EPILOGUE
Pleasantly drunk and recently laid, I staggered across the garage of my Malibu mansion, entering the kitchen. Morning wasn’t far away. The place seemed overly quiet, getting a lot less use since the Old Man moved back to the Clan House. The light of the stove’s hood cast a soft, white glow that thinned the gloom. Still, I almost walked unheedingly past the great black leopard with the blazing yellow eyes. I stopped and swung toward her. “Hi, Leona. Nice of you to wait up.”
“I wasn’t planning on it, but that mutt of yours is back.”
“Dog? I keep running him off, but he keeps coming back.”
“He’s brought you another bribe.”
“What now? An old Nike, a sock-puppet from hell?”
“Old bone, I think. Something white.”
“Maybe he’s done something right this time.”
I went on across the room, cutting through the living room, into a hallway that ended with a magic door to my kingdom in fairy. Before I got that far, I turned into the master bedroom and stripped off my coat and shoes. I approached the bed where a mound of shadow waited. As I stood at the edge of the bed, the darkness thickened, taking on a more solid form. Ears flopping, Dog whined a greeting, hoping I’d be happy to see him this time.
I kept my face stern and looked at what gleamed between his paws. The white jade flute. I picked up a pair of enchanted gloves Izumi had given me. They provided magical insulation. I slipped them on, picked up the flute, and finally smiled at Dog. “Good boy. You can stay, but not on my bed.” He jumped down and pranced around my feet. I petted him and then had him lie down while I put the flute in my sock drawer. I’d find a place for it in my treasure vault later.
I fell on my bed and mumbled, “That’s what I call fetch.”