pzb.drawingblood-µÚ7ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡¡¡The¡¡movie¡¡bothered¡¡him£»¡¡though£»¡¡when¡¡Eddy¡¡took¡¡him¡¡to¡¡see¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡always¡¡enjoyed¡¡watching¡¡Tim¡¡Burton's¡¡films¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡were¡¡eye¡¡candy£»¡¡for¡¡one¡¡thing¡but¡¡they¡¡left¡¡him¡¡feeling¡¡vaguely¡¡pissed¡¡off¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡an¡¡agenda¡¡of¡¡relentless¡¡normalcy¡¡hiding¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡veil¡¡of¡¡weirdness¡£¡¡He'd¡¡loved¡¡Beetlejuice¡¡until¡¡the¡¡last¡¡scene£»¡¡which¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡storming¡¡from¡¡the¡¡theater¡¡and¡¡left¡¡him¡¡kicking¡¡things¡¡all¡¡day¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Winona¡¡Ryder's¡¡character£»¡¡formerly¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡beautiful¡¡in¡¡her¡¡ratted¡¡hairdo¡¡and¡¡smudged¡¡eyeliner£»¡¡now¡¡bed¡¡out¡¡and¡¡squeaky¡¡clean£»¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡a¡¡preppy¡¡skirt¡¡and¡¡kneesocks¡¡and¡¡a¡¡big¡¡shit¡eating¡¡sickeningly¡¡normal¡¡grin¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡it¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡too¡¡much¡¡to¡¡bear¡£
¡¡¡¡But¡¡that£»¡¡Zach¡¡supposed£»¡¡was¡¡Hollywood¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡took¡¡one¡¡more¡¡drag¡¡on¡¡the¡¡joint¡¡and¡¡snuffed¡¡it¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ashtray¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡excellent¡¡pot£»¡¡bright¡¡green¡¡and¡¡sticky¡¡with¡¡resin¡¡that¡¡smelled¡¡like¡¡Christmas¡¡trees£»¡¡quick¡¡to¡¡set¡¡the¡¡brain¡¡buzzing¡¡and¡¡humming¡£¡¡He¡¡hoped¡¡somebody¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Market¡¡would¡¡have¡¡more¡£¡¡Zach¡¡felt¡¡around¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡again£»¡¡found¡¡his¡¡glasses£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡them¡¡on¡£¡¡The¡¡world¡¡stayed¡¡blurry¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edges£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡drugs¡£
¡¡¡¡Something¡¡nudged¡¡his¡¡hip¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡sheet¡£¡¡The¡¡remote¡¡control¡¡for¡¡the¡¡TV¡¡and¡¡VCR¡£¡¡He¡¡aimed¡¡it¡¡at¡¡the¡¡screen¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thumbed¡¡the¡¡ON¡¡button¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡watching¡¡an¡¡Italian¡¡splatter¡¡movie¡¡called¡¡The¡¡Gates¡¡of¡¡Hell¡£¡¡Good¡¡old¡¡Lucio¡¡Fulci£»¡¡his¡¡plots¡¡were¡¡brain¡numbing¡¡nonsense£»¡¡every¡¡character¡¡dumber¡¡than¡¡a¡¡bag¡¡of¡¡rusty¡¡nails£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡great¡¡gore¡£¡¡And¡¡nothing¡¡normal¡¡ever¡¡happened¡¡in¡¡his¡¡movies¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡girl¡¡began¡¡to¡¡bleed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eyeballs¡Fulci¡¡loved¡¡eyeballs¡then¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡vomit¡¡out¡¡her¡¡entire¡¡digestive¡¡tract¡¡over¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡maybe¡¡a¡¡minute¡£¡¡She'd¡¡been¡¡parking¡¡with¡¡her¡¡boyfriend£»¡¡such¡¡were¡¡the¡¡wages¡¡of¡¡sin¡£¡¡Zach¡¡pressed¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡button¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡actress¡¡suck¡¡up¡¡her¡¡intestines¡¡like¡¡a¡¡plate¡¡of¡¡spaghetti¡¡in¡¡marinara¡¡sauce¡£¡¡Tasty¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡movie¡¡was¡¡making¡¡him¡¡hungry£»¡¡which¡¡meant¡¡it¡¡was¡¡seriously¡¡time¡¡for¡¡some¡¡food¡£¡¡The¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡a¡¡muffuletta¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Central¡¡Grocery¡¡were¡¡wrapped¡¡up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡little¡¡dorm¡style¡¡refrigerator¡£¡¡Zach¡¡kicked¡¡the¡¡sheet¡¡off£»¡¡swung¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡over¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mattress£»¡¡rode¡¡the¡¡ensuing¡¡headrush¡¡for¡¡a¡¡minute£»¡¡then¡¡stood¡¡and¡¡picked¡¡an¡¡expert¡¡