AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-Six

Jim rolled out of bed and walked naked over to the monolithic shower and drenched his head with water as hot as he could take it. Rachel stirred in the bed but fell back asleep.

He dressed in an tattered Old Navy shirt he liked and worn jeans and walked by and out the way around to Silo 2 in bare feet. As he passed the door to Silo 1 he wondered if Maugham ever slept as he heard the clatter of multiple keyboards.

He slumped into his chair in a new despair. How could a man so trained in human nature and so loving be so bad when it came to lasting intimacy? He thought about his charts and studies and how worthless they were next to the older couple who ran the bakery down the street and seemed to never miss a beat. He thought of Renata and Rand, Cara and her husband, Sex and her man, and the way Roo seemed to naturally get on with her new partner. He thought of Maugham and Martine and how he was none of these and never would be.

Maybe his "lover" was supposed to be God alone. He did not know. Rachel had hit him in an unforseen soft spot. He was "the woman" in the story, and she more like a man, a good one, at the table on a night out.

He was not Simon in either sense. Not like Templar, tall and gallant with always the right intentions; nor was he the hardened religious man at the head of the table when the woman braved the crowd to break the alabaster vial. A man who had probably "known" her many times, and for whom the perfume was necessary to cover his dark scent and those of others at that table.

As he lay back he thought about the night and the dream. In this one he was in a huge stadium with incredibly steep walls up many tiers. There were perhaps a million people below and all around the rims and the playing field was so far into vertigo that it could not even be seen. He was simply at the top.

It was at night but everything was lighted up. He had ventured to the side and thought about slinging over to just feel what it was like to be that endangered...to be that high and know that if you let go you would probably die in the fall.

He wanted to feel the wind in his hair and the grip in his fingers...and if they gave? So what, he knew death was inevitable. Why not with such a crowd?

Except it would be foolish. A meaningless death he thought. Like an accident. "Man Slips on Orange Squishy and Tumbles into Eternity" would be the headline. He saw Matisse reading it in tears well into her twenties.

Later in the dream he was in a small toy-like Jeep and there was a traffic jam. He let others in ahead of him. Then he had to go to the bank and hit an ATM. There were 50 people waiting for two ATM machines and he managed to choose the line that actually moved. When he finished making a feverish deposit (as those behind him grumbled loudly) he walked to the window and wondered about falling and about bank deposits and how dehumanized the world had become or had always been.

Then he turned at saw two young men in costumes. They were both obviously black under heavy makeup but made-up like ...well, the closest thing Jim could think of was the puffy pink Hostess-thingies...or like humanoid Dalamatians with a thyroid condition. In either case he wanted nothing to do with them.

But one of them knew Jim.

"You don't remember me do you?" he asked.

"Uh, now...I'm sorry."

"We use to study Kierkegaard together in Seminary," said the one. The other disappeared (probably had to make the deposit).

"Well, seems to be working for both of us," Jim said.

"Don't you remember man?"

Jim studied his face trying to delve through the layers of makeup to what he may have once known many years ago sitting in a dank library.

He was a vague memory...like a scent you haven't smelled for 20 years. Familair yet not so at all. A stranger, yet not one.

Jim woke up at that point when Rachel stirred and he looked at the clock and realized it was 5:15 a.m. That is when he got up.

********

When Jim was ready he came into Maugham's office and found him slumped in his chair snoozing. Martine was in a big arm chair that had obviously been added for such nights.

"They are human after all," he said as he hit return keys on the cpus and stirred them. Jim went through the browser histories as Maugham stirred.

"Bro, shower down here?"

"Not today...but most days sure.," Jim said.

Maugham stood his long body and stretched high and lumbered to the fridge and grabbed a sports bottle. "Wanna?"

"Hornsby."

"You might kill yerself."

"one thing at a time," Jim said.

Martine stirred then pouted.

"You people are nuts," she said, then draped a blanket around herself, looked at Maugham and said "key."

*********

On the way up, draped in the cold dark morning Martine slumped into the wall outside the Gallery. She was tired and wondered if things would ever slow down. She moved around to the elevator and got on. At the top she slogged into the former Ops and fell hard into bed. Her eyes burned and she heard a dull buzz in her ears. She prayed for sleep.

**********

Down in the War Room Jim reviewed Maugham's considerable work. It was impressive.

"Who you gonna start with?" Jim asked.

"Jim Wilkins from Maine," Maugham grinned. "Then Steven Hardstedt from Atlanta, then tomorrow, Brian Cox from Seattle, er, Redmond."

"The dodge?" Jim asked.

"Each of them makes at least six figures and I've managed to post numerous press releases, create home pages, post on bulletin boards and create profiles on four to six services for each."

"What do they look like?" Jim asked.

"Better looking than you...but just by a bit," he said.

"Thanks."

**************

Martine dreamed about the ocean. It was daytime with a light rain and the large looming waves were being sheared off by the wind off the cliffs before they pounded down hard on North Beach. The sun peered through regularly amidst the light mist, rain and made the sand glow a light brown. She smelled the fresh salted air and little girl in a warm beach dress walked up to her with a bowl of strawberries and cream and sat down next to her.

Martine looked down at her and they both crinkled their noses at each other and laughed then shared the bowl with a big spoon, tasting the brightness of the tart fruit with the silky weight of the rich cream.

Brief Break

I have been verified a WINNER of this year's NanoWriMo Contest...which simply means they have verified I wrote more than 50,000 words. As you few who are reading know, I am at around 64,000 but I have more chapters to go don'tcha think?

I hope to be back at it late afternoon but things are really heating up now for Mavericks. I spent the last two days in meetings and now have 147 tasks on my plate to complete by Sunday.

Still, most of it involves the "other" side of my brain (if it has not atrophied), so I shd be able to write a chapter or two after...well maybe for a bit mid-afternoon PST.

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-Five

Rachel surprised him 20 minutes later in Silo 3. He was laying back on his air mattress with a perfectly gorgeous bed next to him that had never been slept in.

She went and lounged back on it and said. "You could have kissed me."

Jim looked to the left as if to see God or an angel might be watching and said anyway, "You're witnessing this right?"

He got up and came over to the bed. Then he went and turned down the lights and shut and locked the door. The only light at first was from the long watered trench and it's small submerged lights. Jim went and lighted candles around the room and hit the new gas fireplace and laid some wood on its heating harness.

It burned bright and red.

Rachel undid her dark red blouse and slipped her skirt down and off. Jim thought about getting a glass of wine for them both then thought better of it. He felt an ache and it reverberated through him. The fireplace warmed the room and he decided.

So he stripped down naked without a word and swept up next to her and brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her so very softly. She moaned with just a simple touch. Then he moved to her neck and jawline and finally her left ear and she started to pant lightly and moan more hard. He stretched his long arm down and ran his smallest finger under the rim of her panties.

"Yes," she whispered.

There was a playful intricate dance that took place from there, like two great musicians who have always loved the same unique piece of music but had never met or touched. It was joyful and at one point he decided it was time.

She was like a Christmas that had not been opened for many years, and in his own way, Jim was the same. He was overwhelmed by her beauty, but wondered about himself. Still he felt her pull. He wanted to explode inside her as close to her center as was humanly possible. He wanted to be invited in and to be the One.

He knew the elusive was just a picture, but this was the only life he had ever known and what came beyond was just that...unknown. This was tangible...being known and knowing. As he mounted her and thrust inside her for the very first time, she arched her back and she ran her hands down his back and he felt love like warm milk chocolate. As they worked against each other in a raw and rough sweeteness, he wondered for the first time in years if God might actually be good and unmixed and holy and he cried with joy as he came inside of her and within all her soft depths.

She laughed a bit and kissed his ear.

"That was pretty quick."

"Years of pent up desire," he said. "Give me the next two or three hours."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-Four

Later Jim came out and most had gone but he spied Volosky who was hanging around. Jim came over and thanked him for his words and help.

"I'd have busted your chops if you messed with me," he said. "Let me call you tomorrow or come by."

Jim shook his hand and then went out on the deck and lighted a cigarette. Roo came out to say goodnight and laughed at him. "You don;t smoke."

"Yes, I do," he coughed roughly. She rolled her eyes and said "nice dinner sport."

Rachel came to the door. Tall, quiet, curious and unique. Jim felt her presence immediately. He looked up, gulped and looked away for a minute. She didn't move. Then he gently patted the seat next to him and she came over and said "can I have one too?"

"You smoke?"

"Nope...you?"

"Nope."

"Did you read the weird story before that one about John the Baptist and Jesus?" she asked.

"Yep."

"It ends with 'wisdom is vindicated by all her children..'"

"Yep."

"How many children do you suppose that is?" Rachel asked.

"I have no idea," he said exhaling smoke and coughing a little.

"Do you think all roads lead to the same truth?"

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"Hmnnn..that surprises me, especially after tonight. I was actually, during the 'hair scene' getting a little hot."

Jim laughed and banged out a cigarette for her and lighted it. Then he poured some Merlot in a cup and gave it to her.

"I'm not drinking any Merlot," she said.

"You like Sideways?" he asked.

"Depends on who I am with."

"Nice Lauren Becall."

"Nice Ralph Lauren."

"Nice, er...I'm out." Jim said. "You wanna know more?"

"Yes."

"You want the job?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. I am more intrigued now. How is it that you see the way you see?"

"I cannot explain it. I have taught others."

"How many?"

