Sandman Slim (Sandman Slim 1)

"That's right. A fragment of a fragment of a fragment. I put the rest in the Room of Thirteen Doors. As long as I'm alive, it's safe. But if you ever run me through with that sword again, the glass holding the Mithras will break and burn its way out through all thirteen doors."

"You're lying."

"You kill me and I'll torch this whole little puppet show. Then, when Heaven itself is burning, you can explain to your boss how it's all your fault."

"Even you aren't this mad."

"There's an easy way to find out."

I put the pyx in my pocket and get up. Slide her pastry and mine into the paper bag and roll it closed.

"You don't deserve a fritter."

I leave Aelita there in the booth with the sun coming through the window, thinking about doughnuts and the end of everything.

I DIAL DOC Kinski's number and he picks up.

"Damn. When did you start answering phones?"

"It's a recent and very temporary development. What can I do for you?"

"How's Candy doing?"

"Still a little overexcited. When someone falls off the murder wagon, it can take 'em a while to calm down."

"That's why some of us don't ever stop."

Silence. Nothing. Crickets.

"That was a joke," I say.

"I'll take your word for it. That's not all you called about, is it?"

"No. I'm calling about the bullets. You said you'd take them out when things calmed down. Things have."

"Okay. Come by today."

"When?"

"How about right now?"

WHEN I PULL into the minimall, Kinski is outside smoking a cigarette. I park the stolen Mercedes SLR McLaren at the rear of lot, behind a pizza delivery van. The McLaren's doors don't open out. They flip up like insect wings. Kinski drops his cigarette and grinds it out with his boot.

"You couldn't find anything more conspicuous to drive over here? Maybe a blimp or an ocean liner?"

"No one can see it from the street."

"I suppose. You ready for this?"

"Yeah. I'm sick of things banging around inside me every time I sneeze."

"All right, then. Let's get them out."

He leads me back into the clinic. Nothing has changed in the reception area. Even the magazines are sitting exactly where they were the last time I was here. If this was anybody else's office, I'd guess that he was a bookie or selling dope out the back door.

I wait while the doc washes his hands.

"Take off your shirt and lie down."