Dr. Sebastian Makepeace was a very large man, but he moved with surprising

agility for his size. He weighed three hundred pounds and stood six feet six

inches tall. He came striding across the park, carrying a shapeless briefcase

and puffing on a big cigar, his Dickensian gray hair streaming out from

beneath

his black beret, his ankle-length black leather overcoat unbuttoned and

billowing behind him like a cape, he made straight for Wyrdrune and Kira like

a

juggernaut, knowing people would make way for him. When anything that big

comes

bearing down on you, you make way.

He came up to them where they stood by the fountain and stopped directly in

front of them, towering over them both like a mountain.

"Hello, my dear," he said to Kira, after first taking the cigar out of his

mouth. He had a booming voice that any stage actor would have envied. He took

her hand and made a small bow. "Thank you for coming so promptly." He put the

cigar back between his teeth and glared at Wyrdrune. "You must be young

Wyrdrune. We've spoken on the phone."

"No, sir, I don't think we have," said Wyrdrune. "You spoke to Kira before."

"Quite right, quite right," said Makepeace gruffly. His eyes narrowed beneath

his bristling eyebrows. "What's your truename? I must be sure, now."

"Karpinsky," Wyrdrune said.

Makepeace grunted. "First name?"

Wyrdrune hesitated. "Melvin," he said. "But no one ever calls me that," he

quickly added. "I go by my mage-name."

"Of course you do, Melvin," Makepeace said, and Wyrdrune grimaced sourly as

he

realized that Makepeace was probably never going to call him anything else.

"You

mind removing your hat?"

Wyrdrune complied with his request. Makepeace squinted at the runestone and

grunted. "One can never be too careful. Tell me, does Morpheus have one of

those

little gems as well?"

"Yes," said Wyrdrune, putting his hat back on.

"What kind?"

"A ruby."

"Where?"

"Over his heart. Are you satisfied now, or do you want me to produce my

birth

certificate?" said Wyrdrune wryly.

"One can never be too careful," Makepeace said. "Humor me, okay? What does

the