"Nine."

"How are they all doing?"

"Better than me."

He slipped of his shoes then toes his socks off and stubbed out his cigarette. She plopped off her shoes and put her bare feet next to his.

"In the story, you are the woman aren't you?"

Jim was shocked like a truck had slammed into him.

She touched his hand as he got up. He choked out, "It's not you Rachel," and headed for the door. Maugham saw him and knew the look. Jim ran down the stairs and through the Gallery and into Silo 3. He closed the door but did not lock it. He sank down and washed his face in the koi pond and his favorite goldfish, 10Cents came up as if to kiss him. They exchanged a look and Jim went to the air mattress and collapsed.

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-Three

As Jim continuued Manfred and Ted got up and went into the back to get the batter-fried banana fritters with chocolate. Roo also arose as did Renata to serve up small demitasse cups of espresso.

"It's a scandalous scene of love," Jim said aloud. "The visiting Rabbi turns his back to the host and tells him a parable from which he cannot extricate himself!"

"Did Sahib say 'exfoliate himself"?" Manfred asked Rachel.

"No," Rachel whispered. "Listen."

"There are two scandals going on at once at this Middle Eastern meal and within their culture," Jim continuued. "The first is the woman who has come in with such love for Jesus. She takes the alabaster vial of perfume, which was quite costly and use specifically to cover the smell of sex with many other men, and she breaks it open and pours it on Jesus's feet weeping. Then she takes down her hair, which in this culture was like exposing your breasts, and begins to wipe his feet with it. The room is aghast and the murmering begins. Now everyone murmer okay?"

The room began to murmer. "Not loud enough!" Jim said. They murmered louder.

"That's better," he smiled. "Now the second scandal is I, Simon, am judging Jesus and his lack of vision for allowing this when he turns his BACK on me and starts telling a story. All the while he is looking at the woman and her alone.

"What is he telling the woman and what is he saying to Simon the religious man?"

"He's saying he's a prick," Maugham said and there was much laughter. Jim waited.

"He is saying the womenz loves much and with whole heartedness!" Manfred said laying down a small plate of fritters.

Jim smiled at Manfred and bowed.

"He is saying the religious man, though forgiven his debt, did not realize the gift," Dan said. Jim put his hands together again and bowed.

"It means love is not about appearances," said Rand. "Very good" said Jim.

"It says that this woman was incredibly brave," said Rachel, and Jim admired her again.

"I think at the end some part, er I mean I..." Andy stammered realizing he was public. "Yes Andy?" Jim said. "Go on."

"Well that faith and love are crucial," he said.

"I hope so," said Jim.

Most of the guests were now dining on the dessert and the thick black espresso. Jim didn't want to draw it out, though he himself was not sated. He motioned for Jonathan and asked he turn up the music just a bit. Perer Gabriel's soundtrack from The Last Temptation of Christ came up with Of these, Hope.

"Thank you all for coming and now I invite you to discuss the meaning of the meal and the text amongst yourselves," Jim said. "Unlike Simon, I have dishes to do."

"Thanks Jim!" came many a voice and some small applause as he exited into the kitchen.

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-Two

Some of them had started to slow down a bit and Ted brought in more wine and bread. Manfred was whispering in Rachel's ear and Jim took noticed but continuued unabated.

"Detective you are, well it is not hard to see why you do what you do," Jim said. "Given the story where do you place Jesus in the room?"

"The third table obviously," he answered. "There is no mistaking that the host, you Jim, meant to both test and possible humiliate him. He would be at this table"

"Yes," Jim said. "I quite agree. That seems clear. I am sorry that you are at the third table right now."

There was some laughter, even from Volosky.

"Now let me ask you Detective," Jim said evenly. "When the woman comes in where is she?"

"Why she is right behind me probably," He said.

"Rick?"

"Yeah Jim," Can you read verse 44 for us again?"

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon...

"Stop please!" Jim said. "Detective tell us who is where and why?"

"Jim it's obvious," the detective smiled. "He is talking with his back to Simon and looking directly at the woman as he does so. She would have to be right behind him here at the table."

"You are sure?" Jim asked.

"How else does she lay her hair on his feet?"

All the while?"

"Well, I am no Bible scholar, but it seems plain."

************

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy-One

"In every great story," Jim began, "there are great moments of drama, and often a striking moment where one person is like a lightening rod of truth or revelation. Many of you have been at our movie nights and just think of some of those moments...the moment where the warden in Shawshank realizes that Andy has escaped. Think of that moment where Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons watch each other fall in The Mission. Think of the two sisters in Babette's Feast when they learn that she has spend the entire lottery prize on the one dinner."

Jim paused and took a drink of wine. "Tell me some of htose moments for you in a book or film...in a story."

Renata spoke up and said, "In the second Matrix film when the two of them, Trinity and Neo make love while the celebration takes place."

"Naw," said Rand grinning, "It's when Morpheus uses the samurai sword on the freeway."

"What else?" Jim asked.

"When John Cusack stands across from whats-her-name's house with the boombox and the Peter Gabriel song in Say Anything," said Martine.

"Better the scene where he's outside the window in the rain in High Fidelity," Maugham countered and she laughed.

Dan talked about a scene from Mishima. Jonathan did a short few lines from The Survivors. Roo said that seeing Chocolat had changed her life. Templar said it was a James Bond movie that changed his. Rachel said it was The English Patient.

"What about you detective?" Jim asked, surprising Volosky.

"Er, The Godfather of course," he said quickly. "That and The Seven-Ups. And you Jim?" he shot back like lightening.

"The Man Who Would Be King," said Jim. "The last scene where Connery and Caine settle their friendship on the level and on the square."

*********

The meal was settling in and so where they. Manfred and Ted and Jim rose for a few minutes and brought around warm water and towels for guests to cleanse their hands, followed by spritzes of rose water.

**********

"Well in this story that Rich has just read, who is the lightening rod?" Jim asked.

"It's Jesus, " Ted said.

"Not sure about that Ted, but certainly Jesus is key." Jim answered.

"Well, the host...the one Jesus tells the parable to," Maugham said. "Like you, it's always about you," he grinned.

"I don't think so," Jim said.

"It's the woman," Rachel spoke up. "It's about her."

Jim grinned. "What makes you say that?"

"I dunno..my gut...she's just so bold."

"And sexy," said Andy, which drew stares.

"Anyone else?"

Detective Volosky stirred. "She's right," he said flatly. She is clearly the focus of the whole story.

"A prositiute detective?" Jim said with a grin.

"Oh yes," he feigned. "What a surprise to find a beautiful woman at the center of a story."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Seventy

Manfred scurried about pouring red wine and Jim came in from the kitchen to the head table and looked about.

"First of all," he said. "I want to thank Manfred and Ted for all their help in preparing this meal. Let's give them a warm hand." Glasses were raised and a toast given in the warm glow. Jim asked Dan Palmer to say a word and then once gain turned to Ted and asked him to say a prayer of blessing over the meal.

When done, Jim said "This is a very traditional Middle Eastern meal consisting mostly of the the spicy lentil soup which is poured over fresh spinach, then eaten with nuts, fruit, and an exquisite pastry from our friends at El Mansour as I am not so good with baking."

The smell of the candles, the red wine, the lentil soup all wafted together in a sort of tangible aura.

"Did you get this receipe from your travels to the Holy land?" Maugham asked slyly.

"No Maug," Jim said. "I got it from the Moosewood Cookbook, which I highly recommend. Smartass."

"Einstein said imagination is more powerful than knowledge," Jim said. "I want you to close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you are at a Middle Eastern home in the First Century. It looks and feels a bit like this and the foods would be very much like what you are about to eat. You are in the home of a rich and powerful religious man named Simon."

Templar raised his glass and there was laughter. "I shall take you all on a cruise through the Red Sea when this is over," he said and smiled at Jim.

"Well for tonight, Simon, I shall be Simon the host. A religious man who has invited you all to dinner for various reasons. The tables would be arrayed just like this with the head table here by the kitchen. Pointing down at his own table he said "This is the place of honor. The second table that runs of it and down the way is a place of lesser honor. Then you folk on the far end of the horseshoe are...well, are either strangers or perhaps invited for other purposes. But you have the lowest place."

Han's face turned grim. That and he had not been able to find utencils of any kind.

"Notice I let you seat yourselves," Jim said.

Please enjoy your food while Rich reads from Luke's Gospel.

Manfred, Tim and Jim all started to ladel the hot spicy soup into the bowls and encouraged others to pass the baskets of bread around as Rich read the following:

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

Maugham took a healthy swig of wine and looked at Martine in the candle light and whispered, "this isn't like no Bible lesson you have ever heard." He popped a grape in her mouth playfully. Rachel, and Manfred right next to her, were both dipping the bread into the hot soup and enjoying it. Delphia, who had taken off her Keds, was flirting a bit with Jonathan. Andy looked pleased with himself. Hans was still distressed and asking for utensils.

Rick continued all the while:

And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."

A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?

Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.

You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.

Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins? And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Nine

Non editor's note:

From here it is all about speed. Names will be incorrect and certain continuity issues ignored to simply finish. When completed, the editing will begin in earnest and all manner of issues resolved. Try to remember you are reading a 200-plus page rough draft and just enjoy!
______________________

It was that Saturday and Jim had posted and invitation for the first 24 people who signed up to come to a Middle Eastern style dinner and discussion of an unusual New Testament story. Jim new it was risky. He viewed American Christendom as so soiled with greed, political agendas and bad theology that he was not normally as open to discussing his own faith as he was to hearing from others. He simply wanted to live quietly and creatively in practical love and community.

