fear and anger and hopelessness are squirming around my skull, making the few seconds of relief I felt earlier easy to ignore. I have to keep it together and keep thinking. I want to kill my way out of all this confusion, but that won’t work this time. Going after Mason was simple. Chasing the Kissi was simple. I knew who they were and what they wanted. I’m lost at sea right now, but I have to see this through. Too many people I care about are locked in their apartments hoping they make it through the night. I don’t want to lose any more friends. The Kissi killed a waitress at Donut Universe last New Year’s to get my attention. I don’t want any more dead donut girls on my conscience. “There you are,” says Muninn. He takes the flask, holds the note against it, and wraps them together with silk ribbon. He says, “Go and help your friend. And when you finally figure out what all this business is, your only debt will be to come back and tell me the whole story.” “It’s a deal.” Johnny puts the Visible Man down. “Keep it,” says Muninn. “We can’t send you home empty-handed.” “Thank you.” “Come on, Johnny. I have to get this to Brigitte and take you home.” “No thank you. I’d rather stay down here.” “You sure?” He puts his hands in his lap and looks down at the floor. “Yes. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I think I’m tired of being alive. I’ll miss Tracy and Fiona and I’ll never get to finish the dictionary, but I like it down here. It’s quiet. I don’t think I want to answer anyone’s questions anymore. I want to smell the dirt and be in the dark for a while.” “You’re welcome to stay here with me,” Muninn says “You’ll have access to all my toys and the Backbone is just a stroll away.” Johnny looks around the piles of junk that seem to stretch forever in every direction. “Do you want to ask me things?” “I’ve been down here for a long time and will be here for quite a bit longer. Life and death don’t interest me terribly much.” Johnny nods. “Okay. I’ll stay.” He turns to me. “Will you tell Fiona and Tracy that I’m sorry and that I’ll miss them and to not worry about me?” “Sure. Thanks again, Johnny. When I come back I’ll bring you some jelly beans.” “That would be nice.” “Thanks, Muninn. If you don’t hear from me in the next couple of days, look for me out in the Backbone.” There’s a good shadow by the bottom of the stairs. I step through and leave behind the nicest dead guy I’ve ever known.
I COME OUT in the old apartment. Vidocq and Allegra are studying a pile of books. “Jimmy, are you all right?” asks Vidocq. “Allegra told me about what happened with the revenants.” “I’m fine. Everything is fine. This is for both of you, but you in particular.”
