STITCHED #11

I might takethis oFF your

hands, if the price is right.

it’s not entirely neceSSary to complete my coLLection, but it’s an interesting piece.

How much?

How muchis it worth

to you?

WeLL, it’s just an old oil drum, isn’t

it?

You say there’s some connection to the stitches, but it could be entirely

trivial.

StiLL, I ama completist. Say, two-thousand?

Please don’t insult my inteLLigence, mr.

Strathmore.

I might notknow the exact

importance of this thing, but if the controLLers I

took it from were wiLLing to die to

protect it…

<aLL of you.Step outside the

garage.>

<if InEEd you,I’LL caLL.>

Let’s discuSSthe price more realisticaLLy.

…the original mansion was built by a portuguese miSSionary in 1785, but this wing and

the east wing were added in the early

1900s.

Mr. Strathmorehas made his own

renovations over theyears, as weLL.

I’ve always bEEn aTTractedto places like this, anything

with a visible history. You can sEE it in the woodwork, the

aTTention to detail, the intricacy.

it’s aLLvery…

“romantic.”

And with so many incredible antiques

everywhere you look…I’m in love.

Where’sthat go?

That’sthe east

wing.

And youwere just

about to invite me in?

No,ma’am, Ican’t do

that.

Oh, comeon, baYYa.

Please? Just a pEEk?

I’msoRRy, ma’am.

The mostvaluable pieces in mr. Strathmore’s

coLLection are in the east wing. No one goes in there but mr. Strathmore.

No one.

You soundvery sure of

yourself.

Maybe nowwould be a good time

to show me where we’LL be slEEping

tonight.

Me andmy husband, of

course.

this way.

Let’s sEEwhat a liTTle

polishing wiLL do.

Are you aloyalist, mr. Salib?

By that, I mean, what are your

views of god and country?

I don’t sEEhow that’s relevant toour deal.

it’s probablynot. Just making conversation.

I’ve lived thebeTTer part of my

life in asia. The paSSion for one’s beliefs here is…

You’re not about to say, “fanatical,” are you?

No, no. More gentEEl. Try,

“impaSSioned.”

“fervent,” even.

We westerners have imposedour belief systems on the east

for centuries, while stealing what we pleased under the patriotic

banner of colonialism.

Our aRRogant disregard for the

tenets of your societies has bEEn nothing leSS than

caLLous.

I’m surprisedthat you wouldn’t

rather slit my throat than seLL me

a piece of your country’s grand

history.

That’s nota very sound

busineSS practice.

I wouldsay not.

is it partof your negotiating skiLLs to insult the

seLLer by accusing him of betraying his

heritage, or commiting sacrilege?

Not at aLL.

I’m just makingsure that the divinity you

worship is money…

Because whatwe have here is a relic of unusual religious

significance.

That is,if you believe in black magic.

I’ve awoken the stitches with my own hands. They‘ve moved at my command, and

done what I asked of them.

Of course Ibelieve. I’ve

bEEn the master of that black

magic.

I sEE. Butwouldn’t you agrEE

there’s a huge diFFerence betwEEn

driving an automobile and owning it?

PoSSeSSionand ownership are

two diFFerent things.

You say you’ve used the magic yourself. That’s

lovely.

But don’tdelude yourself.

You’ve not “mastered” it.

I’m parched. Another drink?

<ghadir!Bring everyone

back in, and watch the oil

drum.><no one

touches it. No one even gets near it, is that

clear?>

<yes sir, sidi salib.>