He specifically asked Ted and Manfred to help him prepare and serve the meal. Two large dark pots bubbled away as Manfred and Ted setup the three long tables as Jim had specified. Each of them had to be positioned just right on cinder blocks so they were very low to the floor and had to be adorned with long table clothes.

Ted, working alongside Jim often in the kitchen, was s till suspicious but also curious. Jim had pitched Ted on the fact that it was a "Bible Study" of sorts and he was also still considering Jim's offer. He had already put out wooden bowls filled with unsalted nuts on the tables and was now at the sink doing the long duty of washing the fresh organic spinach of dirt and grit.

Ted had asked what the heck kinda "Study" Jim would do, given his "Commie-Marxist-Homosexual-Anarchist lifestyle", and Jim had laughed and said "Flaming? No, but willing to learn." Then he said "Read Luke 7, from like halfway along to the end. We are going to re-create that type of dinner and let the story tell itself. Will you do it?"

"Yer an odd man Jim," Ted said.

"Yes, but there is meaning to my oddness, I promise. Oh, and I am not a Marxist...in fact...nevermind."

He suddenly felt he was pushing the younger man and asked instead, "Do you remember Babette's Feast?"

"Yes," Ted said, "and I remember you had to leave for some odd reason."

"True," Jim said. "I admit I got overwhelmed at the end. But it's about 'grace' Ted and a very uncommon meal. And that is what I am asking for your help with...a very uncommon meal."

**********

There were plates for twenty-four, eight at a table set and lots of long and short pillows to lean on placed around the floor area near the tables. As guests started arriving Jonathan clicked on the music in the background, Dead Can Dance's A Passage in Time and Saltarello started to play. Arrayed on the tables were the bowls of nuts, larger ones filled with fresh spinach, goblets for wine, baskets of bread peices, small decanters of strong tea and pitchers of water and glasses. Jim had also ordered six chicken pastries called Bastela du Chef from El Mansour in San Francisco for the occasion which Manfred had picked up the night before and carefully wrapped.

Sex and her husband Dan, a dashing man with a dark hair arrived with Templar and his date, am Italian flight attendant named Dante and sat at the second table. Rand and Renata soon joined them.

Maugham and Martine checked in with the kitchen and Jim yelled "Out!" and they complied and went to the table near the door. Roo and her new partner Telia came in and sat next to them. Two newcomers named Dawn and Tom came in and looked up at the ceiling at the parachutes attached when made the Big Room seem like a tent in the desert. Dan Palmer and his wife Kiera walked in followed by Delphia, Cara, Alice, Fred and an Episcopalian minister named Rich.

When everything was almost ready, Jim scampered down the stairs to the IC and walked in.

"Are you ready?"

"I think so," Andy said.

"Hey, everybody loves you," he said to him.

"Not Maugham," Andy said.

"Not so. He has a picture of you by his bedside," Jim said. "Drives Marty nuts! Everytime they are making love she looks over and there you are watching."

Andy's head bobbed and down and his body chuckled. "Okay."

The rode up in the elevator together and Jim put him right next to where he would be standing.

At the end five others arrived. Detective Volosky, River, Dirk and Rachel Williams.

As more of them arrived Manfred was quite excited and burst into the kitchen clapping his hands. Then he hugged a sweaty Jim from behind who laughed as he stirred the big pot. Then he stopped, turned to Manfred and said "You are such a gift to me Manfred. I don't care what anyone says about you."

"What do the speaks of me Sahib?"

"That you always try and steal my women, that's for sure."

"Oh yes!" Manfred exclaimed. "It's what makes funfullness in the wonderfulness of life Sahib! And Ms. Rachel is heere outside just now and I shall hasten to her side to drive her away from yoos with all possible dispatch!"

"Great Manfred," Jim said dryly.

When Jim came into the room with a big pot he was very pleased. The room was dark except for the lighted warm glow of candles. The music had mellowed to Severence. Maugham leaned back into Martine and asked "would you like to feed me grapes?" She rolled over and gave him a look then said "Fortunately we don;t have any." Just then Ted brought over baskets of fruit for each table. Martine smirked, grabbed two red grapes and bounced them off Maugham's forehead.

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Eight

Alice did some sketches and suggested a long trough be built with one small slotted groove and the other flatter to be filled with beach pebbles and glass. The long slope down would empty into a medium sized pool with a filteration system at the medway part of the long path on the North side.

It was not a path often used, but there were tables, and with the addtional features Jim felt Alice was right in seeing it as a new attraction. From the pool at midway, it would spill over three small spillways into a continuation of the same slotted groove and the other two which spilled over another 100 yards of pebbles and glass to the bottom pool. From there the water would be pumped back up thorugh pipes to the top and recycled.

The triangular area inbetween was half covered by an ancient oak and Alice thought that there was enough sun to place some smaller Japanese elms, ground cover, some iron art and her signature lighted crystal art in the center.

"What's the long slotted thing for?" Jim asked.

Alice played with him. "You mean this?" pointing to the diagram. "Where it ramps around the middle pool and slopes down the long drive home?"

Jim sensed he was being fucked with. "Yes."

"That's for your balls Jim," she laughed.

Remembering the Mousetrap crochet golf Jim just doubled over.

When he stopped laughing he said "okay, okay...yes..leave it in. How much?"

"I'll come in at $22k. But I need fifteen k of it up front."

"Okay, come upstairs and I will write you a check you can cash today."

***********

Detective Voloslovky was not pleased as he reviewed the letters. He didn't necessarily doubt that Rnonymous might be the Broyon woman, but her last note seemed to point to the two men as potential culprits. But what was their motive?

He decided to call on a few of the folks Jim had given him numbers for. The first was Delphia Gabriel. He knew from brief interviews that she and Jacob had been an item.

That afternoon Hans had scheduled two appointments. One was with Rachel Williams, the other with Dirk Cateson. Both were excellent candidates and Jim thought that perhaps one would work out running Azotus here and the other might be potential material for Santa Cruz, or San Francisco. He thought of Roo as Bostonian. She had the stuff.

Maugham was done in Silo One obcessing over details. Jim came in and asked how it was going.

"I have setup identities, photos, answers and various background details that are not at all related," Maugham said.

"So are you having any fun yet?"

"Nope," but I will when it's over.

"How's your writing coming along?"

"Oh I took a month off," Maugham said. "They are re-running old pieces from The Coffeehouse Diaries."

"Well I've got an interview or two the next hour or so. Let's catch up when that's done."

Jim left up the stairs and signalled to Hans to give him five minutes.

Jim's phone rang and it was Delphia. "I'm a little disappointed in you," she said.

Jim kicked his desk. "I'm sorry Del," he said. "I spaced."

"Yeah, well I'm gonna tell the policeman all about it," she chided.

"Called ya huh?"

"Yeah. He'll be here in an hour."

"All I told him was you knew each other and that were a regular here. Figured you can tell him what ya like. Personally, I'd tell him everything."

"I'll tell him you stand up beautiful sexy women," she said.

"Yes, on occasion," said Jim. "But always to my own detriment."

*******

Dirk Cateson was ushered into Jim's office at 1:00 p.m. sharp by Hans, who had suddenly taken to wearing a dressed shirt and tie.

He shook Dirk's hand and welcomed him to sit down then called after Hans. "Nice tie Hans."

"Sank you Jim," Hans said.

Dirk was new to the area from Fresno and had good manmagement experience. He had a degree in history and Jim asked him what his speciality was. The interview veered off from there, but Jim was more interested in the man and how versatile he could be.

Dirk had studied Russian literature and they had a nice chat about Pasternak. Jim asked if Dirk had read Thomas Merton's long essay on Doctor Zhivago, and Dirk admitted he didn't even know it existed but that he had, of course, heard of Merton.

Jim walked over to the bookshelves and selected the book of essays called Disputed Questions and gave it to Dirk. "I'd like to loan this to you. It's germaine to our discussion and you will enjoy it."

Dirk was surprised. "Thanks. Does this mean I get the job?"

"Well, not yet, but it does signal I am interested. But it's not a test Dirk, just a friendly gesture among two who enjoy Russian literature," Jim said. "Maybe someday you can help me get through Doestchevsky. I was spoiled by Tolstoy."

Dirk smiled and Jim asked, "How would you feel about relocating?"

"It would depend on where. Remember I just moved here from Fresno."

"Good point. What about someplace like Santa Cruz or San Francisco?"

Then Jim revealed what he was thinking as Dirk's interest grew even more intense.

*********

At 2 p.m. Hans ushered Ms. Williams into the room. Jim was a bit taken back. The last time he had met her she had her hair tied back straight and had wore a frumpy shirt. Today she was dressed in black jeans and a shoulderless black top and her long dark hair came down over her shoulders.

She was stunning and after Hans had departed she did not take a chair, she simply walked over to the bookcases and started to look.

"You're an interesting man Jim," she said to the bookcases. Jim sat in his chair and watched her. She was tall, like him, and he caught himself in a less than professional thought and shook it off.

She picked up a Loeb classic...Caesar's Gallic Wars and turned to Jim and said "Do you know how many extant manuscripts of Caesar's Gallic Wars were used to make this translation?"

