The door was hammered in a manner suggesting that if it wasn’t opened immediately, it would be smashed into splinters, the larger of which would be inserted into them collectively.
“Hello?”
Wood splintered and door collapsed across floor. In its place was a horde of animals who trod on it as though the thing were a doormat. The receiver was dropped and the four lumpy animals reversed against a wall.
A figure in Taper Silk stalked toward them. Garbed animals followed, swelling his ranks.
“Where is the Pumbel?” Sinson-Rascalian whispered, which, under more convivial circumstances, might be seen as courteous, considering the hour.
“Sinson?” one of the four cried. “What are you doing here?”
“The Persuader.”
“Sorry?”
“I am now known as the Persuader, or Sinson the Persuader if time perm
