rustedtusks.com

I THOUGHT that sounded familiar. I see this is likely a greeting Mulefoot and Sam share whenever they happen to cross paths again.

http://www.rustedtusks.com/slop/index.p ... &p=24&nc=1

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Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

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Emoticons are the wheelchair ramps for the humor impaired.

I wonder what the numbers are. I wonder if we'll find out, and when.

My morbid side says it might be a kill count, although if so they've both been awfully ambitious. If they have intel backgrounds it could be a code for almost anything.

Or it could be they know each other's jokes.

Old con and recent con in the jail cell after lights out. Somebody yells "Seventeen!" and everybody in the jail laughs. Kid asks what that's about.

"We've been in here so long we know each others' jokes, so we save time. Just call out the number, and everyone remembers the joke and laughs."

Kid shrugs and shouts "Four!"

Dead silence.

"Isn't four a funny joke?"

"Yeah, one of the best. But you know, some people can tell a joke and some people just can't."

By the way, speaking of numbers, how many people know about Tony Ray's little hobby?

We have Tony Ray himself, of course. Sam turns out not only to know that Tony Ray is a killer, but that he's the Slop Killer famous across the land. Presumably Sam's boss knows that too, or at least most of it. "How is the old monster?" after all. And there's Brice, assuming Brice is still wandering around somewhere.

Granted that most (presumably all) of these people have reasons for not telling what they know, but as Ben Franklin said, "Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead." We're at four at least-- maybe more. It's getting toward statistically impossible for Tony Ray not to be snitched upon at some point or other, and given that he doesn't seem to take all that much care to avoid leaving traces, this can't go well for him.

Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead, and Tony Ray could arrange that. But some of the people who know are out of his reach, and could also be trusted to have his information someplace that it's safe-- for now-- as long as they themselves stay healthy.

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Gas burns fast. Liquor burns quicker.

67? 39? Easy - waist sizes. Have a look at the both of 'em.

--lj

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Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring
When I think about my dirty life and times.
---Warren Zevon