Jim almost swooned but held it together.

"Er, seven?"

"Exactly" she said. Then she put it back and walked over and sat across from Jim.

"I'm all yours," she said.

*********

Maugham had hardly slept in two days. Martine had come down and brought him some food and He had only left to stop in at the IC and give Andy a list of words to do searches on. He had not called him "troll" and he patted him on the back, told him the yard looked nice and had actually thanked him.

Andy reconsidered puting him back on his considerable Christmas card list.

Jeremy say up at the stone table and wrote about girldfriend version 18.3. She had been snooty and alook and he had simply melted her by walking up, sitting down and saying to her "You are not funny enough to be with me."

In late afternoon Jim came in and got an update from Maugham. Then he asked him to make some calls and make sure Ms. Williams' references all checked out.

"Saw her walking in," Maugham grinned. "Yer type."

"Hasn't my 'type' gotten us into quite enough trouble?"

"Just saying..." he raised an eyebrow.

"Least of my concerns," Jim feigned. "But I do think she would be perfect to run Azotus, in time."

"What about the other guy?"

"Like him too. Here's his resume. Same deal."

"World domination Jim?"

"Only with you at my side Maug," he said and left.

That evening he had a quiet dinner in Silo 3 with Sabine and Matisse. Manfred was serving and had, in the back room, eated more than his fair share.

After dinner, while Matisse drew fishes he and Sabine talked.

"I am making a lot of changes," he said.

"You always say that Jim," she said.

"Yes well there is a great deal of evidence," he said.

"You know, you always exaggerate" she said.

"Yes, and you never do," he replied.

"What's the joke?" Matisse asked bounding over. They had been laughing at the exchange for well over a minute and each time they looked at each other it got funnier.

"God, we are nerds," he said to Sabine. Then he turned to Matisse and hugged her and said "We'll be back in a few minutes Pumpkin. We'll just be next door. I have something to show your mom."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Seven

Later that day Alice and Fred came by. When Jim brought them into Silo 1 Maugham barked "Not now!" as he pasted more information on the wall. Silo 1 had become a War Room.

Nothing needed to happen to Silo 2, so Jim took them to Silo 3 and explained the modifications that he wanted to the room. Fred took notes while Alice walked around looking at someone else's waterworks.

"Not bad Jim," she said. "And you said you didn;t have any money."

"I didn't when I finished," Jim said. "But I'm better now. I have only 42,000 allocated for both projects...Fred's and yours."

Fred came over and said "Well upstairs is a no brainer as stuff just needs to be stripped out. I mean, behind the one curtain you have a small kitchen set with plumbing already. I can have Jonathan do most of the work and you just pay him." Fred smiled. "As for in here, yeah...the main cost is the support beam across the two load bearing walls. Alice here can give me a deal on a stone slab to be a bridge for your little girl."

With that Alice looked up at him like "give him a deal?"

"So I come in at around $13,000 for labor and materials and it will take just a few days.

"That leaves $29,000 for me," Alice grinned.

"Almost," Jim said. Then he took them into Silo 1 past Maugham and down the tunnel to near the elevator.

"Fred, how much to wall off the dirt over there and seal the floor?"

"Well you have good support beams and it's only a few feet high. Do you want to level out the area once the dirt is contained?"

"Yes, and then I want you to cut a small door, of maybe 5 feet tall into this wall," Jim said.

"Note sure that will up to code."

"It's for storage only" Jim winked.

"Gotcha."

Alice looked at Jim with a keen eye.

"So what are we looking at now?"

Fred thought about it and said "$20,000 if Maugham has no needs."

Alice was less pleased. "Okay, so that gives me $22,000. Can we go look at the grounds now?"

"Sure...ah Fred?"

"Sure," said Fred.

***********

The next morning Ward was steaming mochas and lattes while Jim readied himself to do interviews. He would do first interviews up in the cafe and make them quick. Those who passed would get a more formal interview scheduled through Hans.

Hans was quite pleased when a new desk was delivered and phone system installed in the Gallery. He looked around at the paintings he loved so much and at the dark red/brown painted and "distressed" floor and how ordered his new desk was and he smiled. "Perfuckt."

That morning a retired history professor was giving a small lecture in the Library on Modernism and Jim had suggested, indirectly, that Ted might want to attend. He did. He also was still considering Jim's unusual offer. It didn't make sense to him, but he was intrigued.

Sex sat over at a table by the window with Templar who was telling her a story about his last trip to Jamaica. Rand got up after awhile and went over to sit with Maurice and see how he was doing.

Andy's plants continued to thrive and grow around the grounds at a remarkable rate.

Mrs. Furnst, one of the volunteer gardeners, was out around the long lean flower bed picking out snails. "Little fuckers" she said as she tossed them not sweetly down the hillside.

*********

Jim sat at a table by the wall and went over his questions. The first interviewee was a thin blond-haired man named Tim who was a bit hyper for Jim who felt there were enough "characters" around. He wanted settledness and an ability to be with people that exceeded his own.

The second person he interviewed was a tall dark-haired woman named Rachel. She was unusual right from the start. She had a calm way with people, but was also not hard or cynical. She had vast expereince as a major Sales Representaive for a pharmacuetical company.

"Why get out of your line of work?" he asked point blank.

"I do not like where I see them going," she said calmly. Then she laughed. "It's not all that serious...but that's the truth."

"Why would you consider this job at 80% of what you are paid now and many more hours?"

"I'm intrigued by your pholosophy," she said. "And I am just considering. I won't leave the other unless this is really right for me."

"It's all about you," Jim said off hand.

"Why of course sweetie," she said, the disarming way people do who work all day long with people.

Jim liked that. He noted it. Second interview.

*********

Ked Woman had, of course, heard about Jacob and it had deeply disturbed her. She put a call into Jim that Sunday night and they had talked on the phone. Jim listened and made sure to tell her how much Jacob had meant to them both and how much he cherished her.

"Can I come and just sleep next to you sometime this week?"

"Yes, of course. I would love that and it would do me good as well," he said. "I am making changes Delphia, and that opens things up. Why don't you come late tonight and I'll make you a quiet breakfast in the morning?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Okay...but downstairs. Um....just meet me at 10:30 upstairs."

"What if I don't"

"Then you don't. I'll wait till 10:45 then you won't find me."

"Won't find you?"

"I'm getting slipperier all the time," Jim joked.

"Oh baby, I'll find you," They both laughed and rang off.

***********

Out on the grounds Alice's mind was raking the landscape with imagination.

"NO, no no..." she kept saying. It was near noon and Jim looked at Fred who nodded back. Jim left and came back with two beers. Alice didn't drink. Jim looked at Fred and he looked back like "Well, we do."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Six

Maugham slumped into bed at 4:30 a.m. and Martine nuzzled him.

Jim fell asleep on the air mattress at 2 a.m. and had no dreams at all.

*********

Two hours later, Maugham, bleary-eyed got into a cold shower and dosed himself but good. He howled under the merciless cold and Martine stirred, then he got out and toweled off and crouched down beside her sweet face, stroked her cheek and said "Time to get up honey. We got a full day."

"No," she protested, "come back to bed and make love to me."

How about a date tonight?' he said. I'll take you out for Thai food, and I'll even dress up."

"What about work?"

"I'll get folks to cover us for tonight."

Then he kissed her gently on the forehead, rose and slapped her feet on the way out. "Get up!"

"Ass!"

********

Down in Silo 1 Maugham was making progress. He had a string of chat room messages, two Blog posts and he had turned to the dating sites and was feberishing playing all three towers like like an expereinced grandmother on a bank of slot machines.

Hundreds, then thousands of pictures....blaster, bambaster, alacandacter, alabaster7, candibaster, dicemaster, alabamamaster,baster37, etc....then searched for age ranges, hair type, body type, regions, etc...

Deadly woman in a sea of haystacks.

Then he hit it.

RCane

There was her picture on the screen on a rather explicit adult site. Her long blond hair flowed over her shoulders. They next picture was of her in a shower showing all her curves. The last was just a shot of her eyes, mouth and large full breasts and long stomach.

"Gotcha!" Maugham said. Then his shoulders slumped.

Location? Northern California
Occupation? Personal

Then the rest of the questions said "Ask me later."

But he noted her last sign on had been 3 days ago. he bet she got a lot of responses, particularly because her profile said she liked older men, and had the sex drive of two men combined.

Maugham conferred with Jim and they set out a plan. Maugham would route all of his work through old friends of Jim's. One was a software executive in Atlanta; the second a genius machinist in Colorado; the third his friend Spence in Maine, and lastly Gabriel in Seattle. They would only use each one when needed and start one at a time

In all cases the profiles Maugham setup would be masked as they were run through other servers. Maugham asked about a possible location in Sacramento and after a call to Jim's friends JJ and Charles, that too was setup with actual hands on immediate capability as if they were there.

Now they hunkered down and started to work on scripting a plan. The core of Jim's approach was to make use of Candice's utter lack of conscience. That was her strength but also her blind spot. "You could drive a car through that blindspot" Jim had said and Maugham thought back to that night with her trying to draw him in and he muttered, "yeah.... a car. Sounds about right."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Five

While Maugham and Manfred huffed and puffed and setup equipment in Silo 1 and Silo 2, Jim went out in the Gallery and asked Hans to follow him into Silo 2.

Hans looked bewildered when he walked in and saw the room.

"Diss is for storage?"

