Chapter 2

           Theytookhertothecemet’ry

           Inabigol’Cadillac

           Theytookhertothecemet’ry

           Buttheydidnotbringherback.

           -oldsong

           "Ihavetakentheliberty,"saidMr.Wednesday,washinghishandsinthemen’sroomofJack’sCrocodileBar,"oforderingfoodformyself,tobedeliveredtoyourtable.Wehavemuchtodiscuss,afterall."

           "Idon’tthinkso,"saidShadow.Hedriedhisownhandsonapapertowelandcrumpledit,anddroppeditintothebin.

           "Youneedajob,"saidWednesday."Peopledon’thireex-cons.Youfolkmakethemuncomfortable."

           "Ihaveajobwaiting.Agoodjob."

           "WouldthatbethejobattheMuscleFarm?"

           "Maybe,"saidShadow.

           "Nope.Youdon’t.RobbieBurton’sdead.WithouthimtheMuscleFarm’sdeadtoo."

           "You’realiar."

           "Ofcourse.Andagoodone.Thebestyouwillevermeet.But,I’mafraid,I’mnotlyingtoyouaboutthis."Hereachedintohispocket,producedafoldednewspaper,andhandedittoShadow."Pageseven,"hesaid."Comeonbacktothebar.Youcanreaditatthetable."

           Shadowpushedopenthedoor,backintothebar.Theairwasbluewithsmoke,andtheDixieCupswereonthejukeboxsinging"IkoIko."Shadowsmiled,slightly,inrecognitionoftheoldchildren’ssong.

           Thebarmanpointedtoatableinthecorner.Therewasabowlofchiliandaburgeratonesideofthetable,araresteakandabowloffrieslaidintheplaceacrossfromit.

           Lookatmykingalldressedinred,

           IkoIkoallday,

           Ibetyoufivedollarshe’llkillyoudead,

           Jockamo-feena-nay

           Shadowtookhisseatatthetable.