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"Only what I could stomach."
"You should attempt to 'stomach' more," Mary suggested. "I've shared all the things I've discovered here--all the things I know."
"Yeah, well I know things too."
Pugsy stood up and went to a window to admire the view. Mary knew he wasn't very tall, but she didn't realize how short and stocky he was until he stood up.
"So now that we're alone, are you gonna tell me why you're here?"
Mary decided to take the direct approach. "I propose an alliance between you and me. A partnership between equals."
That made him laugh. "Equals? How do you figure that?" And he gestured out the window at his vast land holdings. "I have no need to look," she said. "My view from the Hindenburg is just as grand as yours."
"Oh," said Pugsy, "but this view is priceless."
Finally Mary looked. They had just crested the peak of the Ferris wheel, and as they began the journey downward, the car next to them came into view. To Mary's horror, it was packed with children--Mary's children--every last one of them. They had been packed into that car like sardines. This is what Pugsy meant by "storage."
"It's amazing," said Pugsy. "Afterlights can fit into whatever space you want them to. All ninety-three of yours are in there."
Mary couldn't find words to express her disgust.
"So you see," said Pugsy. "I hold all the chips. You gotta do whatever I say, or they're the ones that'll suffer."
Mary swallowed her urge to slap him silly, and spoke slowly, making sure all her words had time to sink in through his thick skull. "Treating me as an equal will elevate you far more than you can imagine."
"Is that so?" He sneered.
"Yes, it is." Then she put aside all modesty, false or otherwise. "In Everlost I am seen as a queen, an angel, a witch, an enchantress. I did not chose this, of course, but the fact remains that I am the stuff of legend. If you imprison me, you are a mere jail keeper. But ... if you rise to be my equal, you will become legendary as well."
"I already am legendary."
Mary laughed dismissively. "Your infamy does not spread as far as you'd like to believe," she told him. "East of Pittsburgh, and south of Indianapolis, I doubt anyone has ever heard of you. And those who have heard of you, consider you ... well ... a gangster. But an alliance with me would legitimize what you've done here."
"And what's in it for you?" Pugsy asked.
Mary had anticipated the question. In this, she chose to be direct as well. "No doubt you've heard of the Chocolate Ogre," Mary said.
"I thought he was made-up."
"No, he's very real. In a single day he could empty Chicago, so that not a single Afterlight remained under your 'protection.'"
"I'd like to see him try," said Pugsy.
"Don't underestimate him; he's very cunning," Mary warned. "But with enough Afterlights, I can defeat him."
She crossed to the other side of the car, giving him time to think about it. As she did, her velvet dress brushed against the back of the red leather armchair. She wondered if it was as comfortable as it looked.
"So ... "said Pugsy, "you intend to build an army, is that it?"
"Oh, please!" Mary waved away the suggestion. "An army implies a war. I will not have a war ... but I will protect Everlost from those who might wreak havoc on the order that you and I try to create. No, we won't have an army, but we will have freedom fighters."
They reached the bottom of the wheel, and began to circle up once more.
"Agree to help me bring down the Chocolate Ogre," said Mary, "and I will give my heartfelt, personal blessing to you, as ruler of Chicago, and--dare I say it--with my stamp of approval, you could conceivably spread your reign to the rest of Everlost."
Pugsy was dazzled by the concept. "I'd be the EverBoss!" he said.
Mary tried not to cringe. "If you wish."
