Page 86 - Folio Only
P. 86
“Oh, I get it. I've heard of this. You're speaking in tongues! Teach me
some words in tongues!”
“No. I've got to get you to the gates; then I have to get back before I'm
tempted to repent.”
“One word, then. Teach me one word in one tongue. Something I can
show off with to the 'bims.”
“No. Last chance, Benito. Tell me where to find the pearly gates or I'll
summon your mother to come get you.”
“You don't even know her.”
“I can summon her anyway. Where are the peegees?”
“Take me to Hell first.”
“I warned you.” Fuocorogo was still holding Benito in his talons; they
were thousands of feet in the air. No, he didn't drop Benito (though the
thought did cross his mind), he summoned up in the bowels of his throat some
good tenacious chewy spittle.
“What's that? What are you doing?” asked Benito with alarm.
“I'm going to set you on fire. Your howls will alert your mother.”
“No! Don't! Don't burn me! Pleeeease!” And Benito let out an
ear-damaging yowl. Which is of course exactly what Fuocorogo had hoped he
would do. For suddenly there came swooping down out of the sky a powerful
amazon of a warrior angel. This was Lydia.
“Mom!”
“My angel.”
86
