Cat On A Hyacinth Hunt

Chapter 14

Bedtime Max

"Bedtime snack?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

Temple struggled awake, still worrying about intact contact lenses.

`"Sweet and sour sauce. Try some."

"Chinese? In the middle of the night? What time is it?"

"You need your energy."

"My energy is history."

"But not for long."

The sweet and sour was not on the pointed ends of a pair of chopsticks, but on a tongue.

"Oh, Max."

"What?"

"What . . . what."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Who knows. You're impossible."

"I'm a magician."

"Former magician."

"Retired magician."

"This is retired?"

"You're not very retiring, I know. In fact, you seem wide awake now."

"No thanks to you."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

He was.