Quills And A BookA loud bark from the building caught our attention. Gypsy stood in the open doorway and called loudly enough for us to hear, “He’s happy to have you join him.”
Gypsy was already seated on her haunches when we entered. She faced one of the strangest men I’ve ever seen. The man behind a low counter was black, I don’t mean dark brown, but jet black as if drawn with India ink or born from a shadow. Massive and strong, the backs of his arms and the visible part of his back were covered with long black quills, thorn sharp and at least an arm’s length long. His shape and size reminded me of a scary cartoon man. I stepped up to the counter and was surprised to discover that the whites of the man’s eyes were black too, and there was about him an odor of chlorine.
Gypsy said, “Gr
