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81 " Why don’t you lie on the bed,” he told her. “On your stomach.” She did what she was told. He took out his knife and smiled. "
― Christa Faust , The Zodiac Paradox
82 " Walter took the killer’s notebook from his pocket and was about to open it when Nina gave him a sternly arched eyebrow and a terse shake of her head. "
83 " and a whimsical ceramic sugar bowl shaped like an octopus. "
84 " Walter drained more than half of the scalding hot liquid in one foolhardy gulp, utterly unmindful of his burnt tongue. "
85 " She picked up the lazy cat. “I’ll just hang out down here with Cat-Mandu. "
86 " Even if she realized that they didn’t want her overhearing their conversation, she didn’t seem to care at all. "
87 " Back in Nina’s large Spartan bedroom, the three of them plunked their sore, beat-up frames into the same seats they’d chosen before the madness. "
88 " Okay,” Nina said. “We’re all thinking it, but I’m going to say it. That was really, really stupid. If I hadn’t brought my gun, we’d all be dead. "
89 " So from here on out, we need to find a way to fight the killer with brains, not brawn. Attack this problem like scientists, not... Dirty Harry. "
90 " Repeat the experiment?” Nina echoed. “We almost got ourselves killed today. If you want to repeat that, you can count me out. "
91 " Are you sure that’s wise?” she asked. “I mean, the last time you opened this gate, you let a killer stroll right in to our world. What if it happens again? "
92 " Okay,” Nina said. “What if you two drop the special acid and concentrate on opening the gate again, and I’ll stand by with Lulu. "
93 " I wouldn’t want to be summarily exterminated by aliens who judged the whole human race on the behavior of Charles Manson, for example, "
94 " But I still think having Nina standing by as ground control couldn’t possibly be a bad idea. Not as an executioner—just as armed back-up, in case things get ugly. "
95 " Information that might be useful—or at least good to know before we open the way again. Forewarned is forearmed. "
96 " He reached for a pencil and a blank sheet of paper from a stack beside Nina’s typewriter, and began to fill it with scribbled notes and test keys. "
97 " Some time later, although Walter couldn’t have guessed how long if he’d been paid to do so, he became aware of a warm, spicy, almost ambrosial smell. "
98 " In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had anything to eat. "
99 " But Walter was only interested in what Nina was carrying. She was the one with the food. "
100 " Nina,” Walter said as she handed him one of the warm boxes. “You are my angel. "