“I think it’s because we always been afraid of this. Afraid because we never knew if we’d be able to take it. So we shut our eyes, you might say, and pretended it really wasn’t ever gonna happen, not really. But at the same time, both of us knew it would. And the longer we waited, the harder it got. After a while, it was like a black cloud hanging over us . . .” Griffin wiped his face again. “Now,” he said, “it’s all over. And Vy’s proved she loves me. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t of ran away. She’d of kept it to herself. But it’s right out in the open now and we can fight it together.”

Griffin got up.

“She’s gone,” he said, “but you know what? I’ll find her. I know I will because I know her, everything about her, the way she feels, the way she thinks. It’s a funny thing: people got the whole world to hide in, but they can’t get away from somebody who knows them and really wants to find them. ’Course, it may take a while. But I’ll keep looking and when I do get her, we’ll be closer than ever. So I think I’m going to say thanks. You done us a great favor!”

He moved very close to Adam.

“Truth is, though,” he said, “the best way to return the favor’d be to put a bullet through your head right now. It’d be a whole sight easier on you, take old Sam’s word on that. A whole sight. See: we’re both in the same line, you and me, Adam—only I been at it longer, and I can see where you’re making mistakes. They’re beginning to pile up on you now. In a little while, they’ll smother you.”

“Get out of here,” Adam said.

Griffin did not make a move. “I been studying your pitch,” he said, “and I admire it. You got technique, fine technique. But you know what’s wrong? You’re missing another one of the basic rules! That’s right. You can sell people something they don’t need, but you can’t sell them something they don’t want, leastways, you can’t keep on selling it to ’em. And the people—most of them, anyway—don’t want what you’re selling. Maybe they think they do, right now, but they’ll get over that. Then, just watch out.”

Griffin went to the sink, poured a glass of water, drank it.

“Right now, I bet you think you’re right on top of the heap, don’t you?” he said. “Everything going smooth, clicking right along. Uh? Well, let me tell you something. You’re wrong. You’re on the way down, boy, and it’s going to be a real long trip.”