Frankie walked down one side of the wire; the Reverend walked down the other. The first placard, Frankie now noticed, wasn’t a calendar but a painting of an open white hand against a grid, with orange flames on the tips of each finger. On the palm was a dollar sign. Above it, in green, were the words “Five Dollars Payable for Viewing.” He glanced up and saw one of the Reverend’s hands extended toward him, palm up.

“Thank you,” the Reverend said, once Frankie had dug the bill out of his wallet. “I’ll let you be for a while.” He stuffed the money into a pocket as he turned away, and walked back toward the house.