Spell in Green

of men and women who have stepped into the shadows. I know the nameless terrors of which they dare not speak. And now, fell in green, quiet of the late night, was broken only by the rapid click of a woman's heels in the sidewalk of the street, but only an hour before

had bustled with traffic and passing pedestrians. Nor in what we stopped for a moment, and looked up toward the light from a third floor apartment. From it to the package she carried under one arm.

Then she sighed, resumed her steps and turned up the walk to the apartment building. She opened the front door and then made her way up to Chuck Williams' apartment on the third floor. Chuck, it's Nola!

Is your copy ready? No. My copy is never ready. I... Nola, my dear, dear Nola. Can it be that you've come calling with a gift? Now it's more of a bribe. I thought if I brought this along as a reward, I might be able to deliver your column on time for one.

Ah, my brand, too. And the seal isn't broken. I'm sure you can take care of that. Looks like I'm just the man for the job. Can't the drink wait, Chuck. Finish the column. Then you can have as much as you want.

Never put all two tomorrow what you can drink tonight. Nola? Join me? You know I don't drink. Not usually, but tonight you'll have a drink with me, Nola. Because I'm on strike against deadlines. Maybe against the whole world.

Come on, Nola. Enjoy me. Want me to finish your column, Chuck? I could and you could finish your drinking, fair trade. Nope. I don't want you to write it, Nona. Or rewrite after I finish with it.