@@@@@Send the whole island to Davy Jones's 99
@@@@@Send the
whole island to Davy Jones's locker He picked up the silver cylinder, turned his
attention to the little orange flag over the
fissure that splits the middle of Lake Phalen,
then looked back at me"Want to say any final
words, muchacho?"
"Yes," I said, "but not many
"Get em ready, then Wireman turned on his knees
and held the silver cylinder outThe sun sparkled
on it for what I hoped would be the final time in
at least a thousand yearsbut I had an idea
Perse was good at finding her way to the surface
That she had done it before, and would againEven
from Minnesota, she would somehow find the caldo
I said the words I'd been holding in my mind
Wireman's fingers openedThere was a small splash
We leaned over the side of the boat and watched
the silver cylinder slide smoothly out of sight
1116
with one final glimmer of sunlight to mark its
descent
ii
Wireman stayed that night, and the nextWe ate
rare steaks, drank green tea in the afternoon, and
talked about anything but old timesThen I took
him to the airport, where he'd fly to Houston
There he planned to rent a car and drive south
See some of the country, he said
I offered to go with him as far as security, and
he shook his head"You shouldn't have to watch as
Wireman removes his shoes for a business school
graduate," he said"This is where we say adi?s,
Edgar
"Wireman-" I said, and could say no moreMy
throat was filled with tears
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me firmly on
both cheeksIt's time for Act
T
