.........- -.........
.......... ..........
.........- -.........
........-- --........
.......--* *--.......
......--** ###- -### **--......
.....--**$ # # $**--.....
....--**$& # TELE MIGRAINE # &$**--....
...--**$ # # #&$**--...
..--**$# ###- -### ##&$**--..
.--**$## ###&$**--.
..--**$# THE SO CALLED "THIRD MIGRAINE". IT'S ##&$**--..
...--**$ LIKE A REGULAR MIGRAINE BUT IT DOES NOT #&$**--...
....--**$& HURT THERE'S NO PAIN, THE COSMOS IS &$**--....
.....--**$ THERE AND IT'S DRAINING THE EVIL $**--.....
......--** STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WOUND. **--......
.......--* *--.......
........-- IT'S MASSAGING YOUR TEMPLES, PIERCING --........
.........- YOU, ENTERING YOUR BLOOD, CRACKING THE -.........
.......... SKULL OPEN. A PAW GRIPS YOUR BRAIN, ..........
.........- PLAYS WITH IT, PULLS IT OUT INTO THE -.........
........-- COSMOS. --........
.......--* *--.......
......--** THERE'S COMETS! SPACE ODDITIES. **--......
.....--**$ SOLITARY OSCILLATIONS. CARRIER WAVE. $**--.....
....--**$& BURNED AWAY BY THE SUNS RADIATION UNTIL &$**--....
...--**$ ONLY THE FAINTEST TRACE REMAIN, #&$**--...
..--**$# EVENTUALLY CAUGHT IN THE GRAVITY WELL ##&$**--..
.--**$## OF SOME SECOND RATE WATER PLANET. ###&$**--.
..--**$# ##&$**--..
...--**$ IT'S RAINING SAP. #&$**--...
....--**$& WE'RE GETTING SWEET AND WET &$**--....
.....--**$ $**--.....
......--** ###- -### **--......
.......--* *--.......
........-- MY LUNCH BREAK IS OVER AND I NEED TO --........
.........- GET BACK TO THE SHOP. LYNNE IS THERE -.........
.......... ALONE AND HASN'T EATEN YET. I TAKE THE ..........
.........- BACK ROUTE UP FROM THE BEACH TO AVOID -.........
........-- THE CROWD. SING A LITTLE TO MYSELF. --........
.......--* *--.......
......--** LIFE GETS TO PROSPER OUTSIDE OF.#*--- - **--......
.....--**$ SUDDENLY, AN ACID FLASHBACK: I STEP $**--.....
....--**$& DOWN IN MY MIND (LIKE AN OPEN MIND / &$**--....
...--**$ FRACTAL STINGER / BISMUTH STAIRCASE) #&$**--...
..--**$# AND WADE IN SHADOWS... SURROUNDED BY ##&$**--..
.--**$## MEMORY NEGATIVES, ###&$**--.
..--**$# LIKE UPROCESSED FILM.... ##&$**--..
...--**$ #&$**--...
....--**$& ###- -### &$**--....
.....--**$ $**--.....
......--** WE'RE CLOSING FOR THE EVENING. THE SHOP **--......
.......--* IS IN THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF A NARROW *--.......
........-- MUDBRICK BUILDING, PAINTED TEAL. WE --........
.........- LIVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, TOGETHER WITH -.........
.......... THE OWNER. AS I CLOSE THE METAL ..........
.........- CURTAIN, BEHIND ITS CHARACTERISTIC -.........
........-- SHARP RATTLING I CAN HEAR THE --........
.......--* CURFEW SIRENS. *--.......
......--** **--......
.....--**$ WORMY STREET WOLVES OUTSIDE, CHASING $**--.....
....--**$& ENTRANCES IN THE DARK ALLEYWAYS, &$**--....
...--**$ WANTING IN, GETTING DESPERATE, LAPSING #&$**--...
..--**$# TO SEARCH HIGHER, ON ROOFS, CLIMBING ON ##&$**--..
.--**$## BALCONIES. AND THERE'S BOUND TO BE SOME ###&$**--.
..--**$# RECKLESS TOURIST WHO DIDN'T HEED THE ##&$**--..
...--**$ WARNINGS, NEVER CLOSED THEIR WINDOWS... #&$**--...
....--**$& &$**--....
.....--**$ OR, IN SOME CASES, THE HOUSEOWNER HAD $**--.....
......--** THE WINDOW BOLTS WEAKENED, AND WHEN **--......
.......--* CLEANING UP THE AFTERMATH WOULD POCKET *--.......
........-- THEIR BELONGINGS. --........
.........- -.........
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.........- -.........
........-- --........
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