Screwtape was pleased with himself. His campaign of terror had inspired his miserable overling demons to achievements he never really considered possible. Project Sugarloaf was bringing in more and more jewels like Stacey's and Stacey's mom's, as well as quite a few of Stacey's victims'. The fact that the Enemy had managed to snatch away some of Stacey's victims at the moments of their deaths was unfair, but then the Enemy never played fair. Screwtape had learned to take that in stride; comes with the territory.
Never plays fair...all of a sudden, a terrible thought struck Screwtape. This Mary affair. Was the old Bully mocking him? There were millions of Marys. Was this one special? Was the Enemy teasing Screwtape, or could this be the final showdown? Another Mary...Screwtape shivered. Cold fear ran down his spine, chilled his hot, pumping arteries.
He picked up the phone. "Miss Caliente, get me Snakefoot," he bleated.
"Well?" Snakefoot asked.
"What do you have for me?" Screwtape asked.
"You worry too much. I've got her. She's mine. Like I said -- I never fail."
"What about Glubwart?"
"I predict he'll try to interfere. I can handle him."
"What do you intend to do with the girl?"
Snakefoot snorted. "The usual. What do you think? I'm not exactly new to this business, you know."
"OK. OK. Just wanted a few details." Screwtape was back on his heels. He never allowed overlings such leeway, such disrespect.
"The details will come later, chief," Snakefoot said. "But the overall picture is clear, isn't it?"
"Just make sure," Screwtape said. "Can't afford to screw this one up."
Snakefoot had to bite all three of his forked tongues to keep from retorting, "You mean 'don't Screwtape it up'?" Instead, he muffled his laughter and just said, "Got it."
No comments:
Post a Comment