82 You'd be perfect. I've been looking for a man
who has knowledge in con games. You probably wouldn't even work in the
field, but stay with me at headquarters, studying the local papers to
spot the ads that your friends use to bait out the birds. Now, wouldn't
that be better than this cell?"
83 "You can guarantee my safety?" he questioned, "and, my family's?"
84 "I can't fully guarantee anything," admitted Bullet, "but I can tell
you, you'd be safer with us than any place else, but don't get any
ideas. One misstep and you'd be back here before the dust settled.
We're all checked and double checked. It wastes some time but it keeps
everybody honest."
85 "All right," agreed the man, "you're on! Tell the golden
lady out there to send her interrogator tomorrow. I'll tell her
something that will make her ears burn! But only if I get a call from
my mate, telling me she's been picked up and taken to one of these safe
villages. Then, I'll tell them who's got the rest of the money, but
only then. My mate and my daughters have to be safe."
86 Bullet agreed. He went out, spoke to the Chief Guard, and she
agreed. Under those circumstances he could receive a call. As she went
to push the cart back into the cell, Bullet stopped her. "What in The
Name of The Lords," he asked, "are these things? They look like people,
but they've got hair all over the top of their heads. They're hideous!"
87 The Guard laughed. 'Haven't you ever seen GROAM on television? It's
on every morning. The kids are crazy about it. The toy company that
employs most of the prisoners can't make them fast enough. Whoever
thought of making those old legends into a t.v. puppet series must be
rich!"
88 Bullet put the doll' s head down. "Yuck!" he muttered, "I've read
the legends, but I never really considered what they might look like."
The Guard pushed