vioussocialprotesforthesadproblemofmissingorstolenchildren.

    Notonlyhadhegotte,buthehadusedmyownwainstme.Asuperscriptnotationby"Andrew"directedthereaderstothefineprintofthefootnote:Andrew(nothisrealname)reeledoffanelaboratestoryofahobgoblinsubculturethat,heclaimed,livedinanearbywoodedarea,preyingonthechildrenofthetownforoveratury.HeassertedalsothathehadoncebeenahumanchildnamedGustavUngerland,whohadarrivedintheareaasthesonofGermanimmigrantsinthemid-eeury.Moreincredibly,Andrewclaimstohavebeenamusicalprodigyinhisotherlife,askillrestoredtohimwhenhegedbathelate1940s.Hiselaboratetale,sadly,indicatesdeeppathologicaldevelopmentalproblems,possiblycsomeearlychildhoodabuse,trauma,lect.

    Ihadtoreadthelastsentenceseveraltimesbeforeitbecameclear.Iwaohowl,totrackhimdownandcramhiswordsintohismouth.Irippedthepagesfromthejournalandthrewtheruinedmagaziothetrash."Liar,faker,thief,"ImutteredoverandoverasIpacedbadforthamoacks.ThankfullyIenterednoone,forwhoknowshowImighthaveventedmyrage.Failuretothrive.Pathologicalproblems.Abandonedchildren.Hegaveusgelingsatallandhadthewholestorybackward.Wewentandsnatchedthemfromtheirbeds.Wewereasrealasnightmares.

    Thepingoftheelevatorchimessoundedlikeagunshot,andthroughtheopendoorappearedthelibrarian,aslightwomanincats-eyeglasses,hairdrawnbaabun.Shefrozewhenshesawme,rathersavagelydisheveled,hutshetamedmewhenshespoke."Wereclosing,"shecalledout."Youllhavetogo."

    IduckedbehindarowofbooksandfoldedMesspage