This is not pleasant.

-EDG

"Why didn't you call me?"

The man stopped, a cheeseburger halfway from the tray to his mouth.  "What do you mean?" he 
asked.

"You told me you'd get in touch when the operation was over.  Why didn't you?"  The newcomer 
took a seat opposite the diner.  His posture was perfect, his demeanor beguilingly calm as he 
folded his hands in front of him.

The cheeseburger made its way back to the tray, where it fit snugly into its paper wrapper.  "I 
haven't called you," replied the first man slowly, "because the operation is not yet over."

"What do you mean?  Half of California lies in the ocean, our agents in Washington have been in 
and out while the nation celebrated to forget its losses, and we have the information we need 
to bring down the Host.  The operation was a success.  Do you understand?"

"I understand perfectly well, Jan," said the diner, now visibly annoyed.  "You think the 
operation was a success.  But my end of the bargain is not yet sealed.  David remains loyal to 
your employer, and he has gained a valuable new ally today in the form of someone almost as 
experienced here as Nybbas was.  Speaking of Nybbas, your meddling in David's affairs cost us 
one of our brightest rising stars.  It is only the fact that two of the most seminal media 
personalities of the last century have left this realm that convinces me that our luck still 
holds even a little. And you call the operation a success?"  He took a bite out of the 
cheeseburger.  "I still have damage control to take care of.  And you're lucky we're alone in 
this room; you'd have revealed us all.  You should be more careful in your speech, friend."  
Another two bites, and the cheeseburger was gone.

"It is my job to shake things up, is it not?" asked Jan.  "And you know full well that damage 
control has never been high on my list of priorities.  I've let that imbecile run around with 
my gifts for long enough to demonstrate that."

"Enough," said the other, opening another cheeseburger.  "I can see that this was a mistake.  I 
should have known from the start.  You are a valuable contact, Jan, but you are far too 
unreliable to be trusted with even such a trivial task.  I'm taking command of this operation, 
Jan, and I'm afraid there's not a damned thing you can do to stop me."

"And what the hell do you expect me to do?  I defected for you!"

"I appreciate that, Jan, I truly do.  But I'm afraid your usefulness has reached its end."  He 
raised his hand, and a trio of burly men, armed to the teeth, stepped into the room, followed 
by a thin man with patchwork clothing and a grin that stretched for miles.  "Val, I believe you 
know our guest.  Jan, I have taken the liberty of allowing Val here to replace you as my 
lieutenant."  He leaned closer, stage-whispering: "I would have given it to him, but you know 
as well as I that he wouldn't want it unless I let him think he was stealing it."  Returning to 
his original posture, he smiled broadly.  "In the time it has taken you to react, three Songs 
have been sung.  The repercussions will be obvious in a matter of moments, but by then I expect 
to be long gone."

"But - what?"  Jan stood suddenly, attempted to flee and found that he could not.  "What is 
this?"

"This," said the other, quietly, unwrapping a third cheeseburger, "is a betrayal.  My brother 
would have loved it - anything for a laugh, you know - but unfortunately he seems to be 
indisposed at the moment.  Drowning will kill you, and even we Princes go through Trauma when 
our only manifestation dies.  It's the same thing I've done to you, you know."  He laughed.  
"Nobody ever accused the Great Consumer of being original."  Looking at his watch, he nodded in 
beat with the second-hand for a moment, then looked back up.  "You have ten seconds to tell me 
why you shouldn't be replaced.  Go."

Jan stammered.  "I don't - I didn't -"  All of his considerable fast-talking skill was failing 
him.  "You have no right to do this!"

"No," the diner said.  "I have the right to do anything I please.  And right now - " He looked 
at his watch again.  "I please to remove an obstacle.  Val?"

Jan hadn't even the time to scream before Val had cut his throat, and then there was only the 
sound of knives slicking for many seconds.

The first man looked up again, in the middle of his fifth cheeseburger, when Val said his name.  
"Good," he said.  "Excellent.  Val, you know what you have to do.  Boys, clean this up, 
please."  The three burly men stepped forward and began pulling mops, buckets, and kitchen-
sized trash cans out of large backpacks that nonetheless seemed too small to hold them.  Val, 
meanwhile, had transformed himself into a perfect facsimile of the man whose pieces were now 
lying on the floor.  "Extraordinary.  Had I not seen it done, I would not believe it.  The 
charade has begun, Jan.  Let them know that Valefor has died an ignoble death, and we shall see 
how they react."

He picked the sack of cheeseburgers up and started for the door.  "Since when have *I* been 
known for damage control, you blithering idiot?"