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Chapter 1

I tossed h-fived Rodney on his way out

“Hey, Kitty, thanks again for taking the eneration grunge band that made my hackles rise, but I smiled anyway

“Happy to”

“I noticed You didn’t used to like the late shift”

He was right I’d gone positively nocturnal the last few e”

“Well, take it easy”

Finally, I had the place to lowed, the dials and switches futuristic and sinister I pulledjeans and an oversized sweatshirt that had been through the wash too s about the late shift at a radio station was that I didn’t have to look good for anybody

I put on the headphones and sat back in the chair with its squeaky wheels and torn upholstery As soon as I could, I put on ues That’d wake ’em up To be a DJ was to be God I controlled the airwaves To be a DJ at an alternative public radio station? That was being God with ayou were the first person to discover The Clash and you had to spread the word

My illusions about the true power of being a radio DJ had pretty much been shattered by this tiraduated a couple of years ago, and got the gig at KNOB after interning here I h ideals, and opinions I couldn’t wait to vocalize But off-caer place than that, and I was adrift College was supposed to fix that, wasn’t it?

I switched on the mike

“Good evening to you, Denver This is Kitty on K-Nob It’s twelve-oh-twelve in the wee hours and I’ale you with inanities until so recorded before 1990

“I have the new issue of Wide World of News here Picked it up when I got my frozen burrito for dinner Headline says: ‘Bat Boy Attacks Convent’ Now, this is like the tenth Bat Boy story they’ve done this year That kid really gets around—though as long as they’ve been doing stories on hiuy is, at least according to the intrepid staff of Wide World of News, I figure somebody out there has seen him Have any of you seen the Bat Boy? I want to hear about it The line is open”

A

“Hello!”

“Uh, yeah, dude Hey Uh, can you play some Pearl Jam?”

“What did I say? Did you hearafter ’89 Bye”

Another call aiting Double co

ol “Hi there”

“Do you believe in vampires?”

I paused Any other DJ would have tossed off a glib response without thinking—just anotherfor attention But I knew better

“If I say yes, will you tell ood story?”

“So, do you?” The speaker was male His voice was clear and steady

I put my smile into my voice “Yes”

“The Bat Boy stories, I think they’re a cover-up All those tabloid stories, and the TV shows like Uncharted World?”