The Getaway God (Sandman Slim 6)

“All the blood and body parts in the lobby. Was that you?”

He takes a sip of wine and shakes his head.

“That was all Muninn. The only other time I’ve seen him like that was when he knocked me out of Heaven with a thunderbolt. He blew those traitors to bits with a wave of his hand. Good for you, Father.”

He clinks his glass against mine and I have to sip more of the Hellion swill.

“Good for which one of us and for what?” says Muninn, coming into the room. He sees the open bottle of wine and gets himself a glass. Samael fills it for him.

“Your righ­teous wrath,” says Samael.

“Oh. You mean the lobby. It was certainly wrathful, and I don’t apologize for it. But I’m not so sure about righ­teous.”

“Righ­teous enough,” says Samael. “Those pissants got exactly what they deserved.”

“Perhaps. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“I’m sorry about your brother,” I say.

“Which one?” says Muninn. “The one who died or the one who lived? They’re each a different problem.”

“Both?”

“Good boy,” says Samael.

“My secret shame is that I would have preferred that Nefesh be the one who lived. Sometimes I think I’m no better than Ruach.”

“You didn’t look to kill either of your brothers,” I say. “I’d say that puts you ahead of Ruach in the asshole department.”

“Thank you,” says Muninn.

“Samael told me that the longer you’re in pieces, the weaker you become. What happens when parts of you start dying?”

“Exactly what happens to any organism when it loses limb after limb. I get weaker faster.”

“That means Ruach is getting weaker too.”

“Yes, but not so much that Chaya and I can take Heaven from him, if that’s what you mean.”

“I’m surprised Chaya can feed himself,” says Samael.

“Enough of that,” says Muninn.

He looks at me.

“Now you know the sorry situation down here. And as much as I appreciate you stopping by to check on us, I think Chaya and I need to be alone for a while to mourn our brother.”

“I understand. But I need to ask you something before I go.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t ask me how, but Mason Faim is back on Earth. He has information I need to operate the 8 Ball, but to get it I have to play something he calls the Infinite Game.”

Muninn puts his hands flat on the counter.

“Mason Faim,” he says. “I hoped I’d never hear that name again.”

He takes a long breath.