"No, Hans. It's my new office. We are expanding and going into new ventures."

"It's is vonderful!" he marvelled. "I luff vat you have done with da lamps," he cooed.

"Come sit down Hans," Jim said motioning to a chair on the other side of the deck.

"You are going to fire me," Hans said sadly. "I knew it."

"No Hans," Jim said. "I am promoting you to be my personal secretary. It's not enough work for full-time so you can run the Gallery as well. I'd like you to do both. Will you agree?"

"It vill be more money, no?"

"Yes Hans. And no more bussing tables. You will be here during normal business hours with two hours lunch every day because I may need you some evenings for a bit. Does that work for you?"

"I get to organize?" Hans said with one eyebrow arching.

"Yes, I would like that very much Hans."

"Zen I agree Jim."

"There will be a lot more foot traffic through here, so you will need to be flexible."

"I understand perfucktly Jim." Hans said.

Just then Manfred came in with the Tower and while putting it down it landed on his foot.

Manfred shrieked and hopped around.

"Dance of Shiva," Jim said quietly.

"No Ghandi-Gee now," Hans said even quieter and they both shared a smirk.

********

Maugham setup in Silo One. A long black table,tyhe three towers underneath, three flat panel monitors and keyboards on the desk with mice. He also brought down his big leather chair.

Jim came in a quickly gave him a more full tour. The main lighting was from the white panels against the North wall, but it was enough and made it cave like. The three monitors displayed The matrix screensavers and cooled, well, cool. The black table actually came out from the wall, as did a number of other things.

Jim looked sheepishly at maugham. "Not a word of this stuff to anyone, right?"

"Hey dude..Martine, I.."

"Okay, but only her."

Maugham had been right the first time he saw the room. It was a little James Bond-like. Though small the walls hid recessed panels. An industrial sized refrigerator, that was lightly stocked. A small room with a fax machine, two cellphones, Bluetooth headsets, a Blackberry, two digital cameras, a bagged SLR with various lenses and a cache of film. There was a Centrino laptop that had never been used but was always charged. Then on the right was a dizzying array of connectors, cables and cords for any occasion. There was a bank of rechargible batteries of all sizes and cradles. It was "Nerd Paradise" thought. Maugham.

Jim invited Maugham to the far Eastern wall and he pushed another black panel and the door hissed open. It was musty with only old small lights down a dank hallway. When they walked about 30 or yards they turned right and came upon the elevator.

"You must be joking'" Maugham said.

"Then Jim gave him two keys. "This is to your office. This is to this elevator. Not that we need it now, but you can take a look in the veiwscreen here and see if anyone is in it. Only the key will bring it down here. There is a keyhole in the elevator that automatically takes you down here. It's the only way."

"What happened to you dude?"

"That's a question for another day my friend," Jim said. "Let's just say I am making a major comeback."

No one was in the elevator, so Maugham used the key and a minute or so later the doors opened and they climbed in.

They rode up and it stopped at floor one and Jonathan looked surprised when the doors opened and it was occupied.

"We forgot our keys," Maugham said, and they rode up.

******

It was late Sunday and Jim was down in Silo 2 studying alabaster on his own. Only it was not the same alabaster Maugham was searching for in Silo 1.

Jim had decided to let Maugham handle the investigation. He could be more objective, and he was shrewd..a lot more than Jim. They were both like generals in a way, but Jim was the caring tactical general like Omar Bradley. Maugham could be fearless, clear and ruthless like George Patton.

Together Jim liked their chances and he felt strangely happy with all the changes.

Jim found an old book on ancient Middle Eastern perfumes that was dust covered and sat down to pour over the material and type into his iBook.

**********

Next door Maugham had done several hundred independent searches, across several search engines. He had signed on to several search services and laid in what he could. He started to get results after a few hours.

It was not easy. There were towns named alabaster, companies, old lamps, sculptures, even old Bible stories.

But Maugham did find a promising strain finally.

It was from 2001 and a man in Sacramento had complained bitterly on a few chatboards about a woman named "Alabaster99".

Maugham decided to take the strain and focus on that as a lead and also did searches with other years added on. He started playing with other variations, but printed up any leads and taped them to the wall with notes.

Around midnight, he saw Martine at the door in sweats. "So how are Batman and Robin doing?"

Maugham smiled. "Sorry baby. Last thing I knew it was 3 p.m.". She came in and sat on the floor.

"Nice Oro-fice" she said. "You searching for babes on the Internet?"

"In a manner of speaking," he said. "Look I got some good news to share with you, but can you do me a favor and get Jim from next door?"

"Now I am Alfred the Butler?"

Maugam gave her a look and she said "okay, okay," and bounded up the stairs to fetch Jim.

Creeping into Silo 2 Martine had the same reaction Matisse had had. Jim looked up and said "How are you sister?"

"You really are weird Jim," she said.

"Yeah, I get that a lot. Hey come here and have a look at this." He showed her a collection of photographs of old alabaster vials used to hold perfume and spices.

"They are beautiful," she said.

"Here look at this one," he said grabbing the book and thumbing to page 346. A beautiful vial shaped like a woman with dark handles that swirled around it's white sides. "Isn't that great?" he smiled.

"Lovely," she said. Then she sighed. "You know sometimes this place moves a little too fast for me."

"I know, Tis true. What's up?"

"Maug needs you next door," she said "and if you keep spending so much time with him I am going to get jealous."

"No you won't. That's all being handled."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Four

The next morning both rooms were hopping with business. Many of the regulars were there. Alice and Fred were in the corner talking, and when Jim had a spare minute he went over and talked with them and asked Fred about some help he might need doing some interior work. Fred agreed to stop by on Monday afternoon.

"What about me?!" Alice blustered.

"Okay, okay," Jim said. "I know I owe you. Why don;t you come with Fred on Monday and we will pick a section near the front of the complex, or perhaps a side area where people can enjoy a pool or fountain," he said.

Alice grinned. "Bout time!" she chuckled and went back to her pumpkin bread satisfied.

Manfred came by and Jim called to him.

"Yes, Sahib?!"

"Manfred here's a list of ingredients a need by Wednesday. No hurry, just when you are in town please pick that up with the rest of the private food and your gallons of ice cream."

"Mocha Almond Fudge Sahib!".

By this point Jim had gotten a credit card for Manfred and he had explained to him its limits. To his knowledge this one was area that Manfred was scrupulous in.

The Cafe was doing very well financially, and raises had been given quietly and without fanfare to all on staff. Jim had also begun to work on getting healthcare for all full timers and hoped to be able to afford a co-pay situation for part-timers.

He also was interviewing, as he could, someone to replace his shift as he had other projects in mind, the most significant being opening three more Azotus Cafe's in various urban locations. It would be very hard work, but he knew now it could work.

He had already asked Ward if he could cover some of his own shifts and he could do a few, but not all. Jim used those Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to interview potential managers.

Of course Roo was the obvious choice, but he wanted her for another city and to be the head honcho, really his Vice President. He had thought about Maugham, but was unwilling to part with him, especially given the sidebar activities. Renata would need to stay here and would be on leave. Still she was a viable candidate. In his mind, Martine would replace Roo when she left (and he was thinking of Santa Cruz, Portland, and San Francisco for the first three).

He was making a double mocha half chocolate for a new customer when Maugham came in distressed.

He came around the bar and whispered in Jim's ear. Jim stiffened.

"Martine? Can you finishing helping this gentleman?" He asked steady, then he and Maugham left quickly out the door.

Down the stairs Maugham said more. "They found his body washed up at China Camp Beach. They think you and I may have had something to do with it."

"Relax cowboy," Jim said. "We have nothing to hide and you know who is behind this. Poor Jacob."

There was a plain clothes detective and a street cop. Jim introduced himself and they went and sat at the stone table near the IC and talked.

Jim and Maugham listened intently, then led the officers upstairs to the Ops and showed them the series of emails. They had printed them out and had them in a binder. The officer asked if he could take them and Jim readily agreed, gave him a card with his personal cell number on it and agreed to help in any way he could.

He had walked them through his own process and how he had concluded it was Candice Broyon. No, he did not know where he lived now, but all things seemed to point to her. The fact that his car had been destroyed by a bomb lent credence to his story.

"Obviously Detective Vorosko I do not want to frighten my patrons with this, but if it will help you I can get you in touch with a few of the regulars. They will tell you what a wonderful man Jacob was how he was loved by everyone here."

"Loved huh?" the Detective asked.

Jim smiled, "I only mean he was appreciated by many. He led discussions and was really a part of this community."

When the officers left Maugam and Jim went down into Silo 2 and had a heart to heart.

"She is fucking nuts!" Maugham yelled. "She killed him...why?"

"I think she is sociopath," Jim said clearly. "One of the reasons I ended it so quickly and decisively was because on a number of occasions I sensed she had no moral center at all. She just drew a blank. All that mattered was what she wanted. Even when we made love it was really just fucking. I could have been anyone, except we had our business dealings. Even in that I suspected she would have slit my throat if I had I not been careful to protect my assets and majority share. That's when she would use her body and made wild promises about loving me forever, when in fact she loves no one, not even herself."

"Nice sermon Jim," Maugham said slyly.

"Okay, okay," Jim thought. "Maybe we are going about this wrong. Do a wide web search for the name 'alabaster". Look in chat rooms...look for people who have been burned by someone using that handle. It's an old nickname. Look on any Internet dating sites for anyone with t hat handle or part of it. We have been searching around the outer branches and leaves, we need to find the roots."

