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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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“So if a Collec<strong>to</strong>r found a body... mine, for example... they might have<br />

brought it here and sold it <strong>to</strong> you?”<br />

A<strong>not</strong>her nod.<br />

Then I knew this Pharod after all, “So this Collec<strong>to</strong>r, Pharod... <strong>do</strong> you know<br />

where I could find him?”<br />

He sneered, as if disgusted by the idea <strong>of</strong> associating with a Collec<strong>to</strong>r, “I<br />

know he resides in the Hive, the slums outside the Mortuary, but I <strong>do</strong> <strong>not</strong><br />

know exactly where. Some <strong>of</strong> the other Collec<strong>to</strong>rs may know, if they'll talk <strong>to</strong><br />

you.”<br />

“Hey chief! You gonna rattle your bone-box all day or are you coming?”<br />

I gave Soego a polite smile, “Thank you, Soego. I hope you feel <strong>be</strong>tter.”<br />

He nodded and closed the gate <strong>be</strong>hind me as I caught up with Morte.<br />

“Chief, welcome <strong>to</strong> the center <strong>of</strong> the Multiverse.”<br />

~~~~~~<br />

Worming like blind maggots through a carcass <strong>of</strong> s<strong>to</strong>ne and iron, the<br />

inhabitants <strong>of</strong> the Mortuary went about their tasks. Many paused, suddenly<br />

uneasy, and for a moment few dared <strong>to</strong> tread the halls <strong>of</strong> the second floor.<br />

Dhall, perhaps one <strong>of</strong> the oldest and most hardened <strong>of</strong> Dustmen <strong>be</strong>neath<br />

Fac<strong>to</strong>l Skall himself, looked <strong>to</strong>wards the southern preparation room. The<br />

scratching <strong>of</strong> his quill ceased, as he wondered whether that bleak new void<br />

that just <strong>appear</strong>ed had come <strong>to</strong> claim him.<br />

Ei-Vene’s stitching paused, blood and ichor trickling <strong>do</strong>wn the thread in misty<br />

red pearls. Her dead-yellow eyes squinted, curious <strong>of</strong> this new thrumming<br />

resonance <strong>of</strong> <strong>death</strong> and decay.<br />

The key was suddenly cold in Soego’s hand as he twisted it in the lock.<br />

Looking upwards <strong>to</strong> the floor above him, he caught an ancient, musty scent.<br />

It was a familiar smell, something he came across every day in the Mortuary.<br />

But <strong>to</strong> have it so close, like the brush <strong>of</strong> a dark mother’s talons, unseen and<br />

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