<< Previous Episode | Next Episode >>
There must be some kind of way out of here, said the Joker to the Thief.
Eddie looks at me nervously, waving the gun around, and says, What? Whatdidyousay?
Eddie. Ed. Edward.
What? He says.
No reason to get excited, the Thief he kindly spoke.
Eddie says, Shut up!
Great. Life and death situation and the best I can come up with is some lyrics.
Well, at least it's Bob Dylan and not Britney Spears or something.
So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late, I think, and I can hear the chords playing in the background and everything. One of the gifts of our media-infested culture is, I can fit almost any situation into a movie, song, or bestseller. Five hundred years ago, if a green monster started stomping peasants outside my door, I would have to come up with some legend for it. Today I would simply say, Oh, It's Godzilla, and run out to the nearest Burger King and buy a special Godzilla Destructive Rampage Meal, at 4.95, plus fifty cents if I want it super-sized.
Dwelling on how unprepared I am for this is completely useless. I have to do something.
The Nike swoosh logo appears in my mind. Just do it!
Fuck! I don't need sneakers right now! I am sick of all the advertisement in my head!
I take a deep breath and I say, I need to go to the bathroom.
Eddie says, No way.
Come on, I say, What are you trying to do here anyway? Do you even know?
OFCOURSE IknowwhatI'mdoing, Eddie says.
I think, He doesn't.
I say, Good, I'm glad you do. Are you waiting for someone?
Yes, Eddie says, and his face twitches.
Two riders were approaching as the wind began to growl, the song finished, and I am wondering if the riders are about to get here or if they have been pulled over, delayed by traffic, or what.
I hear a siren get louder in the distance, then fade away. No help from the cavalry.
Then I hear a voice.
Sorry I'm late, the voice says, and then someone walks into the cubicle.
It's Pete.
Finally! Eddie says.
Let's go, Pete says, I told you to wait for me. As he says this, he looks at me and shakes his right hand, where he is holding the cellphone.
Eddie narrows his eyes, and says, And how did you know I was here?
This is the last floor, Pete says, And I went through each floor looking for you.
The explanation sounds unlikely to the point of being ridiculous, but Eddie seems to think it's reasonable. He relaxes.
Then Pete looks at the gun and says, And give me that.
Eddie says, Sure.
But instead of giving it to him, he points it at me, laughs, and pulls the trigger.
<< Previous Episode | Next Episode >>
8:22:19 PM 
|
