〃Are　you　sure　selfpity　is　a　luxury　you　can　afford；　Jack？〃

He　had　closed　his　eyes　and　slid　an　Excedrin　between　his　dry　lips。　〃At　this

point　I　feel　it's　the　only　one　I　can　afford。　Fire　away　。。。　no　pun　intended。〃

Al　was　silent　for　a　moment。　Then　he　said：　〃First；　no　more　calls　to　Ullman。　Not

even　if　the　place　burns　down。　If　that　happens；　call　the　maintenance　man；　that

guy　who　swears　all　the　time；　you　know　who　I　mean　。。。〃

〃Watson。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Okay。　Done。〃

〃Second；　you　promise　me；　Jack。　Word　of　honor。　No　book　about　a　famous　Colorado

mountain　hotel　with　a　history。〃

For　a　moment　his　rage　was　so　great　that　be　literally　could　not　speak。　The

blood　beat　loudly　in　his　ears。　It　was　like　getting　a　call　from　some　twentieth…

century　Medici　prince　。。。　no　portraits　of　my　family　with　their　warts　showing；

please；　or　back　to　the　rabble　you'll　go。　I　subsidize　no　pictures　but　pretty

pictures。　When　you　paint　the　daughter　of　my　good　friend　and　business　partner；

please　omit　birthmark　or　back　to　the　rabble　you'll　go。　Of　course　we're　friends。。。

we　are　both　civilized　men　aren't　we？　We've　shared　bed　and　board　and　bottle。

We'll　always　be　friends；　and　the　dog　collar　I　have　on　you　will　always　be　ignored

by　mutual　consent；　and　I'll　take　good　and　benevolent　care　of　you。　All　I　ask　in

return　is　your　soul。　Small　item。　We　can　even　ignore　the　fact　that　you've　handed

it　over；　the　way　we　ignore　the　dog　collar。　Remember；　my　talented　friend；　there

are　Michelangelos　begging　everywhere　in　the　streets　of　Rome　。。。

〃Jack？　You　there？〃

He　made　a　strangled　noise　that　was　intended　to　be　the　word　yes。

Al's　voice　was　firm　and　very　sure　of　itself。　〃I