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a funny thing was happening. The more I hauled it out, the more convinced I became I was on the right track. The terminology of the group that called themselves the true believers was sprinkled liberally throughout the lengthy dissertation, and by the time I ground to a finish, Big Jake had heard it all. |
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If the reality of the Vernice episode hadn't been weighing on his mind, I wouldn't have been surprised if that mountain-man face of his would have collapsed into a smile. Instead he scowled. I meandered over to the bureau, poured myself another drink and waited for his reaction. |
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It never came. His hard, thin lips were pursed into an expression I couldn't read. |
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"Well," I blustered, "say something." |
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Madden blinked a couple of times and carefully shifted his bulk in the overtaxed chair. "I guess I could see how you'd come up with most of that stuff. I ain't sayin' I buy it, mind you, but you sure do raise a whole bunch of questions." |
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"Like how did they get from there to here? And what the hell is this all about? And, if you can answer those for me, who is this Emissary they keep referring to? Beyond that, how many of these monsters are crawlin' around the countryside out there? One? Two? Ten? What the hell are we dealin' with?" |
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