"Mister Kevin," she said, her words dancing with bright absurdity like waterhose mist on a summer afternoon, "I wonder if you could help me."
"Happy to, miss," I mumbled.
She pushed a white rectangle in front of me on the painted maroon bar. "What do you think of this?"
I looked at the piece of paper. It was a coupon from a magazine.
Dear Acolyte R. I. S.:
Please send me FREE of obligation, in sealed wrapper, "The Scarlet Book" revealing to me how I may gain Secret Mastery of the Universe.
Name: ........................
Address: .....................
The world disoriented itself and I was on the floor of the somber diner and Miss Vivian Casey was out of sight and scent.
There was a five dollar bill tight in my fist. The counterman was trying to pull it out.