out the alien son…of…a…bitch。 'No shit？' he asked。
'None whatever。 I have checked out my figures again and again。 Monitored your life readings and I'm certain that I'm correct。'
'Well then；' Elvis straightened his shoulders； turned up his collar and finger…bed his jet…black locks。 'Let's kick ass。'
Fergus gazed along the empty corridor； thinking to glimp