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"That was unbelievable!"

"You got lucky, kid"

"You sure you didn’t take a under my breath for the hollow to stay down and stay dead, because I could feel it beginning to squir It was antsy and hurt, and it required every spare ounce ofits jaith all the te peculiar flesh that surrounded it

I’d finally reached the hollow’s chain and was looking for the padlock when the ambro dealer accosted me I turned to see his creepy bearded mask just inches fro?" he said He was flanked by his two aruards "You think I’ about," I said For a queasy second I thought he was on to me and knew the holloasn’t really dead But his rabbed me by my jacket collar "No one hustlesto back away This guy clearly had a bad reputation

"No one’s hustling anyone," I heard Sharon say behind me "Just calm down"

"You can’t trick a trickster," the dealer said "You coht so rim cub before, and then this?" He swept his arm toward the fallen hollow "Not in a million years!"

"He’s dead," I said "Check for yourself if you want to"

The dealer let go of my jacket and put his hands around uards pointed their guns at her

"My only question," said the dealer, "is what are you selling?"

He began to squeeze

"Selling?" I croaked

He sighed, irritated at being forced to explain "You come into my place, kill my hollow, and convince ht I was a rival drug dealer, there to steal his business Madness

He squeezed harder

"Let the boy go," Sharon pleaded

"If you’re not on a?"