CHAPTER NINE
Dear Cleotis, you could not have brought better news. I confess I have misgivings about a report on the television not twenty minutes ago that Dallas Grimes' ex-husband might have escaped custody in Colorado, on his way to the SuperMax. It will complicate things if this is true, but we must trust that our depraved Mesozoic associate is sufficiently motivated and skilled to find the former Mrs. Grimes before Muddy does. Dallas's future is clouded at best, I would say. But, back to your own achievement: yes, that was a stroke of unrivaled genius. Sunglasses! I recall that the same stratagem worked for that small purple alien named Roy, Gork's nemesis, a few years ago in that incident at the Statue of Liberty. With his sunglasses on, everyone thought Roy was a little person dressed as one of the California Raisins from those old cereal commercials. Without the glasses, well, he had quite a few problems with the locals. Even a yeti and a two-headed woman will pass with little bother when wearing designer sunglasses. Mundane folk assume at once that the glasses-wearers are actors, special-effects technicians, costumed party-goers, and so forth; the glasses give that elite edge one needs to keep rabble in awe and at a distance. You have my wholehearted admiration, dear Cleotis. Our erstwhile heroes are sure to arrive without further delay. If you would, now, please inform Misters Ross and Harlan to that they have an appointment tomorrow morning at about seven forty-five, along the highway from Lubbock. We have guests coming, and I think it's time we pulled out the stops. Have Ross and Harlan bring Mister Crockett with them. We will welcome our heroes to Highland with, shall we say, a real bang.
