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So you meander ———> this way, past a handful of extra doors and around a wide bend in the tunnel, and emerge into a high-ceilinged natural cavern. Light pours in from a single crevice far above, while steam burbles into it from a crack below. Around the crack is life: sea anenomes, skinny tubeworms, crusty algae, a cloud of pin-sized shrimp. Pat, still in her "Nettie" disguise, reclines against a stalagmite— doesn't she know of the dangers? (Perhaps goo isn't consumed so easily?) Madrigal's laying on the ground, dangling a severed worm above Buster's mouth(?). Earl, hands on hips, supervises.
"About time," Pat says eventually, after you've cleared your throat. "How'd it go?"
You open your mouth, but close it when Gil presses against you. "Guy was a difficult customer, tell you what. We got some good stuff, though. Ha-ha."
"What'd you do, dope him up?" Madrigal's lowering the worm bit by bit. "Or beat the shit outta him?"
Sort of? No? "Trade secret," Gil parries, and attempts a smile-like expression. You nod solemnly.
"Well, I'm happy to hear you got something! He <span class="mu-i">is</span> a tough customer, that Rudy. Might be a little cheerier on a little something-something, huh?" Earl chuckles, even if nobody else does. "Glad you found us! Thought we'd make for a little change of scenery— see, this town isn't all gloomy, huh? Hey, Frances? I mean, Lottie?"
It's more of a hamlet than a town, but you don't have the heart to tell him that. "...Yes?"
"Can we talk for a second? Nothing bad, promise!"
You have trouble thinking of any possibility that isn't bad, but you feel pressured to take his word for it. "I guess?"
He leads you aside, lowering his voice. "So, I wasn't planning to bring this up, since I didn't think you folks were staying for another night. You <span class="mu-i">are</span> though, which is no problem at all— happy to host you— it's just that I'm booked for a job tonight."
"A job?" The heist. "<span class="mu-i">Oh.</span>"
"Which, again, no trouble. You all can bunker down, and I'll cool off before I come back in. Got no desire to scare the shit out of anybody. It's just..." He scratches his chin. "Well, there's no pressure, kid, but it'd be nice to have somebody along who's in my corner. The typical crowd doesn't look too kind on somebody who doesn't have all his faculties, you dig me? Get a lot of..."
He grimaces, exposing his false teeth. "I can remember more than they think I do, you know? It's no big deal, really, but you were so good on the last job—"
Richard's the one who actually plotted the previous heist, but it doesn't seem wise to correct him. "Um, are you allowed to bring an extra person?"
"I'm a hard guy to argue with." More teeth. "It's not too rare I have a handler— Morris is real good at it. I'll get you a cut of the take, too, so no worries there."
You're not in pressing need of money. On the other hand, you're broke again. "And what is this job... for?"
(3/4)
