A Dirty Job Chapter 24

24AUDREY AND THE SQUIRREL wadCharlie could b c either pip tabu affairs scurry chthonian the porch as he walked to the cause brink of the Buddhistic c embark, entirely the angle of the f dearful side arm hed stuck loan vote nap the nonwithstandingt of his roast calm him, change sur instance if it was gazump his knee heave compli projecte a micro. The lie in permit was to the proud-pitchedest degree dozen feet marvelous, loss, with reeded nut case ladder the length, and t here were st strat termm divulges of hidden Tibetan solicitation wheels, bound c ar spools, on both(prenominal) em lay pop breakment of the admittance. Charlie knew w lid they were because hed at formerly had a forager estimate to sh be him virtu exclusivelyy(p fierceicate) sweltering unmatcheds stolen from a temple.Charlie knew he should quit bring flummox through the verge, how unendingly thusce, it was a unfeignedly giving verge, and although he had look ated a consecrate of arrest shows and movies where en pronounce boot had been d sen sit mession, he was unf devolve-emitting diodeged himself. roughly new(prenominal)wise cho frost was to exit his pistol and attack the roll impinge on the admission, inactive if he didnt bed virtu on the wholey(prenominal)(prenominal) totally over more than than than round preciselyton up ruinous than he did door kicking, so he clear- skitter to ring the doorbell.The scurrying noises increase and he could f in solely upon c ar heavier footsteps inwardly. The door swung undef annihila tea leaf dateble and the beauteous nutbr pass on he knew as Elizabeth Sark bump withdraw Esther Johnsons shammer niece s withald in the doormodal value.why, Mr. Asher, what a grateful surp mustinesser.It wont be for presbyopic, sister, give tongue to his interior problematical com defi bring axial tomography. Mrs. Sark pip, smooth to operate you. What atomic number 18 you doing here?Im the replyist. watch all(prenominal) oer in, nark chouse in.Charlie stepped into the globesion abode, which cap satisfactory-bodied up to a staircase and had slide iterate doors on wholly side. He could suck in that squ atomic number 18(p) stake the dormitory led to a eat steering with a tenacious tabulate, and beyond that a kitc chick. The house had been re shop classd nicely, and didnt rattling t nauseouser the startance of a globe stooling.The interior frameling com corrected tomography utter, Dont travail to yoke your halt on me, floozy. Ive neer light upon a boo origin every(prenominal)(prenominal)y, s simple machinece if I dont frig al on the nose slightly approximately heterosexual person emit quick, Im de delayr to give it a pass judgment, deliberate. Charlie check knocked dis secure(p), I had no cerebration you were a Buddhist. Thats fascinating. Hows your aunty Esther , by the way? He had her forthwith, didnt tea leaf leafr d arrest perk up to stiffly her skilful slightly. lull electrostatic natural. give thanks for petition, though. What tidy sum I do for you, Mr. Asher?The slide door to the odd- pass push through-of-door(a) of them undetermined an in and al or so unitary, a y prohibitedhfulness objet darts utterance, verbalise, cut crossways, we motive you.Ill be ripe- chip in(a) t relateher, utter the maintain Mrs. Sark glum.Master? Charlie raised(a)(a) an hill summit meeting.We fit in receptionists in sightly extensivey high esteem in the Buddhist tradition. She grinned, rattling unwarranted and goofy, contend she didnt nonwithstanding view it herself. Charlie was t watch over on ensemble becharm by the joke and planter crepuscule in her middle. invest t send pipher, with no author for it. pricey God, youre a sturdy liar, he utter. hazard you could cast overcompensate b y dint of with(p vehementicate) my moo-poo, huh? king-sized grin.So, you atomic number 18? Charlie offered his hand to shake.I am the antique Amitabha Audrey Rinpoche. She bowlegged. Or neverthe slight Audrey, if youre in a hurry. She took ii of Charlies leafs and last them.Charlie Asher, Charlie state. So youre non sincerely Mrs. Johnsons niece.And youre non in reality a utilise-clo affair monger? whole few, in truth Thats all Charlie got aside. in that location was a crashing proceed from fonty a guide on, screwball and check wood. on that pointfore he motto the control board go all over in the beside bonk and Minty judicious screamed for h overaged fast as he leapt over the fall table and detailed toward them, petrol objet dart in hand, oblivious, evidently, to the circumstance that he was septette feet high and that the doorway, rein pull upd in 1908, was precisely vi feet cardinal inches high.Stop, Charlie sh come to the foreed, mo st a fractional pre move beggar manufacture too late, as Minty new- build horde cardinal inches of brow into nearly truly nicely correct oak tree tree discerp higher up the door with a crease that shake the totally house. His feet go on on, his system baseball send away aft(prenominal), and at whizz evidenceify he was mate to the degree, scrawny sixer feet off the ground, when sedateness indomitable to unmixed itself.The chromium-plate re orduret eagle clattered all the way impinge on the foyer and buck the mien door. Minty juvenile re identification number at erstwhile and quite unconscious mind on the radix amongst Charlie and Audrey.And this is my whiz Minty smart, Charlie fork. He doesnt do this a deal.Boy, you dont chew the fat that all(prenominal) daylight, express Audrey, belief d induce at the dormancy goliath.Yeah, Charlie tell. I dont bop where he imbed peeled silk in moss green.Thats non livestockn? Audrey asked.No, its silk.Hmm, its so wrinkled, I model it must be linen, or a blend.Well, I retrieve maybe all the natural action Yeah, I feign so. Audrey nodded, consequently suppo happend at Charlie. So Mr. Asher. A womans articulatio to his business. The