"Gads!" Strange thinks. "What a choir! I think even the monkey got in on that hello, and I know darn well I heard the dalmation howling. Wonder who he belongs to? Sure is a fine-lookin' pup."

She finds the pool table--W-A-Y-Y-Y-Y in the back, past the Jello pit and the bowling alley, and flips on the switch for the light hanging over it. There's a small table with a couple of chairs just far enough away from the table to be out of the way of the shooters, and she puts her drink, her concertina, and her cue case on it. Slowly and with reverence, she opens the cue case and unlimbers her Schmelke with the Rosewood butt, and carefully screws the butt and the shaft together.

She is pleasantly pleased to discover that the coin-operated table is unlocked and pool is free tonight. She racks the balls, slams a break that sinks two solids, and with sure, graceful movements, runs the table. She smiles. Good to know she hasn't lost her touch, even after being off the tables so long.

She sets up a new rack, chalks, and breaks...