Titans of Chaos

Her rosy-red features and low-cut blouse, well, they attracted his attention, and his craggy facesoftened once again with a smile. "Look, like I said, I'm Mr. Nice Guy. I stop fights, see? We liketo have good-looking girls in the club. Here."

He took a card out of his pocket, leaned his harpoon against the wall, took out a ballpoint pen,and scribbled on the back. He proffered the card to Vanity. "Go to this address. Tuxedo shop,dresses, that sort of thing. Upscale, very nice. They keep late hours. Show the manager my card,and he'll fix you up, give you ten percent off. He owes me a favor. And meanwhile, you there,Little Miss Blond Girl." He offered me the pen and a blank card. "Write a message. Any crazything you like, gods blowing up the world, whatever. I'll put it on Mr. Archer's desk. I can'tguarantee he'll read it, I can't guarantee he'll believe it, but write what you like. Don't botherputting down your phone number. He never makes calls. Hates phones. Likes to talk to peopleface-to-face, you know?"

I knelt down to use the pavement for a desk. I forget what I wrote: something about how Bogginsent us, we were not from Mavors or Mulciber, but we have urgent business to discuss. I was kindof coy about saying too much, but I wanted to drop names so he'd know we were not humeys.

Wolves, not cattle.

Then the huge guy politely escorted us to the curb, smiled, ignored whatever else we said, andstomped back to the club, his ring mail glittering and chiming at every footstep.

Vanity, staring at the broad back retreating said, "Why was he carrying a harpoon?"

Quentin said, "Because that was-"

Without warning, Vanity jumped into Quentin's arms and landed a big, wet, sloppy kiss on his lips.

After a moment or two, Colin said, "Are you guys going to come up for air?"

I slapped myself on the neck. "Damn these mosquitoes." Then I said, "Let's go to this tux shop,whatever it is." And I began marching down the sidewalk. Vanity and Quentin broke their holdand followed.

After a short bit, we turned a corner, and Vanity said softly, "All clear."

Colin said to Vanity, "Red, if I am about to say something stupid, would you kiss me, too?"

Quentin said, "Down, hormone boy, down!"

Vanity smiled sweetly. "Each time you are about to say something stupid? Well, I'd have no timefor anything else!"

I looked at Vanity, "If we are now in the clear... ?" She nodded.

To the group: "First, in the future, let the Leader do the talking. That was just disgraceful!