Page 159

He reaches into his pocket and drops a small, gnarled red thing in my hand.

“What the hell is this?”

“Do you remember the story of Persephone?” he says.

“Not really.”

“I forgot. You’re illiterate. Just eat the pomegranate seed and it will take you to the Tenebrae.”

“You walk around with a pomegranate seed in your pocket?”

“It brings back old times.”

I put it in my coat.

“Thanks. Just one more thing.”

“You want to know how you’re getting back.”

“That would be swell.”

“Getting you back is trickier than sending you. Do you still have the key to the Room of Thirteen Doors in your chest?”

“I can’t use the Room.”

“No, but if you can make it back to Tenebrae Station, I’m sure the key will let me bring you the rest of the way home.”

“Sure? You’ve done something like this before, right?”

“Of course.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m being reassuring.”

I stop and head back toward the hotel. It takes him a second to catch up.

I say, “You’re not supposed to admit it when you’re telling someone a comforting lie. You’re the Prince of Lies. You should know these things.”

“I can bring you back with one hand tied behind my back. We can even stop for ice cream if you’re a good boy.”

“That’s better.”

“Well,” he says. “I should be getting back. I’ll look for you tomorrow in the Tenebrae.”

“I’ll wear a rose in my lapel so you know it’s me.”

A Lincoln limo pulls up and a chauffeur opens the door for him.

“A rose? Funny, I always pictured you as a prickly-­pear man.”

“I’m whatever will get me rescued.”

He waves and steps into the car. It takes off, disappears around the corner. The worst thing about knowing I might be stuck forever in the land of the dead tomorrow? Now I want a hot dog, but Pink’s is all the way across town and I’m goddamn exhausted. I head inside. Maybe we’ll order pizza for a last meal.

CANDY IS WATCHING Girls und Panzer and eating tamales when I come in.

“Where did you get those?”