Seven robotlike armored things clanked up the same escalator Mr. Lemmy had used a couple of minutes earlier. The crowd gasped at the sight. A smiling Salzman and a frowning Zavulon followed.

“What kind place is this?” said the Russian.

“For fuck sake. You can drop the accent,” said Salzman. “We’re here for serious business.”

Zavulon stared at him. “You think my voice is faking?”

“Very much.”

“I’m hurt,” mumbled the Russian. “But yeah, it was getting old, wasn’t it?” he said in a light voice with a slight English accent.

“American exchange student at Oxford?” said Salzman.

“Cambridge,” said Zavulon.

Salzman gave him a sympathetic look. “Better luck next time.”

“I’m still curious what this is all about,” he said.

“And who all these muppets are,” said Salzman, eyeing the other groups. He didn’t like the hungry looks of the Jinx Town crowd either. For the first time in years, he was happy he was dead.

“Thanks for coming,” said Coop. “And right on time. It means you can take orders and instructions. That’s going to be important tonight.”

“What is this freak show?” said Mr. Lemmy. “I want my box.”

“Your box?” said Steve. “Fuck you. We’ve been waiting for that box since the dawn of time. It’s ours.”

“Guess again, pig farmer. But I like your girlfriend. You make a lovely couple,” said Mr. Lemmy, pointing at the boar.

“Excuse me,” said Salzman. “The little man—”

“Fuck you, too!” yelled Mr. Lemmy.

“—asked the pertinent question. What is this freak show?”

“It’s a contest,” said Coop. “Like an Easter-egg hunt, only more fun. You see, there’s only one box and three assholes who want it. So, you get to race for it. I’m going to text each of you a clue to where the box is. The first one who finds it wins.”

“Hold on a second,” said Mr. Lemmy. He pulled a .357 magnum from under his jacket and pointed it at Morty’s head. “Stop this bullshit right now and give me my fucking box.”

Steve pulled a gun and pointed it at Giselle.

“Dad. What are you doing?” said Jerry.

“Serving the Lord, son,” said Steve. “Like the midget said. Give me my box.”

The armored Russian guards and Zavulon leveled their guns at Coop.

“I forgot to mention one more thing,” Coop said. He help up his hand so that everyone could see the small silver box he was holding. “The lovely Ms. Bayliss brought along something that goes boom. If anyone gets shot—and I mean anyone—I blow up the box.”

“You wouldn’t fucking dare,” said Mr. Lemmy.

“You’re threatening to kill my friends. I don’t have a lot of friends. So yeah—boom,” said Coop. “Any other questions?” Sally took a few steps off to the side, disappearing by one of the shops.