Grossfeldt, do you have a photo of yourself for the book jacket?" No, no, I do not. Can you take one for me?" Certainly. Where would you like it done?... Oh, I do not know. Perhaps my desk?" That seems like a good place," I said. "I can move my lights in there with no problem."Another twenty minutes and I was finished."Thomas, I know we already arrived at a price for my original request. How much will you charge for the portrait?" Oh, just a credit line with the photo will be enough," I. Always I listened for the next "swatch" of a rift opening. I wanted another kill and yet I despaired. Killing one at a time was so time consuming and trivial. Eldenhaun of a vast nation of cowards and I wanted to hurt all of them. I dreamed of lobbing a nuclear bomb through the rift and taking out entire cities, but there were no more nuclear bombs. It was a childish fantasy but the fact was undeniable. In those lonely moments I felt as if I was pissing in the chill autumn wind. I rummaged my. They broke down into their constituent parts and sat upon a high bench as if they were court judges.Seven stood. "By the powers invested in me from on high."One of the members of the Cassandra Cartel stood. "I object. There are no gods and therefore there can be no investiture." You think not?" Seven said. "I shall present you with a performance of said powers."From her seat she tore him asunder ... quartered is the word used ... but he did not die. She rejoined him."Convinced?" No. It is but a. .. that savage... she's... why, she's completely topless!"Elmer's answer was drowned in a roar of approval from the audience. They stamped and whistled and shouted. One of the men yelled the old, burlesque call of encouragement. "Take it off!" The others immediately took it up, and it became a chant, the swelling thunder of which drowned out even the drums. "Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!"Kalola paused in her dance, regarded them quizzically with tilted head, then she grinned and.