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and the veins in his head were standing out like big blue worms. |
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"See." The Dark Man beamed. "No blood, no mess. Can you imagine what this would cost you in one of your hospitals?" He put his hand on Bryan's large intestine and squeezedBryan's two front teeth shattered like crystal goblets in a Memorex commercial. "Just wanted to make sure I had your attention." |
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Picking up the mason jar, the Dark Man unscrewed the top and plucked a single bloated maggot off the eyeball. Holding it gently between two fingers, he leaned over Bryan's stomach and dropped the wormlike larva into the open wound. |
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"Let's just give him a minute, shall we." |
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He sat back on his heels and watched Bryan's face like a hawk. The diamond merchant's eyes grew wider and wider as he strained to see inside himself. When the veins in Bryan's eyes began to look like cracks in a pair of glass marbles, the Dark Man was satisfied that Bryan could feel every move the insect made and glanced at his assistant. |
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"Start packing. We are almost done here." |
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He waited until the goateed man left to carry the bag downstairs before he whispered, "Can you feel him? I know you can. This is one of my special little pets and he has exceptionally large . . . oh, for lack of a better word, let's just call them teeth. Oh my! I see he has started in on your liver already." |
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He watched another few seconds, then said, "It isn't too late, you know. I'll give you one chance to save yourself. I'll ask only once. Where can I find Ms. Rand?" |
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He waved his hand and waited. |
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By this time, Bryan's lips looked like parchment. His tongue darted out, but it wasn't much help. Finally he rasped, "The mountain. Sh-she always goes up to the top of the mountain." |
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The Dark Man turned his head and peered at the huge, pyramidal purple and black silhouette slumbering under a blanket of cotton-ball clouds in the distance. Turning back to Bryan, |
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