The Perdition Score (Sandman Slim 8)

Slow as I am, I don’t have to think about it too long.

“It was Nick. Burgess had Nick and I fucked that up.”

Quay claps his hands on the steering wheel.

“See? You can put those brain cells to work if you try, try, try.”

“What does Nick have to do with anything?”

“Black milk is processed in their bodies. Poison goes in and Panzerschokolade comes out.”

He looks at me. There’s practically a twinkle in his eye.

“We milk the little bastards like cattle. Hence the term ‘black milk.’”

“You fucker,” sputters Candy. “You fucking fuck.”

“You’re every bit as eloquent as I would expect Sandman Slim’s paramour to be.”

I jab the gun into Quay’s ribs.

“There’s another kid missing back home. She’s more cattle?”

“Of course. Her family is nothing. This is their chance to move up in the world.”

“And join the immortality club.”

“Yes, we keep a small amount of processed black milk for ourselves. Any family that sacrifices a child is admitted to the program.”

No one says anything for a minute. We spot some broken-down hellhounds. Gears and metal limbs scattered across the road.

“Admit it. It’s a bargain,” says Quay. “Eternity for one brat. If it makes you feel better, the families are free to produce all the little tykes they want after that.”

“Are the new kids immortal too?”

Quay shakes his head.

“I’m afraid not. New kids mean new sacrifices. You see, shared secrets like this bind people together. It’s the foundation of Wormwood.”

“A ritual,” says Hesediel.

“See? The angel understands.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I don’t have the words for what a low scoundrel you are,” says Wild Bill. “I thought I’d seen the worst in men back home. Clearly I was wrong.”

“Thank you, Bill. In Wormwood, we aim for excellence.”

I don’t want to think about Quay’s story. There’s no way to prove it from down here. It could all be lies. Then again, why would he tell a lie he knows might piss us off so much that we kill him?

“What about the war in Heaven? Why is Wormwood picking sides?”

“We’re not. And I’ll explain all that in just a few more minutes. Until then, let’s take in the sights, shall we?”

We continue across the I-10 freeway, all the way down to the 105.

On the other side are the ruins of an old water treatment plant. Quay parks the van by the entrance and starts to get out. I move the gun back to his head.