path¡¡through¡¡the¡¡debris¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fridge¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡savory¡¡smells¡¡of¡¡ham¡¡and¡¡Italian¡¡spices£»¡¡oiled¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡olive¡¡salad¡¡wafted¡¡up¡¡as¡¡he¡¡unwrapped¡¡the¡¡greasy¡¡pink¡¡butcher¡¡paper¡£¡¡The¡¡big¡¡round¡¡sandwiches¡¡were¡¡expensive¡¡but¡¡delectable£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡made¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡meals¡¡if¡¡you¡¡weren't¡¡a¡¡big¡¡eater£»¡¡which¡¡Zach¡¡was¡¡not¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡wasn't¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡couldn't¡¡afford¡¡a¡¡muffuletta¡¡anytime¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡one¡£¡¡Money¡¡was¡¡free£»¡¡or¡¡nearly¡¡so£»¡¡all¡¡he¡¡could¡¡need¡¡was¡¡at¡¡his¡¡fingertips¡¡every¡¡time¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡at¡¡his¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡switched¡¡his¡¡puter¡¡on¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡quite¡¡gotten¡¡used¡¡to¡¡having¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡eat¡£¡¡His¡¡parents'¡¡kitchen¡¡cabinets¡¡never¡¡had¡¡much¡¡in¡¡them¡¡but¡¡booze¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡movie¡¡raged¡¡on¡£¡¡A¡¡priest¡¡had¡¡hung¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Dunwich¡original¡¡name£»¡¡that¡which¡¡flung¡¡wide¡¡the¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡hell£»¡¡or¡¡something¡£¡¡Zombies¡¡with¡¡bad¡¡skin¡¡conditions¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡beam¡¡themselves¡¡around¡¡like¡¡refugees¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Starship¡¡Enterprise¡£¡¡Zach¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡only¡¡priest¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡known£»¡¡Father¡¡Russo£»¡¡who¡¡said¡¡the¡¡masses¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡used¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡him¡¡to¡¡every¡¡few¡¡months¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡ing¡¡off¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡binge¡£¡¡Twelve¡year¡old¡¡Zach¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡confession¡¡alone¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡ducked¡¡into¡¡the¡¡booth¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡his¡¡aching¡¡head¡¡against¡¡the¡¡screen¡¡and¡¡whispered£»¡¡Bless¡¡me£»¡¡Father£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡sinned¡¡against¡£¡¡Hot¡¡tears¡¡squeezed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡words¡£
¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡not¡¡how¡¡the¡¡Confession¡¡begins£»¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡Zach's¡¡hope¡¡ebbed¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡persisted£º¡¡My¡¡mother¡¡kicked¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stomach¡¡and¡¡made¡¡me¡¡throw¡¡up¡£¡¡My¡¡father¡¡slammed¡¡my¡¡head¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡Can't¡¡you¡¡help¡¡me£¿
¡¡¡¡Bad¡¡boy£»¡¡telling¡¡lies¡¡about¡¡your¡¡parents¡£¡¡Don't¡¡you¡¡know¡¡you¡¡must¡¡obey¡¡them£¿¡¡If¡¡they¡¡punish¡¡you£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡because¡¡you¡¡have¡¡sinned¡£¡¡The¡¡Lord¡¡says¡¡honor¡¡thy¡¡father¡¡and¡¡thy¡¡mother¡£
¡¡¡¡WHAT¡¡ABOUT¡¡THEM¡¡HONORING¡¡ME£¿¡¡he¡¡shrieked£»¡¡slamming¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡against¡¡the¡¡flimsy¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡confessional£»¡¡a¡¡hot¡¡spike¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡shooting¡¡up¡¡his¡¡already¡sprained¡¡arm¡£¡¡Raking¡¡the¡¡curtain¡¡back£»¡¡bursting¡¡into¡¡the¡¡priest's¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡booth£»¡¡yanking¡¡his¡¡shirt¡¡up¡¡to¡¡display¡¡the¡¡technicolor¡¡bruises¡¡and¡¡belt¡¡stripes¡¡across¡¡his¡¡skinny¡¡ribs¡£¡¡WHAT¡¡ABOUT¡¡THIS£»¡¡MOTHERFUCKER£»¡¡WHAT¡¡DOES¡¡GOD¡¡SAY¡¡TO¡¡THIS£¿¡¡Staring¡¡into¡¡the¡¡priest's¡¡startled¡¡face£»¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡tracework¡¡of¡¡broken¡¡veins¡¡deepen¡¡from¡¡red¡¡to¡¡purple£»¡¡the¡¡weak¡¡watery¡¡eyes¡¡flare¡¡with¡¡pious¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡knowing¡¡sickly¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡help¡¡here£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡was¡¡not¡¡really¡¡seeing¡¡him£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡was¡¡as¡¡drunk¡¡as¡¡his¡¡parents¡¡had¡¡been¡¡last¡¡night¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hauled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡church¡¡and¡¡told¡¡not¡¡to¡¡e¡¡back£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡ever¡¡would£»¡¡he¡¡collapsed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡sobbed¡¡there¡¡for¡¡an¡¡hour¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡got¡¡up£»¡¡hawked¡¡an¡¡enormous¡¡goober¡¡on¡¡the¡¡steps£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡with¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡pain¡¡that¡¡went¡¡deeper¡¡than¡¡his¡¡bruises¡¡and¡¡abrasions£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wounded¡¡soul¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Catholic¡¡church¡¡would¡¡never¡¡touch¡¡again¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡nice¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Father¡¡Russo¡¡hanging¡¡and¡¡burning¡¡and¡¡bleeding¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eyeballs¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡was¡¡dead¡¡now£»¡¡maybe¡¡he¡¡had¡¡the¡¡starring¡¡role¡¡in¡¡some¡¡hellish¡¡Lucio¡¡Fulci¡¡film¡£¡¡Zach¡¡hoped¡¡so¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡chewed¡¡the¡¡last¡¡bite¡¡of¡¡muffuletta£»¡¡licked¡¡the¡¡grease¡¡off¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡diving¡¡for¡¡clothes¡£¡¡He¡¡came¡¡up¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡army¡¡pants¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡at¡¡the¡¡knees¡¡and¡¡a¡¡T¡shirt¡¡that¡¡pictured¡¡JFK¡¡grinning¡¡toothily¡¡as¡¡his¡¡brains¡¡exploded¡¡in¡¡vivid¡¡silkscreen¡¡color¡£¡¡Faded¡¡red¡¡Converse¡¡hightops¡¡without¡¡socks¡¡pleted¡¡the¡¡ensemble¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡time¡¡to¡¡go¡¡snag¡¡his¡¡two¡¡daily¡¡stashes¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡could¡¡e¡¡back¡¡here¡¡and¡¡get¡¡some¡¡work¡¡done¡£
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡June£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡Zach¡¡was¡¡concerned£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡tolerable¡¡month¡¡in¡¡New¡¡Orleans¡¡until¡¡mid¡autumn¡£¡¡The¡¡days¡¡were¡¡already¡¡hot£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡as¡¡mired¡¡in¡¡sodden¡¡swelter¡¡as¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡through¡¡July£»¡¡August£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of¡¡September¡£¡¡During¡¡these¡¡obscene¡¡months¡¡he¡¡slept¡¡all¡¡morning¡¡and¡¡afternoon£»¡¡his¡¡dreams¡¡punctuated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rattle¡¡and¡¡drip¡¡of¡¡his¡¡laboring¡¡air¡¡conditioner¡£¡¡He¡¡spent¡¡his¡¡nights¡¡cramming¡¡his¡¡head¡¡with¡¡information£»¡¡words¡¡and¡¡images¡¡and¡¡the¡¡subtle¡¡semiotics¡¡they¡¡triggered¡¡in¡¡his¡¡brain£»¡¡or¡¡hacking¡¡paths¡¡through¡¡the¡¡infinite¡¡mazes¡¡of¡¡forbidden¡¡puter¡¡systems£»¡¡or¡¡simply¡¡skating¡¡around¡¡the¡¡boards¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡just¡¡wele¡¡but¡¡absurdly¡¡revered¡£
¡¡¡¡Only¡¡long¡¡after¡¡sundown¡¡would¡¡he¡¡venture¡¡into¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Quarter¡¡to¡¡prowl¡¡the¡¡gaslit¡¡side¡¡streets£»¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡among¡¡euphorically¡¡drunken£»¡¡tourists¡¡and¡¡roustabouts¡¡on¡¡neon¡smeared¡¡Bourbon¡¡Street£»¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡passing¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡wine¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡Jackson¡¡Square£»¡¡or¡¡lingering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡bars¡¡and¡¡smoky¡¡clubs¡¡of¡¡Rue¡¡Decatur£»¡¡or¡¡occasionally¡¡throwing¡¡a¡¡small¡¡party¡¡in¡¡Saint¡¡Louis¡¡#1£»¡¡the¡¡old¡¡cemetery¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Quarter¡£
