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A bolt of blinding green light shot out of the Dark Man's empty eye sockets and struck the unsuspecting postman square in the face. The man's mailbag dropped to the floor and he staggered back into the door frame. In seconds, his skin began to turn gray and he started clawing at his throat with his fingernails. |
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"Do not move," Paula warned Cyrus. "There is nothing we can do for him now." |
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"It isn't nice to whisper." The head giggled. |
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The postman's eyes filled with blood and blood started leaking from his ears and nose. When he opened his mouth to plead for help, more blood bubbled out. He made a sound like a cat strangling and put his hands over his ears as if trying to block out some horrible sound that only he could hear. A moment later his eyes popped like a fish that had been brought up from deep water too fast and green goo spewed all over the walls and floor. Then he collapsed. |
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Cyrus cut his eyes to Kyna. Her face was as white as a sheet, but she was still on her feet. Paula looked like she was angry enough to chew nails, but she held her tongue. |
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"Well," the Dark Man said in a miffed tone of voice, "if you're not going to talk to me, I'll just have to talk to you. I have been looking for Ms. Rand for quite some time. I have some very personal questions I'd like to ask her, so, Ms. Rand, if you'd ask your friends to step outside for a moment . . ." |
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Kyna looked at Paula and raised an eyebrow. Paula answered with a minute shake of her head. |
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"Come now! What can that possibly hurt? Just ask your friends to step outside, tell me what I want to know and I will leave all of you in peace." |
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The offer hung in the air with the disembodied head. |
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The Dark Man laughed. "I sense that for some odd reason you do not trust me." |
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Kyna's body was quivering like a leaf in a strong wind. |
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"Come now! What kind of woman would rather see her friends die than answer a simple question?" |
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Without a word of warning, Kyna picked up Paula's teacup |
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