I found the market. And you. "
"Good for you," she said. "Maybe youre more clever than I thought. A trick pony. Me, Im off to find new -lodgings. "
"I can see why," said Spyder.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Look! Your hotel is an in-fucking-ferno. "
"No, its not. I would be able to feel the heat. "
"Of course it is. I can see it burning from here. "
"Really? Because the Coma Gardens isnt going to be built for another fifty years," she said. "And its not going to burn for another twenty after that. "
"Then how were you staying in there?"
Shrike breathed deeply and nodded. "You can see things now. And its all brand new and you dont know what to think of it, do you? Take a walk with me. " Shrike reached out and took one of his hands and led him through the crowded market, swinging her white cane gently in front of her feet. The effect of that cane was less that of a blind person feeling her way along than her warning people that she was coming, Spyder thought. Everyone and everything got out of her way.
"People are afraid of you," said Spyder when they reached a less crowded part of the market.
"Theyre afraid of rumors and tall tales. And I let them be afraid. It makes my job easier. "
"What is your job?"
Shrike sniffed the air as they passed a perfumers stall. "Smell that? Raw ambergris. Theres nothing else that smells like that. Its one of those magical sub- stances that makes everyone-humans, demons, angels, ghosts and your little dog Toto-all swoon. There are -mer-chants whose entire trade is delivering ambergris to the markets in Purgatory. "
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