Every ten or fifteen minutes—I think for a while I went to sleep with Hogg’s cock in my mouth, but it was probably only for a few seconds and I’m not sure—under my slow tongue, Hogg would spurt, randomly, half a cup of piss.

He rubbed my head. “Hey, Dago, you got that envelope?”

“Right here, Hogg!”

The motor thrummed.

The nigger snored.

5

“I got ’em—” the nigger called back to us, rummaging in the glove compartment; he dragged out the chains.

He turned in the cab doorway—they chattered down, to swing from his fist’s black knot—hefted them once, and jumped.

“Good,” Hogg said; he squeezed my shoulder. “I knew they was in there, Nigg.”

Denny’s fist slowed at his groin—for a moment it was going at the same rate as the swinging chain.

By the light up on the telephone pole, I could see the wop moving his hand in his pocket, playing with himself in his pants so that first I could see his knife’s shape and then I could see his cock’s shape.

Hogg beckoned with his chin.

We walked up between the pines. There was no light on in either of the store’s display windows.

“Looks like she’s closed,” the wop said.

“Note said she slept in the back,” Hogg said. “We’ll get in. She’s suppose to got a daughter. Mr. Jonas’ note says we don’t have to do nothin’ to her if we don’t want.” I could hear him grinning. “But it ain’t gonna bother him none if we have some fun with her too.”

“Shit!” the nigger said. He jarred the chains; the links rang.

Hogg rubbed his pants. “Yeah.” (The drying piss was making me scratchy too.) “We don’t have to let her alone—either.”

Nigg rapped on the door.

After half a minute, he rapped again. Then again.

Finally, a woman inside said, “What you want?”

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Dago called. “Can you help us out for a second?”

She opened the door with one hand, rubbing her eyes with the other. “Usually I’m up this time. But I was taking a nap. What can I do for you boys?” She had on a man’s blue workshirt and jeans. “I’m not supposed to be open but I can—”

The nigger, grinning—and the grin suddenly went from all lips to all teeth—swung the chains (Christ, they hit loud!) at her face.

She snarled, reeling to the side, holding her head, shaking her head, her mouth wide, one eye closed, all crouched over. Still snarling, it was like the sound of the links going on. She backed toward the counter.