¡¡¡¡But¡¡today¡¡he¡¡descended¡¡the¡¡stairs¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sidewalk£»¡¡pushed¡¡the¡¡iron¡¡gate¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡in¡¡a¡¡noseful¡¡of¡¡the¡¡humid¡¡air¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡perfume¡£¡¡And¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sort£»¡¡it¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡wet¡¡cotton¡¡in¡¡his¡¡lungs£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡fragrance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Quarter£»¡¡a¡¡heady¡¡melange¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡odors£º¡¡seafood¡¡and¡¡spices£»¡¡beer¡¡and¡¡horseshit£»¡¡oil¡¡paints¡¡and¡¡incense¡¡and¡¡flowers¡¡and¡¡garbage¡¡and¡¡river¡¡mud£»¡¡and¡¡underlying¡¡it¡¡all¡¡the¡¡clean¡¡crumbling¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡age£»¡¡old¡¡iron£»¡¡softly¡¡sifting¡¡brick£»¡¡stone¡¡trodden¡¡by¡¡a¡¡million¡¡feet£»¡¡recording¡¡the¡¡infinitesimal¡¡imprint¡¡of¡¡each¡£
¡¡¡¡Zach's¡¡third¡floor¡¡apartment¡¡overlooked¡¡tiny¡¡Rue¡¡Madison£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡shortest¡¡streets¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Quarter£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡its¡¡twin¡¡Wilkinson¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side¡¡of¡¡Jackson¡¡Square¡£¡¡His¡¡row¡¡of¡¡buildings¡¡was¡¡decorated¡¡with¡¡intricate¡¡black¡¡ironwork¡£¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡block¡¡long£»¡¡quiet¡¡little¡¡Madison¡¡ran¡¡straight¡¡into¡¡the¡¡technicolor¡¡melee¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Market¡£
¡¡¡¡Zach¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡vintage¡¡clothing¡¡store¡¡on¡¡the¡¡corner£»¡¡knocked¡¡on¡¡the¡¡open¡¡door¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hippie¡¡proprietor¡¡£¨who¡¡had¡¡recently¡¡given¡¡him¡¡a¡¡neighborly¡¡deal¡¡on¡¡a¡¡black¡¡frock¡¡coat¡¡lined¡¡with¡¡royal¡¡purple¡¡silk£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡too¡¡hot¡¡to¡¡wear¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡until¡¡Christmas£©£»¡¡then¡¡cut¡¡through¡¡an¡¡area¡¡housing¡¡an¡¡informal¡¡bazaar¡¡where¡¡you¡¡could¡¡find¡¡useless¡¡crap¡¡or¡¡the¡¡very¡¡treasures¡¡of¡¡Lafitte£»¡¡depending¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡day¡¡and¡¡your¡¡luck¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡French¡¡Market£»¡¡surrounded¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sides¡¡by¡¡delicious¡¡smells¡¡and¡¡harmonious¡¡colors¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡symmetry¡¡and¡¡bounty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡edible¡¡vegetable¡¡kingdom£»¡¡heaped¡¡together¡¡in¡¡great¡¡glowing¡¡piles¡¡under¡¡one¡¡old¡¡stone¡¡roof¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡pyramids¡¡of¡¡tomatoes¡¡so¡¡achingly¡¡scarlet¡¡that¡¡they¡¡hurt¡¡the¡¡eyes£»¡¡bushel¡¡baskets¡¡of¡¡eggplants¡¡like¡¡burnished¡¡purple¡¡patent¡¡leather£»¡¡the¡¡verdant¡¡green¡¡of¡¡bell¡¡peppers¡¡and¡¡the¡¡delicate£»¡¡creamy¡¡green¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tender¡¡little¡¡squash¡¡called¡¡mirliton¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡onions¡¡as¡¡large¡¡as¡¡babies'¡¡heads£»¡¡red¡¡and¡¡gold¡¡and¡¡pearly¡¡white¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡nuts¡¡and¡¡ripe¡¡bananas¡¡and¡¡cool¡¡frosted¡¡grapes£»¡¡fresh¡¡herbs¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bunch£»¡¡great¡¡thick¡¡braids¡¡of¡¡garlic¡¡and¡¡dried¡¡red¡¡tabasco¡¡peppers¡¡hanging¡¡from¡¡the¡¡rafters¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡stalks¡¡of¡¡fresh¡¡sugar¡¡cane£»¡¡sold¡¡by¡¡the¡¡foot¡¡so¡¡you¡¡could¡¡gnaw¡¡and¡¡suck¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sweet¡¡juice¡¡as¡¡you¡¡walked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡market¡¡smelling¡¡and¡¡marveling¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡homegrown¡¡rice£»¡¡and¡¡barrels¡¡full¡¡of¡¡shining¡¡red¡¡beans¡¡to¡¡cook¡¡it¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡long¡¡links¡¡of¡¡smoky¡¡Cajun¡¡sausage¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡in¡¡for¡¡flavor¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fish¡¡market¡¡to¡¡the¡¡side¡¡where¡¡you¡¡could¡¡buy¡¡fresh¡¡crabs¡¡and¡¡crawdads¡¡and¡¡catfish£»¡¡bright¡¡blue¡¡Gulf¡¡shrimp¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡your¡¡hand£»¡¡even¡¡alligator¡¡if¡¡you¡¡liked¡£
¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡every¡¡stand¡¡were¡¡the¡¡vendors¡¡hawking¡¡their¡¡wares£»¡¡old¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡e¡¡in¡¡laden¡¡pickup¡¡trucks¡¡before¡¡dawn£»¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡seamed¡¡leather£»¡¡black¡¡or¡¡tan£»¡¡Cajuns£»¡¡Cubans£»¡¡occasional¡¡Asians¡£¡¡The¡¡Market£»¡¡Zach¡¡thought£»¡¡was¡¡probably¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡culturally¡¡and¡¡racially¡¡diverse¡¡spots¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡Good¡¡karma¡¡for¡¡a¡¡place¡¡where£»¡¡not¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡slaves¡¡had¡¡done¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡shopping¡£
¡¡¡¡Every¡¡vendor¡¡had¡¡the¡¡finest£»¡¡the¡¡freshest£»¡¡the¡¡cheapest¡¡goods¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Market£»¡¡they¡¡all¡¡proclaimed¡¡so£»¡¡each¡¡more¡¡loudly¡¡than¡¡the¡¡next£»¡¡until¡¡the¡¡clamorous¡¡praise¡¡for¡¡fruits¡¡and¡¡vegetables¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roof¡¡and¡¡spiraled¡¡out¡¡between¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡columns¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡sell¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡¡by¡¡the¡¡piece£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡pound£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡damn¡¡lot¡¡if¡¡you¡¡fancied¡£
¡¡¡¡But¡¡Zach¡¡fancied¡¡other¡¡things¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡through£»¡¡looking¡¡but¡¡not¡¡stopping£»¡¡until¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡fringes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flea¡¡market¡¡that¡¡took¡¡up¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡£¡¡Here¡¡the¡¡wares¡¡tended¡¡more¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡tacky¡¡or¡¡the¡¡weird£»¡¡tables¡¡full¡¡of¡¡shell¡¡magnets¡¡and¡¡ceramic¡¡crawfish¡¡salt¡¡shakers¡¡alternating¡¡with¡¡stands¡¡that¡¡sold¡¡leather¡¡jewelry£»¡¡boot¡¡knives£»¡¡essential¡¡oils¡¡and¡¡bundles¡¡of¡¡incense¡¡and¡¡suspicious¡looking¡¡cassette¡¡knockoffs¡¡of¡¡whatever¡¡CDs¡¡the¡¡vendor¡¡had¡¡recently¡¡bought¡£
¡¡¡¡Several¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡running¡¡the¡¡weirder¡¡stands¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡Garrett£»¡¡a¡¡nervous¡¡kid¡¡with¡¡bleached¡blond¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡great¡¡tragic¡¡angel¡eyes£»¡¡who¡¡painted¡¡pictures¡¡way¡¡too¡¡scary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Jackson¡¡Square¡¡portrait¡¡crowd£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a¡¡table¡¡full¡¡of¡¡crucifix¡¡pendants¡¡and¡¡rhinestone¡¡cat's¡eye¡¡sunglasses£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡a¡¡brisk¡¡business¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡Serena£»¡¡purple¡haired¡¡patchouli¡daubed¡¡priestess¡¡as¡¡calm¡¡as¡¡her¡¡name£»¡¡nodding¡¡happily¡¡before¡¡her¡¡altar¡¡of¡¡bootleg¡¡Cure¡¡and¡¡Nirvana£»¡¡serene¡¡until¡¡some¡¡unsuspecting¡¡light¡fingered¡¡customer¡¡happened¡¡along¡¡and¡¡mistook¡¡her¡¡for¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡mark¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡whipped¡¡into¡¡ultraviolent¡¡motion£»¡¡straight¡arming¡¡the¡¡hapless¡¡thief¡¡with¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡retrieving¡¡her¡¡merchandise¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡spooky¡¡Larese¡¡with¡¡her¡¡black¡¡Cleopatra¡¡e