n around the griffins legs, grabbing stray scraps of meat that fell from the beasts jaws. The spiders scrambled up and down the griffins hindquarters. Gray stingray-like things flapped overhead, like a flock of knurled vultures. A coral snake lazily wrapping itself around the sacrifice pole stopped its climb long enough to call Spyder by name.
Spyders head spun. He stepped into the street, flashing on the demon in the alley the night before. The mugging had been real. Had the monster part been real, too? He leaned his head back. Spinning in the sky overhead were angels with the wings of eagles. Higher still crawled vast airships. Their soft balloon bodies glowed in the bright sun, presenting Spyder with profiles of fierce mythological birds of prey and gigantic lotuses.
A cab turned the corner onto Harrison Street and -Spyder frantically flagged it down. "Haight and Masonic," he said to the driver, trying not to sound as deranged as he felt. Spyder slid into the backseat and as the driver pulled away, he peered out the cabs rear window. The business man was on the corner, talking to three pale men in matching black suits. Their clothes and general formality reminded Spyder of bankers in an old movie.
One of the bankers stepped forward, reached into the businessmans chest and pulled out his heart. Turning stiffly, he dropped the organ into an attachcase held up by another of the trio. That done, the third banker used a knife to carefully peel the businessmans face off. The cab turned the corner and Spyder lost sight of them.
Five
Communication Breakdown
"How you voting on Prop 18?"
Spyder looked up. The cabbie looked -exhausted, Spyder thought. One of those guys in his
Страницы: << < 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 > >>