Home > Work > King Bullet (Sandman Slim, #12)
41 " How is he?” she says, looking at Kasabian. “He’ll be fine. Sore as hell for a while, but fine.” “We should all be so lucky.” “True. Janet tells me that you’re still waiting for a final Immigration interview.” She nods infinitesimally. "
― Richard Kadrey , King Bullet (Sandman Slim, #12)
42 " Eight floors of the kind of consumer garbage that L.A. is famous for. Need a Ferrari jacket? Sure. You’re a race car driver. Vroom vroom. Need silk designer socks that cost more than neurosurgery? We have that too. Come on down to the Beverly Center for something bright and shiny and leave feeling poorer, puzzled, and dead inside. "
43 " I mean, if we’re just a mistake it means that anything nice we do is special. Any music or paintings or movies or people we love. They’re all special because we’re not even supposed to be here. "
44 " Quiet as a baby bunny, I come up behind him and slam his head into the wall. "
45 " If you’re going to get shot, a gold .45 is the classy way to do it. "
46 " Look on the bright side. You didn’t bleed all over my clean floor,” Kasabian says. “Your floor was always my utmost concern. "
47 " I’m okay.” “You’re an idiot is what you are.” “That too probably. "
48 " What’s up with your face? I mean you’re an ugly bloke, but today you’re top-drawer hideous. "
49 " You killed Buzzy.” “Yeah. I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you did it. "
50 " Hi, Keitu. Look how you’ve grown,” I say, which is stupid because it’s the last thing kids want to hear. "
51 " That would be nice. This is a new suit.” “You always have a new suit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the same suit twice.” “Of course you have. A couple of years ago. When I was in town working on a movie and you were my valet.” “You were a valet?” says Janet. “No. I was his bodyguard.” “Still,” says Samael. “I remember you fetching me clothes.” “I also stabbed you and left you for dead. Remember that?” “Well, I didn’t say you were a good valet. "
52 " I generally hate to like bosses, but I like him. "
53 " Put on a mask,” he yells. “I can’t.” “Why not?” I take the rag from the side of my face and show him the bullet wound. “Christ, Stark. You’re a goddamn calamity.” “Thanks, Miss America. Now open up.” “Go to Allegra.” “This is too embarrassing. Now open the door or we’re both going to need a doctor.” He lets go of the door and runs a few feet away. “Fine, come in, but don’t get too close. "
54 " Things are bad enough without getting cancer too,” he says. “It’s never too late to develop bad habits. "
55 " I’ll keep in touch.” “Good,” says Matthew. “Now get the hell out of here. People see your ugly ass hanging around, it brings down property values. "
56 " I wander back to Musicals and wonder for a minute if Janet would like something stupid like Xanadu or Roller Boogie. But I shove them back into the display bin because I don’t want to die of a disco aneurysm. I grab Urgh! A Music War, but put that back too. "
57 " I wait up front like some asshole whose mom is picking out his suit for prom night right in front of all the mean girls from school. "
58 " Do you have the money for that?” “We have some in the bank. I mean, it would help if we knew how long we’ll have to hide in a cave with the Morlocks. But I had a great idea. "
59 " I bark some healing hoodoo at him to try to close the gash in his scalp. I don’t need him dying on me until I get to question him. Soon, his eyes flutter open. He stares at the sky for a few seconds, trying to get his brain moving again. So I start with the easy stuff first. "
60 " Finally, he says, “Who are you?” I say, “No one important. Who are you?” He has to think about it for a few seconds. Sort through a lot of mental detritus before he comes up with something. No, this guy hasn’t chatted in a long time. “Billy?” he says. “Billy Boop. "