Literary prizes — pure bullshit. They give them to some crap with weeping damsels and decrepit old farts. And each time the damsel's pregnant, and the old fart died yesterday. Who gives a damn? The prize should go to the best hangover description. Show me the classic who captured it so well the reader pukes right along with the hero. You can rub your fingers raw going through the shelves of your bookstore — you won't find a damn thing. No genius can describe what I'll feel tomorrow morning after G‑G. And it's gonna be ugly...
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0PWjixLyX
— It won't.
Did I just say that? The voice keeps coming from somewhere deep along the walls... Eyes open slow. Weird — I feel light. Soft violet‑blue light, no source... I'm in some huge hall... Sitting in an armchair, tuxedo, comfortable. But I see myself weird — like a blur. A crystal table, thin legs, two gold candlesticks, candles burning, another big armchair across... Heels on marble, hollow echo... I swear I'll quit drinking by next Tuesday. No later.
Across from me, a lean figure sits down. The suit costs... more than you'd get in a bank job, easy... This is Death — for sure! Madlen told me she shows up just like this. That she has the face of your favorite comic book hero. What the hell? I never read comics about noble knights with little beards.
The one in the chair is silent, watching me. There's something in his gaze — somewhere between "Wanna smash your muzzle" and "nice price-offs on dogfood today." I'm in no hurry, adjusting my bow tie. Probably look ridiculous. Why "probably"? Aunt Agatha comes to mind — Worm's mother‑in‑law — and her famous Friday cracker spread. I owe Worm two hundred sixteen...
"Plus change," — a very pleasant voice sounds.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVQrNFmbxt
"Yeah — plus change," I echo. "That why we're here?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGvW8Ot9RB
"To some extent," — the man in the chair grins. "My name is Loir. Got a light?" — his voice sounds casual, everyday. "Seems I left mine upstairs."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV6yR4BgkD
Don't know why, but I feel I've got a pack and a lighter on me — but I'm in no rush:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCllX3W2Wf
"Maybe you could go get them?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY5N1PuIOm
He looks at me with indifference:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDsHN3PmVV
"I could — but I'd be back in about seventy years. You gonna wait?"
There's something magnetic about him — a certain confidence (God, what a word?!), some kind of energy... I hand him a cigarette:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TSyx1KHQw
"No problem!"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevhTNyLaLV
Loir takes it, lights up, and lets out a cloud of smoke with a warming puff:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJSac2P4yu
"Confidence — that's Madlen's word. She used it a couple of times in your presence. Ready?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfAryVDUae
"For what?" — I glance again at the walls vanishing into infinity. "Circumcision's not on my to-do list."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmBr9q94zM
"Yeah," — he clicks his tongue. "They told me you are quite a piece of work... Alright, let's skip the foreplay. Your time's running out — that's why you're here. I don't think you'll be surprised, but sometimes we give a chance to find out how."
"Why?" — I shrug indifferently. "They'll shoot me, strangle me, poison me... Who cares who, when, where... I'll end up somewhere — the morgue, a dumpster, a ditch... What's the difference? Maybe while I'm still alive, you could leave me alone? Give me a couple of days, weeks... I don't know how much you've got planned. Let me finish what I'm doing, then — I'm yours."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPTlcVkxtb
"You've always been a pathetic, miserable little yapper, dear Paul. Me, me, me... The question isn't about you. The question is — what to do with your baggage?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQExQaUvUNX
"With what???"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5Etx0sGs9
"With what, and with who."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTomlQk5aL
Cold sweat breaks out on me. What's he talking about? Cesara? What the hell is going on?..67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNTKW1qUhV
"Nice that you thought of Cesara. Maybe we'll come back to her. For now — about you, and your tasty but disgusting life."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AketRJyLk
"It is what it is... You interested in something specific?"
"A lot of things," Loir says evasively. "Up there, next to my pack, there's a thick folio — something like our bible on how to run these talks. I don't like it — too vague. In life, there are only three moments. Three points. I call them the points of hardness — the ones that define you for good. A perfect construction — a triangle. You can't bend it after the third one. When do you think yours was? Don't rush — think it over, I'll get some coffee."
About ten minutes later, he came back and set a cup on the table. I'd never smelled anything so incredible! Loir smirked and lit another cigarette — this time his own:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6WxICgLIG
"Just know — this is where they make the best coffee. Not what they write in your ads."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvShWdP7Iar
I took a sip:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb480A8ohh
"Damn — I like it."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fXdF3EVqt
"There's a lot you'll like here, believe me."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8q4Ai1VAn
"Like what?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6s2Cptrdg
"Like what they're doing with McCain right now."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGUE4WAzz8
The cup slipped from my hands.
"That scumbag's here too?!" — McCain, my old boss at the precinct — the biggest police bastard on the planet! If it weren't for guys like him, the world would be pristine. "Thanks, Loir — you made my day!"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjkhezOn7k
"That's a compliment from the house," — he stubbed out his cigarette against the air. "Let's get back to you — while you're still alive. Not for long."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0jVAvni0D
"Fine," — I'll have to play by his rules. "What happens?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndLpiMPnj4
"You'll be killed."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66nFSJTAB8
"Why am I not surprised? Pachèrito?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmwOEoL1Xa
"That's being discussed. The fact that you'll die by a bullet — that's settled. The question is where, and by whose hand."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8wfTpt0NM
"Doesn't matter anymore."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2SqrRnRgm
Loir shook his head regretfully:67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pOSQGID2O
"I wouldn't rush — we're full of surprises. But let's get back to our sheep, I mean — back to you."67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHTcoCuzqN
"The third point?" — I understood why he'd brought up my old boss. "Matt Foster?"67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkdR9EY8Qe
"Bingo!"
and then Add to home screen.