Kicky cupped his cigarette, afraid that even the slightest glow from the ash would reveal his hiding place. He was afraid. How did he allow himself to fall for Ratzenhofer's trap. Kicky remembered once before, in the Congo in 1978 when he had fallen for the voluputous negress with the red bowl on the head trick. It was one of Ratzenhofer's favorite ploys and had almost cost Kicky his life on that fateful day in that bug-infested hell-hole of an African country. But kicky had escaped by clutching to the tails of a stampeding wildebeest herd. He had looked back and saw Ratzenhofer raise his rifle and pull the trigger. 424 yards away, but the bullet stuck home, searing the flesh off kicky's right bicep. Kicky rubbed the scar on his arm now. It reminded him of Ratzenhofer's prowess -- he must be careful.
Sensing something above him, Kicky emerged from the niche and started to gaze upward. Shuffling behind him. He turns....
Kicky's knees weaken at the sight of the gun barrel. He asks in a trembling tone, "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Shut up, you sniveling creep. If you want to get our of here alive, listen to me. Ratzenhofer is directly above you. No...no! Don't look up! My name is panzade. I'm a struggling musician from Florida and I have no idea how the hell I got involved in this story. Let's just say I've tangled with Ratzenhofer before and I knew he would kill you if I didn't show up to help. Follow me."
Panzade and kicky race through the alley. Frightened rats nip at their heels. The moon breaks through the clouds and the alley is cast into a ghoulish chasm of filtered light and shadow.
Somewhere in the distance a dog barks.
Kicky and Panzade emerge from the alley and begin to run for their lives. Behind them, a miracle happens, Ratzenhofer the Shapechanger prepares to strike.
Their deaths will not be pleasant...