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〃Let me see if I understand you；〃 I said。 〃You think these people prefer to live meaner than any animal。 That they are so unwilling to work that they would rather sleep on the ground in the cold； go without food； beg coin from strangers in the most humiliating way possible； and live in filthy rags？ That is； of course； assuming that they are mentally stable enough to hold work or even have such rudimentary skills as reading； writing； or arithmetic。 How silly of me to be so pletely fooled by their clever charade。
〃Of course； I'm in the pany of someone who wouldn't sully his hands with something as vulgar as say； extortion。〃
〃You know； you can be a real bitch；〃 he said。
I touched my hand to my heart。 〃I'm mortally wounded；〃 I said。
We walked down by the river for a while； until the sidewalk petered out and there was a sudden lack of street lights。 John looked nervous； but I knew there was nothing to worry about； yet。
〃So you want to bee immortal；〃 I said。 〃What if I told you I can't do it？ That this is something you're born with or not。 That I can no more make you immortal than any stranger off the street could。〃
He frowned。 〃You're just trying to confuse me；〃 he said。 〃You told me at the restaurant。。。〃
〃I told you that so you wouldn't make a scene。 Even if I wanted to； I couldn't change you from what you are。 I don't have that power。 Why would I lie to you？〃
〃Is this a test？〃 he asked。 I groaned。 〃No； it is not。 It's the truth。〃 〃You just don't like me。 That's why you're doing this。 Well； it won't work。 And it doesn't matter anyway。 I figured out what you are； and that's worth something。 Don't think you'll fool me the way you've fooled everyone else。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 I said。 〃I wouldn't dream of that。〃 I think you're a special kind of fool； I thought。 〃You know； being immortal doesn't just happen overnight。 It takes a while for the process to work。〃
〃But you can start it soon； can't you？〃 〃Oh； yes；〃 I said。 〃But first； I must make some preparations。〃 I tossed him the key to my hotel room。 〃I'm in room 1650 at the Fairmont。 I'll be back before midnight。〃 〃I'll be waiting；〃 he said。
I didn't say anything； just turned and went back toward the Quarter。
I knocked on the door of my room at 11：45。 The vid inside was loud enough for me to hear it through the door。 Then the door swung open。 I had half…hoped Mortimer might realize how foolish this whole thing was； but no； there he was； sans jacket； and barefoot。 〃Glad to see you've made yourself fortable；〃
I said。
〃Yeah； well； given the circumstances； I didn't think you'd mind。〃
〃Push that bed up against the wall；〃 I said。 As he did so； I also pushed every other piece of furniture in the room against the walls； making a nice…sized space in the center of the room。
〃We're going to do it here？〃 he asked。
〃Why not？〃 I asked。 〃This place has always had a great deal of magical energy。 Besides； this is just the start of the process； and I know how anxious you are to embark on your new life。〃
〃Yeah； well； I guess I thought I'd have more time。〃
〃Time for what？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he replied。 〃To say goodbye。〃
〃You can't say goodbye； but you can go back and make some preparations；〃 I said。 〃I'll explain everything after the ceremony。〃
I crouched down and poured out the contents of the bag I'd brought back with me。 Luckily； Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo had just the sort of things that would help in my little charade。 Candles； skulls； charms； unidentifiable bones； incense； and assorted effluvia tumbled onto the carpet。 Feathers I'd picked up in the park came from my jacket pocket。
I shoved everything to one side。 〃Stand here；〃 I instructed； pointing to the center of the room。 I placed the candles around him in a rough circle； then lit them。 The incense I lit and stuck in…between the drawers of the bureau。 Then I switched off the lights and went over to the window and drew the drapes。
The effect was getting pretty good。 Lots of sandalwood smoke wafting through flickering candle light。 I made him hold out his hands and dropped a skull into one and the strange bones into the other。 Then I made him open his mouth and popped one of the charms inside。 I almost started laughing at the face he made； but I knew that would break the spell。
The rest of the charms I placed in his pockets and down his shirt。 Then I began to chant softly and wave my arms in front of him。 In Sanskrit I told him what a plete imbecile he was and how his mother was probably a goat…herder who slept in cow dung for fun while she mated with snakes at the bottom of a cesspool。
From the expression on John Mortimer's face