© 2003 Allen McGill
All rights reserved.

Barter

The male voice on the phone had a distant, hollow sound, as if traveling through a tunnel. "For those who have faith," it intoned, "it can be done."

Martin's incredulity began to waver. Could he really start again? Erase all the unhappiness and misfortune that had plagued his life?

"I don't understand," he said. "What are you, a religious freak? Into cybernetics? What?"

"Nothing of the sort."

"You want money?"

"Not at all."

"What, then?

"Your organs. All you can spare. Now."

Evil's Realm

Members of the ancient coven met secretly as always, naked under the full moon. They formed the sacred circle, moving to the intonations of the High Priestess in worship of the Earth Mother.

Hidden from view by the rotted-out trunk of an old oak, Satan stood glowering at the coven's antics. "Good witchcraft will not be tolerated here," he hissed. Raising a hand, he snapped his taloned fingers. "Burn!" he shouted, and the field became a conflagration.

From the center of the blaze, the High Priestess rose and with her last breath yelled, "Bigot!"

Nabbed

I stashed the priest's body among the upright Guanajuato mummies.

It wouldn't have been necessary, but my wife had confessed to him the murders I'd committed. I killed her in a rage, then I went looking for the priest. Though his vows bound him never to tell, I couldn't chance it.

I told the police I'd never been near the mummies—but they found a hand in my pocket.

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