Maugham perked up and said that sounded good.

"Oh, and Fred and Alice are coming down here on Monday," Jim said.

"Fred and Alice?" Maugham said. "You wait a couple years to tell me, Manfred knows all along and now Fred and Alice?"

"We are making changes my friend," Jim said gently. "I'm not going anywhere, at least not permanently. This place will stay my personal study and my new Ops. I am integrating. The rest of Ops will be moved into Silo 1 which will be your personal office and space. Use it how you wish and work with Fred on modifications if you need any. The old Ops will be converted into living space for you and Martine."

Maugham was impressed. His only concern had been what he saw as a fatalism in Jim that now seemed gone. Maugham didn't want Azotus if it meant Jim not being there. But with Jim opening up his world and Maugham having fresh digs he was pretty happy.

"Okay Jim," Maugham smiled. "I like it. How soon can I setup in Silo 1?"

"How about right now," Jim said. "Take the first three of the four towers and the flat screens and move them down right now. I'll show you the rest of the devices available to you and I'll get you a key. Really Maug...it's your space now. Just have Manfred bring the last tower and flat screen down here for me."

"Done Jim," Maugham said then started to leave.

"Oh and Maug," Jim said, and Maugham turned back. "When the time comes for you to marry her, let me do the ceremony."

Maugham smiled broadly. "It's that obvious huh?"

"Is to me brother."

AZOTUSLAND Chapter Sixty-Three

It was a bright and good day at Azotus. Long after the movie was over and the tables had been folded up Jim felt happy and he went and fetched Matisse at 6:30 and took her down to Silo 3.

"What is this place Papi?" she asked her eyes large as plums.

"Well Pumpkin, this is Daddy's new home and I wanted you to see it. Are you hungry?"

"Yes!!" she said then went over to the wall and looked at the fish.

"Are there crabs?" she asked?"

"Yes, and a small lobster down in the tank at the end."

She skipped over the dark tiles and he saw her looking up at the tanks and how happy she was. It steeled something in him.

"Come over here now and we'll have some Chinese," Jim said. There was a small table on the South side of the room and Jim grabbed her hand and lifted her over the trough in the floor.

"Can I feed the fishies!?"

"Yes, of course."

"I wish my room was like this." she said happy.

"Well, I have been thinking about that and what would you think if we took that part of the room over there and made it into a bedroom for you when you visit."

"Would I have fish tanks in my room?"

"Yes, the one with the Blue Hippo Tang and the crab and the lobster. We would make it very beautiful," he said sincerely.

"Oh yes!"

"And did you bring me some art?" he asked spooning up some sweet and sour chicken onto her plate, then his.

"Yes Papi! Of course!"

She had done almost a book's worth of drawing and colorations of Spongebob and other characters. They were quite good.

"Now I know what we need!"

"What?"

"Weeeeeeel, it's obvious we need a sponge, a starfish, and a squid to go along with the crab!"

Matisse's face crinkled up and she grinned large.

"Then I want you to paint all the creatures in these tanks when you feel ready and want to, okay?"

"Okay."

************

Around 11 p.m. that night Jim was asleep down on the air mattress. Matisse had left very excited with Sabine around 8:30. Jim lay there thinking about what Candice's next move might be and her ominous note. Still he felt happy that the joy of Azotus had returned. Then he drifted off.

Upstairs Maugham was in the Upper Cafe coming up behind Martine in suggestive ways and helping her close up. His appetite grew for her as they got closer. This surprised him a little.

He went in the back and she was washing dishes in the sink and perspiring. He came up from behind and kissed her neck and bit her ear lightly. Then he moved into her and rubbed and folded his arms around her mid section as she washed. Then he turned her and kissed her warm and wet.

"Don't dawdle," he said smiling and he left and went into Ops, stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed.

Martine came in 13 minutes later and he felt a bit delerious. She stripped down and showered off then climbed naked into bed next to him. . She really was so beautiful in a way easily missed by many men. Maugham shifted her under him and he started to touch her in sweet places but not sexual ones. He put some scented massage oil on his hand, and caressed her back from underneath, and the outside of her legs and all down to her feet. He drew up and slowly, subtly suggested he might do more. But he didn't at first. Her breathing increased as he did.

He kissed her lightly and invited her to lightly tongue him. Then he took her hand and led it down onto him and just whispered "slow baby."

When he finally minutes later touched her breasts she moaned and he then dipped down inside her and she was so ready. Such a small but explosive center of pleasure. He slowly touched, then stopped and kissed her and did so for the next 30 minutes, letting her build like a storm...wave after wave until she cried out and shuddered long and hard down her body and they both fell asleep.

But before he did he thought about the question and decided he finally knew the answer.

AZOTUSLAND chapter Sixty-Two

The food was amazing. Three-cheese lasagna, fresh salads with marinated tomatos and goat cheese, baked bries, teriyaki chicken, polenta with sauce, curried shrimp and rice. Down the table everyone dug in and Jim brought out a few bottles of Black Mountain Cabernet and a couple sleek bottles of dry French white. The kids had a few juices to choose from and as Jim looked up he saw just a few white clouds waft overhead.

It still amazed him...this area. He had not turned on a heater since February and it was now June. Occasionally in th emonths ahead he might have use a fan in the upper cafe, but that was it until November. Most months of the year the door to deck upstairs were always open, day or night. The windows to the IC were always open and many other places in the complex.

Dan got up and said a few words about being thankful and for the beauty of the valley in his sparse, beautiful Zen way. Then Jim asked Ted if he would like to say a "blessing". He was a little taken back, but rose and said a simple prayer of thanks for community and food. As he said down he gave Jim a look like "you just don't let up do you?" Jim smiled.

Ian came over and sat next to his dad. They had not had much time lately to talk. It was a quiet unspoken love and mutual admiration. Matisse bounced over and slung her arms around Ian's neck and kissed him on the cheek, then she danced off.

Jim looked around the grounds and could see Andy's handiwork. He raised his glass and said "Has anyone noticed all the new life around Azotus!? Here's to Andy!!"

Everyone raised their glasses, even Ted, to Andy who sheepishly looked out from around the pillar into the glaring sunlight.

"Er, thanks...okay." Then he retreated.

Jim nodded at Jonathan once he was done and as Manfred started sweeping up the dishes onto carts, Jonathan went over to the small microphone stand they had set up in the corner near the stone ledges.

Jim got up and said, "look I know this is strange because we still have an hour of this very serious film to go, but Jonathan has been crafting his comedy routine and this is just a day to enjoy each other and what we have in community." Then he turned it over to Jonathan, who put a simple plastic chair down and flipped back and forth between being interviewer and interviewee.

"An interview with Robin Williams," he said serious and in a deep voice.

Mr. Williams, it is an honor to meet you, and I believe you just met somebody else.

YEA-HUS! I met Jeeee-sus! True, it was just the Baby Jesus, but Jeeee-sssuuuuss all the saaaamahhh!

Hmmm ... just the Baby Jesus, well, tell us how that happened.

Well, I was on Holiday in Jerusalem. I was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and putting honey on my toast and some zealots mistook me for John the Baptist. I woke up three days later in a large cave and some strange woman was dancing in front of the mullah and pointing at my head.

I see, well weren't you terrified?

Of course. I was as scared as a hot meat sandwich in a piranha pool. But that night I had a vision from God ... it's true ... and I saw the Baby Jesus in the manger. Place was a mess. You don't normally have sense of smell in dreams, but this was a vision ... a sort of smell-a-vision.

Smell-a-vision?

Yes, I know it's strange, but so is Isaiah's healing Hezekiah with a fig cake ... you can never tell with the Almighty.

Anyway, my goodness can those animals drop a FULL LOAD! And you think of the Baby Jesus all meek and mild, in Downey soft clothes cooing ... not so! Baby Jesus is screaming his head off ... probably his own vision of all the insanely stupid and cruel things people will do in his name and he's just screaming "NOOOO ... NOOOO!"

But I digress. Then in the vision, I see him growing up and ditching his parents. GenX Jesus is cool. Then we get to the good part and, aw... CRAP! Just then Bin Laden starts snoring three caves over. Guy's a terrorist even when he sleeps.

Bin Laden was three caves over?

Well that's what it said on the Zealot literature. Personally, I think he just has time-share there. So that was the end of the vision? I tried to get it back ... but all I could get was ESPN and The Best Damned Sports Show Period. So now I'm stuck with only the baby Jesus really.

So how did you escape?

Well, it was easy. When they weren't looking I snuck into the harem and stole a bunch of clothes then posed as a woman. A lot of their women are incredibly hairy and buff. Very Mrs. Doubtfire ... just with M-16s. That's what started me on my journey of faith ... well that and the bowl of hashish.

So what writers and thinkers have influenced you?

I tell you, I've started to read some serious theological works. I went down to the Christian bookstore and got some Chick tracts, a Jesus Frisbee and a book on the Trinity by a cucumber named LarryBoy.

Uh ... Robin there ARE better reading materials.

Oh yes, your right, I got the companion volume on the Incarnation by Bob the tomato. But seriously Jon, I'm not so naïve. I know all about the Evangelical world. I've been making money imitating Jerry Falwell for years.

Well like who have you read?

Well Francis Schaeffer for one!

Which book did you read?

