This is another entr’acte because it comes in between leaving the shores of Lago Maggiore and returning to the senescence, if not the detritus, that is Citrus City. It is also reflective of what will be a change in Malarkey’s worldview as the following dialogue between Liliana and Malarkey will attest:
“Gotta see the dentist about this tooth,” Malarkey says.
“Which tooth?” Liliana answers.
“Wisdom.”
“To put one in or take one out?”
Liliana smiles and raises her eyebrows.
“You’re still not a member of the mile high club. You wanna try it again?”
“On two conditions.”
“What’s that?”
“One, that you’re absolutely positive the Chancellor is not flying on this plane and two, you get me pregnant.”
There’s a pregnant pause.
“Gotta see the dentist about this tooth.”
“Always an answer,” she replies as she gazes out the window at thirty-five thousand feet. Additional tests to follow. Watch for that chapter.
END PART II