References

Lion, Tiger, Bear [ 345 Maybe.. .fifty kilometers depth, but its a wild guess. After several hours of Bernie and Shafers attempts at deciphering symbols, Bea said: Were leveling out. I see something ahead. Im killing the forward lights. A tiny green dot could be seen in a sea of blackness. Now, what in the […]

346 | John W. Warner IV Bea looked back at them. Youll live. Still happy you signed on? Oui, madame. He gazed into the ethereal distance, his imagination alight. But only slightly. Which tunnel should we pick? asked Porsche. Bernie pointed. Whats that? Lights ahead. A sizeable ship emerged from a lower tunnel that was

Lion, Tiger, Bear | 347 And all atoms have a soul, smiled Shafer. As do stars and planets, galaxies even. Baumann isnt dead, his soul will travel the universe forever. After a half-hour of communal scientific speculation, Bea snapped: Achtun^. Can you three wisemen dolts figure out how to get us the flippin hell out

348 | John W. Warner IV A shot passed by Bernies head and lodged itself into the Tellus. Dials spun, noises rang out. A low tone descended from an hexagonal organ pipe like a dying water buffalo. Bernie put a fist in Klemperers face. Down he went. The tool box in the cabinet, I saw

Lion, Tiger, Bear | 349 must have hid in here during the evacuation. This it? Geer replied: Yes. But its… Bernie lacked the door open with his good leg. .. .already open. Alice put her weapon dead on target. EUo, gents. Guten tag, said one of the twin brothers calmly, both over seven feet tall

350 | John W. Warner IV and snickered like devilish schoolboys. Gwafa shouldered his submachinegun and frisked them for weapons. Comedians, Bernard. Shall we shoot them? One of the brothers opened his legs wide. Try frisking down here, I may be hiding a gold-plated Derringer, Dogon-man. Not…yet. Bernie scanned the ornate, wood-paneled room, the fine

Lion, Tiger, Bear | 351 She took one, then poured herself a glass. Thats my boss, bit of a cowboy romantic. Howd you chaps get so tall? Gigantism run in the family? Our sisters are even taller, said Lew. Very rare genetic condition, said Geer. The intercom came to ]ik.//Just what the hells going on

352 | John W. Warner IV Alice spat out her wine. Wist? Gwafa pointed his weapon point-blank. Merde! You ingrate. Stew stood, lowering his head so as not to hit the ceiling. We are certainly not ofiworlders! Human as you are, well, mostly. Aldebaraners we may be, but we were born here on this nugget

Lion, Tiger, Bear | 353 credentialed amateurs even. They create havoc in our trade. Businessmen? Really? And just who else do you represent? asked Alice. Stew held her hand but she quickly withdrew it. A few interested parties my dear, thats all. And it is entirely legal, especially when the top Germans asked for help

354 | John W. Warner IV Madame Recamier silky-smooth stockings were always the best. Bernie pointed at them in accusation. Time travelers, eh? Businessmen? More like the Mafia. Youre nothing but low vibrational low-lifes dealing in the cosmic black market, and at bargain prices for black arts military technology. What did the SS pay you