CHAPTER 9

I SET A COURSE FOR WINDS OF FORTUNE

"When I was told the shortcut would be through the bowels of hell, I didn't think they meant it literally," Reddington said. They passed through a hot fleshy tunnel that looked more than a little like a coil of intestine. "The stink is retched, but it's not the worst. No, the worst was probably the time I had to swim through a river of anger slime under Manhattan. I had to destroy that suit. A shame. It was one of my better outfits." He waved a dismissive hand. "At any rate, I try not to think about whatever monster we're crawling around inside of. Best not to."

He paused when he realized he couldn't hear Geoff behind him. He turned to see Geoff about ten yards back with his pants down. He pressed his crotch to the wall of the tunnel.

"What in God's name are you doing?" Reddington said.

"I saw a glory hole," Geoff said. "No one's on the other side, though."

"That's not a glory hole. That's a fistula. Get your dick out of that . . . that . . . what has my life become?"

Geoff cursed as he pulled his pants away. "What the hell happened to common courtesy? You put your dick in a glory hole, and it's my God-given right as an American to get my dick sucked."

"It's Hell," Reddington said. "Have you noticed?"

Geoff spat. "How much longer do we have to go? I have to shit."

"We're almost there."

"Well, hurry up," Geoff said.

"Hurry—" Reddington forced himself to stop. He turned and continued on his way until they came out of the tunnel into what looked like a prison block. He moved forward and only stopped when Geoff—once again—wasn't following him. He'd bent over and strained as he blasted the wall with a fountain of diarrhea shit. He took a few breaths and then continued until it petered off into random squibs.

"Thank God this is almost over," Reddington said.

Geoff pulled up his pants without wiping. Not that he had anything to wipe with, anyway.

The two of them came to a halt just outside a cell, and Reddington unlocked it. Finally, after all this time, Geoff looked into the eyes of his brother Cris.

"Where the fuck is my seven bucks?" Geoff said.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .