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He nods.
“That’s why Aelita had it hidden in the palace.”
“All I have to do is play with it long enough and I’ll figure it out without you.”
“The world is falling apart, Jimbo, and it’s going to get worse. By the time you get the keys in the ignition, there might not be much left to save.”
I look back at the cell door. I know Wells is on the other side shitting fried green tomatoes, waiting for me to get more information, but I’m lucky Mason gave me this much.
“Thanks for the freebie.”
Mason nods.
“Of course, I’m still going to hurt you.”
I put my Kissi hand on the table and take off the glove.
“I owe you a finger. Take it.”
He looks at it like a chef would look at rat shit in a Dumpster.
“I don’t think I want it anymore. I’ll have to hurt you some other way.”
“I’m ready.”
He shakes his head.
“Later. We’re done for now. Come back around dinnertime for tomorrow’s game. I have some preparations to make.”
I put the glove back on, happy my hand was too ugly for even Mason to want it.
“Tomorrow then?” he says.
I think for a minute.
“Forget the Infinite Game. I’ll play you Russian roulette again. This time by your rules.”
He looks right through me.
“I’ll watch, but that’s your game. I want to play mine.”
He gathers up the cards from the table.
“Send in the guards on the way out. I want to get started on the new game right away.”
After checking on the Shonin and translating as much as I can remember of the conversation in Mason’s cell into English, I head home. Vidocq calls about an hour later.
“I thought you’d want to know. They burned the clinic.”
“Allegra’s? Who did it?”
“Men have been hanging around for the last few days. They park across the street or up the block. Nothing has happened until tonight.”
“Did you call the cops?”
There’s a pause.
“A few came. They say harboring Lurkers is now a crime in Los Angeles. They arrested poor Fairuza.”
