ool
binge after this one."

"Possibly it will not be necessary to use your weapon."

* * * * *

Uncle Peter's words, it seemed, were prophetic. At that exact moment,
Cement Mixer Zinsky exploded. Not violently, or with any peril to those
standing close by. Yet no other term can describe it. There was a soft
pop--as though a large, poorly inflated balloon had been pricked with a
pin. Zinsky seemed to go in all directions--fragments of him that is.
Yet, as each fragment flew away from the main body, it shriveled up so
that there was no blood, and no bystander suffered the inconvenience of
messed-up clothing. Just the _pop_ and Zinsky expanded like a human bomb
and then turned into dust.

As this phenomenon occurred I saw Uncle Peter nod with great
satisfaction and consult a passage in the book presided over by his
blonde assistant. He made a check mark in the book.

Then a second member of the buffet group went _pop_. The masked man
stared in slack-jawed wonder. In fact his jaw went so slack the kerchief
dropped away revealing his entire visage. He lowered his head and looked
down at the gun in his hands; the gun that had not been fired.

Two more members of Zinsky's party followed him into whatever oblivion
was achieved by going _pop_ and dissolving into dust. Uncle Peter
evinced bright interest and made two more check marks in the book.

The balance of the mob moved as one, but in many directions. They paid
no attention to their own weapons as they headed for cover. One of their
number exploded as he was halfway through the French doors. Uncle Peter
checked him off and Bag Ears said, "Jeeps! tomorrow every juke box in
town can play 'Nearer my God to Thee.'" Then he added, "Leave us blow
this joint. Goofy things is happening here. I don't like it."

I was perspiring. I mopped my forehead. "A most amazing occurrence," I
observed.

Joy was digging the fingers on one hand into my arm. I had been watching
Hands McCaffery back crestfallen out of the living room and toward the
front door, terrific slaughter having been accomplished without the
firing of a shot. I turned my eyes now to follow the direction in which
Joy pointed with her other hand and saw the blonde assistant hauling
Uncle Peter through one of the French windows. He did not seem to be
enthusiastic about leaving. In fact he appeared to argue quite
strenuously against it, but her will prevailed and they disappeared out
ont