So he said, “Much better for me to win, but we still need a plan. I’m hoping the emotional shock of my next victory will bring back some of my memories, and I’ll remember how to Travel. I think I’m in touch with a universe where they can communicate with home – and Eightfold can communicate with other universes containing Eightfold.”

Nobody objected, which was a relief. He hadn’t been quite sure how much of that was memory and how much was wishful thinking.

“I’m just worried about Joey after I’m gone. Nobody here really trusted or respected me, and I can’t quite remember why.”

Before anyone had a chance to politely object, or else make it brutally clear they had no intention of doing so, he went on. “I think I may have crossed some lines getting Joey to be my host, and I’m not sure what shape he’ll be in when I’m gone. Elders can sense other elders, but he’ll be safe from assassins if there are no elders physically near him for them to track down. I think he’ll need experts on human minds and brains though. Human experts.”

Joey stirred uncomfortably inside his mind. Somehow this way had been easier than telling Joey directly.

Diopside said, “My host has a few ideas about how to get started. We can set up an apartment with doctors and therapists paid in cash. Unfortunately it can’t be done legally with all the Eightfold secrets we still need to keep, so we need to find competent and trustworthy people who will break the law.”

Emerald wasn’t quite sure what all of this meant, but Joey seemed to understand. Joey wanted him to pull out the wad of currency and offer it back, in case it was needed for expenses. He did so.

Diopside shook his head. “Keep it. You might need some, and it sounds but you’re both going to be taking more than your share of the upcoming risks. Maybe join a gym or something, help you relax.”

Judging from Joey’s reaction, the green pieces of paper were rather a big deal here. That was momentarily amusing, but then he thought about his host’s reaction to what he had just heard and sobered. He wondered what he could say to Joey and how Joey might react a little too long, and Joey woke up.

Joey grinned. At least they had a plan. And the money felt good.

He told Emerald, “Bits and pieces are coming back to me too. I seem to recall I was on the verge of killing myself when I became your host. I might not have been too nice a guy before that. Maybe we can both be heros now though. Let’s just commit one more sin before the hard part though.”

As Joey hid ninety percent of their bankroll underneath the mattress, Emerald began to have a feel for his plan. It would be interesting to learn more about human biology. On the other hand, it was a little scary that the cunning and knowlegeble being he had started to count on was so driven by biology.

Then they set out to visit the Whore of Babylon.

Even her apartment looked classy, complete with tasteful (or at least subtly phallic) art and sculpture. A woman who charged a thousand bucks an hour had to make her presentation classy rather than slutty, and despite her stage name that was what Nessy did. Her short skirt was alluring rather than slutty, and her stockings were sheer rather than course. Only the outlines of her breasts could be seen through her blouse, though he could tell there was no bra underneath it.

She took the two thousand dollars as if it were a sweet surprise, a gift just for her. She was good, and even when they kissed it felt really intense, as if she were really enjoying it. Although he knew damned well what she was, it sure felt as if she were as eager to get his clothing off as he was to remove hers.

Somehow knowing that Emerald was feeling the same things he did only added a perverted fascination to the experience. It didn’t kill the buzz as he had feared.

Near the end, as she rode him vigorously with a credible pretense of enthusiasm, he felt Emerald finally understand how intense the experience was, and even begin to fear that it might be addictive.

A little later he lay with her breasts pressed against his back, exhausted but with every muscle totally relaxed. Soon his breathing became slower and more even.

Nessie said, “Oh darling, it’s been so wonderful to see you. I wish we could stay like this forever.”

A gentle reminder by implication that they couldn’t. He supposed she needed to get cleaned up for her next appointment. But had he had two hours already? When he picked up Lassiter’s cell phone he discovered he had. He started to pull on his clothing before less gentle hints became necessary. He knew she had a bouncer somewhere in the apartment for emergencies.