Well, several. I read "He is There And He is Not Silent". Ironically I found that book at a silent retreat, and I heard God hiccup. Then there is the famous "How Then Shall We Now Living, er, How Living Now Shall We Then, oh, Living How Now Brown Cow Then Shall We" change the subject?

And did you like that?

Well I would have, but with those knickers I kept seeing Schaeffer as the old Amish man in "Witness". You know, "Booooooooook! I wrote another Booooooooooook!"

Have you read any C.S. Lewis?

C.S. Lewis ... boy do we need him to come back. The Second Coming of Jack. Of course if he did all the gospel "betterment folk" would grab old Jack, put him on weight watchers, bitch-slap the patch on him, and enroll him in a good 12-Step program. Can you imagine that 12-Step program with Lewis? After six weeks, and vigorous debate they'd have a new draft of the 12 Steps:

Step One: "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol -- and that Tolkien has to pick up the next round."

Step Two: "Came to believe in the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Anything less is insane."

Step Three: "Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as Lewis alone understands him."

Yes, fat Jack would go into recovery and come out looking like Ben Stein.

So you've obviously know Jack.

Yes, I read the trilogy, "Out of the Silent Planet" ...no copies of Schaeffer's book allowed there... . that would potentially be "How Then Shall We Then Live on a Silent Planet Where He Shall be Not Silent?"

Have you noticed that Schaeffer talks and looks a little like Yoda?

Tell us Robin, how do you think your conversion will affect you, I mean you are already an incredibly diverse and complicated individual?

Well that's true, back in my single days, one woman complained that going out with me was like batch dating. But since then I have gone deeper and found my true inner self.

Tell us what that means to you.

Well, I discovered that at the core of my being I am an enigma wrapped in a paradox, shrouded in a Turin, breaded, and dipped in a honey marsala sauce! Criss-cut fries are extra.

What was the largest obstacle in your own spiritual journey?

Well, at first, as a child, it was this immense woman who use to sit in front of our entire family on Sunday mornings. But then came the hippie movement and my parents gave up going to church because it wasn't intellectual enough. Instead they wore saffron and spent 90 minutes a day sipping the guru's bathwater.

And for you?

Well, the major thing is all the money grubbing and the televangelist stuff. I just don't get it. I mean I'm going trust this guy to heal my colon cancer and he can't even heal his own HAIR! And just once I want to see, on TV, the preacher ask the question and have the person say "I have colon cancer! Please HEAL me by the laying on of hands!!!"

This "Kodak Moment" brought to you by Preparation H.

But in this case they should call it "Preparation A-H" don't you think?

But seriously, they all have bad hair, it's like a requirement! The one guy looks like he has an opossum nailed to his head. Boom! Jesus comes back! When he leaves it's the Apostle Paul in a tiny jail in Rome; when he comes back it the Opossum Benny in the Georgia Dome!

Just the other day I saw an internet ad for a Christian Love Boat cruise. You sail on an immense cruise ship, enjoy the exotic sands and waters, dine with your sweetheart and are indoctrinated on the evils of the "Muslim Threat".

Well you have to admit the world has changed a bit.

Yes, but shuffleboard and Shiites!? I don't think so, although admittedly, the head honcho looked very much like Captain Stubing. Come Baby Jesus COME! Come before they name a theme park after you!!

So you believe Jesus is coming back?

Well, I think so. Although I hope he's grown up because really only Gandhi could get away with wearing a diaper in Parliament.

With that Jim got up as people howled and Manfred quickly grabbed the last of the curry shrimp and scampered off to his room. Jim made the announcement that the movie, Ghandi, would indeed be finished down in the thater despite Jonathan ridiculous segue attempt.

The kids went upstairs for games with Jeremy and art in the Big Room and matisse came by her dad and said "He's funny Papi,"

"Yes, Pumpkin," Jim smiled. "He won't be with us much longer. Will you make me some art for my new room?"

"What new room?"

"Oh Papi has a new room downstairs. I'll show you tonight and we'll have chinese food, okay?"

"She clapped her hands "I love Chinese!"

And off she went skipping.

Jonathan was tired. He had done what Williams had suggested and put his whole monologue on tape and listened to it over and over again. It had worked.

When he went up the path he felt tired and a little deflated. He hiked up the back staircase and collapsed in the Bunkhouse.

AZOTUSLAND chapter Sixty-One

That Saturday was meant to be unusual. Normally Jim would be taking Matisse out of town on a road trip so they were uninterrupted. But this Saturday was a part of Jim's plan as he outlined it in the staff meeting.

It was a community day.

All kids got free hot chocolates and honey rolls. They had scheduled a Beanie and Cecil marathon up in the Big Room for the younger kids and Ghandi was playing in the theater with several breaks in a modified Azotus movie event.

People were encouraged to bring potluck items for lunch. At 10 a.m. the Big room was pretty full Jonathan was entertaining the kids.

Down in the Theater Jim asked Manfred to introduce the film to a large crowd of about 25 adults and some older children, including Carver, Lucille and Matisse who sat next to her Papi and held his hand of and on.

"Oh so many good thank youus for coming," Manfred began.

"Sahib and I have met Sir Ben the Kingsley when hes was making The Sandy House in a great fogginesses! Indeed, Sahib in all of his great stature tackled the mans in his yard and was absconded by many polices in utter retribution."

Most everyone in the room had heard the story before, but it was entertaining and Matisse looked over and wrinkled her nose and said "oh Papi."

"Oh Matty" he said back. "It's a very silly story."

Then Jim yelled out "Manfred! Tell us about the dance you did for Sir Ben Kingsley when I was in handcuffs!"

And Manfred started to hop and chant "Ghandi-Gee, Ghandi-Gee, Ghandi-Gee," Then he sat on the floor and said, "Seriously, this is a great film about a wonderful mans who upchucked an empire with non-violence and loves. Sir Richard Attenborough, a child of the British Empire that was deposed made this amazing films!"

Then the lights came down and they started to watch.

********

After Beanie and Cecil started in the Big Room, Jonathan came down and started to open folding tables and chairs on the main landing. He set up 1o tables and then some ones for food and drinks.

*******

In the film, when Ghandi as a young lawyer in South Africa is knocked down Matty looked up at her dad and he took her hand and whispered. "When we take a break you can ask me anything you wish." She smiled and settled back.

*******
During certain parts of the film people cried at different times.

River cried quietly when the refugees from Pakistan and India suddenly broke into violence. Ted cried when Ghandi sent away his minister friend because he was white but talked about how he, Charlie, would always be in his heart.

At noon they took a break and the children scampered out the door and up around the big steps to the picnic area.

Andy had set a desk, a small wooden one, outside the IC and under the eaves so he could join in. Still, this was Manfred's show.

Jim had been careful to start doling out new duties to various people. He had deftly given Roo a major raise and then shifted some major new responsibilities to her and the honor of really running, or being the heart of Azotus.

He had also invited Jonathan to occupy the Bunkhouse and had moved himself down to Silo 3.

He did not sleep in the bed, but he did blow up a mattress and with a sleeping bag he slept near the running fountain.

He told Maugham, that for the time being he could do what he wanted with Silo 1. Jim no longer kept any secrets.

AZOTUSLAND chapter Sixty

Jacob lay like stone in the bed as she got up and fixed herself a drink.

She was naked and amused. He had not seen it coming as he had been grabbing her shoulders and arching and thrusting on top and inside her. Then his eyes had gotten wide and he slowed and said he felt "cold". Then she watched him slip away a bit at a time and it amused her.

"I can't feel my feet," he said in a small panic. Then his arms went numb. She heaved him over onto the side of the bed and watched his breath get more shallow. There was a gurgling in his throat and bewilderment in his eyes as she watched him pass away.

She had simply poisoned him before they went to bed. It was easy to do and he suspected nothing. It had slightly excited her after he had drank fully and he turned to take her body. She felt nothing for him but curiosity at when he would know and how he would react. So she had pulled at his hair as he stripped off her panties, and she spread open her legs to take him in like an open and fresh grave.

Now she wrapped up in a robe and sent off an email to both Jim and to Maugham:

Boys,

Something terrible has happened on your very watch. Why did you do this? What possible gain could you conceive? You must pay for your considerable sins and what has happened.

Rnonymous

*******

Jim had actually had a good time with Ted. When he dropped him at his Suburban he called out to him "Ted...you'll think about my offer?"

Ted looked at the pavement. "I always thought you were crazy," he said. Then smiled. "Yeah, sure...I'll pray on it."

Way up the stairs and in the Bunkhouse Manfred was dancing around the room with a big bowl of ice cream...the last of Jim's Rocky Road.

"Rocky Roads!! Rocky Roads!!" Manfred cried out. "Take me homes...Rocky Roads!" Then he disappaered into his room and hit the play button and restarted his favorite move, The Party.

Martine finished closing up the Azotus and went to find Maugham. She wondered why he seemed troubled lately and wondered if she had done something wrong.

It had taken Martine a long time to decide to trust Maugham, or any man for that reason. But she did. She just wondered.

*******

When Andy went to sleep that night he thought about all his plants now planted around the old estate and it made him happy. Miss Estell and Grandpa Barker had worked the hardest and done a remarkable job by all reports. He decidied that in a few weeks he would tour the garden and put some of his fear behind him. This is what he hoped.

Jonathan stopped on his bike at a small club in downtown and went in for a drink. It was a slow night and he asked the night manager who was in charge of various acts.

