Mary felt her life had reached a new low. She almost felt she had been better off with her drugged out mother and her mother's vicious boyfriends. At least then she had known what to expect; not to have any hope. Far worse to get a glimpse of paradise and have it snatched away. She vomited again. She had lost any desire to get up and go to work; or even get out of bed. She felt sick. Her stomach hurt. Somehow, it did not affect her appetite. Days dragged on. She was getting fat from voracious eating and no exercise.
Glubwart was gratified. He had gotten rid of the girl's last tie with humanity. It was so easy! How easily the creatures are swayed, diverted. Maybe now he could make real progress. He reported in to Screwtape, "Some success with the small town female, sir. Cut off from the male, societal support. Expect great strides soon." Screwtape was pleased, but careful not to give Glubwart any hint what he was thinking. "One jewel. No guarantee. Report progress on Project Sugarloaf." Glubwart sighed. "Testing some interesting chemicals. Expect great things." Glubwart didn't want to give a lot of detail about his research. He was afraid Screwtape would steal his ideas and claim credit.
As soon as Glubwart got off the line, Screwtape called Intelligence Chief Brazenwit again. "What did you find out for me on that girl?" Screwtape demanded. "Nothing much, sir," Brazenwit responded. "Boring, really. Father abandoned family, mother a drug prostitute, let her beaus 'play' with the daughter. Daughter left home. You know the rest, I believe. Glubwart is working the case."
Screwtape hung up the phone. He was disturbed. He was beginning to think that Glubwart was on to something. His instincts told him something was going on with the girl -- something big. It bothered him that intelligence wasn't able to come up with more information.
"Miss Caliente."
"Yes?"
"Get me Snakefoot."
Desiree Caliente's blase attitude changed instantly. "Yes, sir," she answered sharply. Snakefoot was the demon other demons fear -- almost as much as they fear The Underlord Under All; more than they fear The Enemy. Snakefoot's reputation had attained the status of myth in the Underworld. Snakefoot is reputed behind every terror known to man or demon. His cunning confounds the wiliest devils. No demon has ever seen Snakefoot; none knows what he looks like.
Trembling, fearsome demoness Desiree Caliente touched the requisite buttons on the telephone.
"Well?" came a rasping tone.
"Mr. Screwtape needs -- requires your assistance," Desiree managed to blurt out.
"What else is new. All the stuffed, bloated masters need my help, then they take the credit. What's it this time -- some snot-nosed kid needs to be tempted with candy? A little old lady won't fudge her income tax returns?"
"Mr. Screwtape will brief you on the details," Desiree said, testily. The click on the other end of the line told Desiree that Snakefoot was in no mood for chit-chat.
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