"My son handles all of that," The barkeep said. "Here's his card."

AZOTUSLAND chapter Fifty-Nine

It was the most surprising dinner of his life Ted thought later.

Jim had suggested the broiled salmon or the steak with brie, and Ted had opted for the steak.

The shrimp cocktails came and the potato skins and they had full helpings and Jim asked Ted about his own upbringing and interest in theology in a non-intrusive way. When Ted's glass was empty, Jim was careful to fill it if the waitress did not.

When Ted got testy and tried to argue at one point, Jim simply said "Ted, just for tonight, let's share what we have in common. Tomorrow we can go back to the old paradigm if you want...but we have this dinner together. Let's enjoy it, okay?"

"Okay, sure Jim," Ted said. "But I'll kick yer butt tomorrow."

"Fair enough," Jim said and then their meals arrived.

Jim asked Ted what authors he liked beside Lewis. He took note in his head.

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Jim finally said.

"Sure Jim," Ted said a little tipsy from the wine.

"What touched you about the Rev. Tanka?"

Ted was silent for a moment. He was not quite sure. Then he said "He seemed, toward the end to have one foot in and one foot out," he said.

"It was wierd," Ted said. "And he had me read him from the book you gave him by that Feminist Pinko Radical Lamott."

Jim laughed. "yeah...well what did he, or you think?"

"Well it was sweet kinda," Ted said suddenly serious. " The story of being on the plane...and the other one about the man with AIDS."

Yeah I like those too," Jim said. "Just like I like Lewis. Maybe we have more in common than we think Ted."

"I doubt it" Ted said suddenly.

"How is your steak?" Jim asked.

"It's good, thanks."

********

Mitchell Lloyd had long since finished his presentation in the Azotus Library. He went out on the deck with a diet coke and looked at the stars. He sat down with his journal and pulled the cnadle closer so he could see and write in his journal.

********

Ked Woman was looking for Jim but could not find him. He had given her access to the Bunkhouse anytime and she went in and laid down and picked up his Buechner book again and read from it.

She read the following:

The first stage of love is to believe that there is only one kind of love. The middle stage is to believe that there are many kinds of love and that the Greeks had a different word for each of them. The last stage is to believe that there is only one type of love.

She thought about Jacob and missed him. She thought about the puzzle that was Jim. She wondered how she would learn to love herself, but she steeled herself to do so.

AZOTUSLAND chapter Fifty-Eight

In the other Batcave Matisse was finishing her artwork and she sat down in a chair in the corner and looked off.

Jeremy came over and said "Matty, what's up sweetheart?"

"My Papi is sad," she said. "I'm not sure how to help him," she said. "I give him hugs and make him laugh, but he is different lately."

Jeremy made a mental note to talk with Jim.

Just then Sex came in and Jeremy gave her his full attention.

"Lucille did great work today," he said, giving her the once over as she looked for her kids.

She turned to him and quietly said, "You are hot Jeremy." He smiled. Then she said "But this ain't for you. Look, but don't touch."

He blushed and looked at his shoes. He was a sweet kid.

*******

Simon had decided to pitch in and help Maurice with funeral arrangemnts fro Rev. Tanka. There was really not much to do, but he felt Maurice needed someone to share the burden with and he had the time and inclination.

Upstairs Renata suddenly got sick and had to go in the back. She puked. Hans walked in and said "Dis is vat sex does darling. You fuck, you puke, zen za baby comes." Then he got her some cold water and took up her station so she could be alone.

Ted showed up at 7 p.m. to sit and think through what a dinner with Jim might look like. He felt a bit shaken by recent events. It had not changed his mind, but he was less sure. He and Tanka had spent some interesting time before he had died and he wasn't sure what to do with any of it.

Jim came in at 6:45 and nodded at Ted and checked with the staff to make sure all was covered. It was. In fifteen minutes a local novelist named Mitchell Loyd was doing a lecture and Jim wished he could be two places at once. But he couldn't si he went and fetched Ted.

"Manfred?" he called out.

"Yes Sahib?"

"Can you please bring the car around...er...the Jeep?"

"Oh yes Sahib!! Joy of joys and a wonderfulness!" then he scampered off.

Ten minutes later Jim and Ted were headed down the road to Max's.

Jim finally spoke. "I really appreciate all you did with the good reverend Ted."

Ted looked apprehensive and straight ahead.

"Was he what you expected?" Jim finally asked as they pulled into the parking lot.

"I knew you would ask that," Ted said defensively.

"Just a question, bro," he said with a hint of srcasm. Ted lightened.

They went inside and Jim order a nice bottle of wine before Ted could protest.

"It'll hurt but it won;t kill," he said to Ted. Then he followed with "Name that author."

"How would I know?" ted asked.

"Oh you know this author quite well, in fact you have read this book."

Ted racked his brain. Nothing.

The waitress came with their wine and Jim tasted it and said "yes, please do pour." and can we get some potato skins and two shrimp cocktails?"

"Yes, of course," she smiled.

"How did you know I like shrimp?" Ted asked.

"Just a guess. Now think ted...piece of fiction and he has a lizard on his shoulder," Jim said.

Ted laughed, "okay, okay..it;s Lewis." he said.

"Yes, Jim smiled. Book?"

"The Great Divorce," Jim said. "One of my favorites.

"Mine too," Jim said taking a drink.

*******

Maugham was still down in Silo 3 reviewing the considerable paperwork, schematics and detailed instructions. "Where does the man get the time?" he wondered. He finally walked over to the edge of the long trench and looked at the koi in the long pool. They were beautiful. The room was expansive. He suddenly remembered his dream from weeks ago. He went over to a small side room that was obviously for supplies and found a box of tea candles and he lighted about 30 of them around the room and turned the lights down and laid back on the virgin bed and took it all in.

He thought about martine, and then about Candice and how different a species they were.

He would find a way to defeat Candice. This was Jim's room, and his life. He did love Jim. He loved him as much as his own life. He was not sure how that had happened, but somehow Jim had gotten under his skin and then wrapped himself around his pirate's heart.

He would take a bullet for Jim but he's rather deliver it to his enemies instead.

AZOTUSLAND chapter Fifty-Seven

Andy brought out his prized plants and laid them, tray after tray on the long tables usually laid out with keyboards.

The keyboards were tucked behind the towers and monitors and he had a captive audience of 8 volunteers. Each of them had been studying ornamental horticulture online and had also been preparing the various planter beds around the grounds. Jonathan had provided rich compost and helped them work it into the soil, then he had laid mulch over the top.

Today was the day. Andy's robust plants were amazing and strong and would populate the whole grounds with vegetables, flowers and many growing and flowering vines. He had managed, in his small space, to actually produce over 400 healthy plants ready for planting.

Over the next 6 hours, his band of helpers would set in the earth plants that would transform, in just a few months, the whole look and feel of Azotus and it's many-tiered grounds.

Andy was proud and Jim has sent him a note wishing him well on the endeavor and also promising to visit with him soon. Jim apologized for being self-absorbed as of late and hoped that Andy would forgive him.

********

Hans heard the door click in the back and heard Jim and Maugham talking as they went in the last door.

"Just perfuckt," he said to himself and then went back to studying a book on Munch.

*******

Down the long corridor and spilling into Silo 3 Maugham said "you are a fucking maniac."

"You likey?"

Maugham walked around the third of a room that was divided by a long trench that was filled with water and illuminated. On the Northern wall the surface was like onyx...some kind of dark black polymer that was smooth yet non-reflective. Inlayed into the wall were various fishtanks with saltwater fish. Each one end to end down the way."

"Planning on opening a Walmart?" Maugham joked.

Jim didn't answer. Instead he hit a side panel and grabed a Negro Modelo and gave one to Maugham. Then he rolled up his pant legs and dropped his legs down into the long trench where he sat. Maugham came over and simple stretched his legs over the trench looked down and said. "So you gotta fish fetish?"

"I admit I find water comforting. We all came from water Maug. It's a wider vehicle than you might know," Jim said, then he felt a bit foolish. "Look I am sory I have not been forthcoming. I just got use to keeping things to myself and it became habit. It was unecessary with you, to be sure, and also others."

"What happened to you man?"

"That doesn't matter now. What matters is what is, and what is now," he said. "And this room is for you Maugham and the woman you love."

"You want me to live here in fish-land?"

Jim got up and stepped over the the larger part of he expansive room. He hit a wall panel and the otherwise empty room moved in various directions.

"So you have two Batcaves." Maugham said flat and even.

"Look Maug," Jim said softly, "I build this in hopes that one day I might live here with someone I love. But that hasn't happened. If anything happens I want you to have this place...really everything."

"You want me to sleep in that...your bed?"

"No one has ever slept in it Maug." Jim said. "In fact, no one has really ever lived in this space. I just come here and feed the fish. Manfred cleans the tanks and does maintenance."

"Manfred knows about this!!!?"

"Yeah, of course," Jim laughed. "Manfred is smarter than you think. Most of his stuff is just an act. Did you know he has a Master's degree from Cal?"

"Fuck me," Maugham said.

"Yeah, it's our private joke," Jim said.

"Look why don't we just go to the police and have them investigate Candice?"

"For what? For being bitter about something that happened seven years ago? I had half hoped that blowing up my car would be enough...but then I was not sure it was her at all then."

"Now you are?"

"Yes. She's not Rnonymous anymore to me."