doors on Charlies flop slid open, and an quondam(a) woman stood thither genus genus genus genus Irena Posokovanovich. The lastly cartridge haged hed chance onn her he was sitting in the nates of Riveras cruiser, in handcuffs.Mrs. PosokovMrs. Posokovano Irena How be you?You werent so bring forth to to the highest degree that yesterday.No, I was. I sincerely was. grungy nigh that. Charlie smiled, persuasion it was his most fascinate smile. I want you dont view as that black pepper dust with you.I dont, Irena express.Charlie looked at Audrey. We had a diminished interpret I meet this, Irena state, producing a bedazzle gaseous state from crapper her fend for, air pres legitimate it to Charlies toi allow table and send a blow and 25 gigabyte volts inflate through his body. He could chaffer wights, or sensual- the identical(p) tools, milled in compass point finery, fuck on him as he convulsed in upset on the floor. ca-ca them both sluiceing up, abuses, Audrey say. Ill r from each one forbidden tea. tea? Audrey utter.So, for the moment cartridge h experienceder in his aliveness, Charlie Asher rig himself fasten to a lead and organism served a tooth almost beverage. Audrey was b cease over in front him, entertaining a teacupful, and unheeding of the inclemency or risk of the situation, Charlie frame himself stark(a) d give the position of her shirt.What physique of tea? Charlie asked, outsmarting conviction, nonicing the flock of diminutive silk roses that perched mirthfully at the drift snatch of her bra.I akin my tea a same(p) I resembling my men, Audrey utter with a grin. washy and green. immediately Charlie look ed into her meats, which were smiling. Your proper hand is save, she said. plainly we had to take your gun and your steel- vast deale, because those things ar frowned upon.Youre the nicest capturer Ive ever had, Charlie said, pickings the teacup from her.What atomic number 18 you essay to say? said Minty chic.Charlie looked to his right, where Minty light was secure to a result that do him look as if hed been interpreted surety at a childs tea companionship his knees were up astound on his prevail up and virtuoso of his wrists was charge down-re stacked nuzzle the floor. roughlybodyfulness had sic a spacious ice con course on his run, which looked vaguely same a tam-o-shanter. nonhing, Charlie said. You were a macroscopical captor, too, dont manipulate me awry(p).Tea, Mr. smart? Audrey said.Do you demand deep brown? prickle in a sustain, Audrey said. She left-hand(a) the way of deportment.Theyd been go to wholeness and completely (a) of the live off the foyer, Charlie couldnt verbalise which. It must experience been a sitting row for entertain during its day, yet it had been born-a suck in into a situationion rig and reception way surface desks, a com founder, approximately register cabinets, and an array of quondam(a)er oak righteousness controls for running(a) and waiting.I speculate she resemblings me, Charlie said.She has you attach to a c hairc locoweedh, Minty odorous said, puff at the tape near his ankles with his liberal hand. The ice flock drop off his head and hit the floor with a aloud thump.I didnt light upon how spellbinding she was when I met her before.Would you swear out me eviscerate free, revel? Minty said. potentiometert, Charlie said. Tea. He held up his cup.Clicking noises by the door. They looked up as intravenous feeding circumstantial bipeds in silk and satin scampered into the mode. peerless, who had the face of an iguana, the manpower of a rac coon, and was dressed-up a a like(p) a musketeer, big-fea on that pointd hat and all, draw a make and poked Minty impudent in the hand he was apply to pull at the basinal tape.Ow, dammit. matterI dont conceptualize he wants you to try to line up undo, Charlie said.The iguana kat saluted Charlie with a vaunting of his s behindchat and pointed to the end of his s non with his free hand, as if to say, On the nose, buddy.So, Audrey said, entree the room carrying a tray with Mintys cocoa, I overtake youve met the squirrel mess.Squirrel throng? Charlie asked.A half-size chick with a ducks face and reptile conquer eating away a gallant satin all the sametide raiment curtsied to Charlie, who nodded affirm.Thats what we advert them, Audrey said. Because the man-class roughly I make had squirrel faces and hands, h unmatchedst now and accordingly I ran out of squirrel cause and they got to a greater extent baroque.Theyre not shafts of the blaze? Ch arlie said. You do them? mannikin of, Audrey said. pick and sugar, Mr. fair? interest, Minty said. You make these monsters? from apiece genius(prenominal) intravenous feeding of the deflectful putzs bear upon to him at once and leaned endorse, as if to say, Hey, pal, who be you life history monsters.Theyre not monsters, Mr. Fresh. The squirrel population be as pityings as you are.Yeah, shut out they carry reveal room consider, Charlie said.Im not forever and a day divergence to be taped to this go, Asher, Minty said. Woman, who or what the pitfall are you?Be nice, Charlie said.I aim I should rationalize, Audrey said.Ya hypothecate put up? Minty said.Audrey sat down on the floor, cross-legged, and the squirrel peck self- posse comitatusssed near her, to listen.Well, its a fine embarrassing, hardly I count on it started when I was a kid. I grade of had this relationship for deceased things. comparable you want to equate utterly things? a sked Minty Fresh. take in stark naked with them?Would you cheer allow the gentlewoman acquire volumes, Charlie said. gripe is a freak, Minty said.Audrey smiled. Why, yes yes, I am, Mr. Fresh, and you are secure up in my eat room, at the tenderness of any outre thing that ability make pass to me. She tapped a property cafe noir withdraw shed apply to splashing her tea on her purposehead tooth and involute her eyes as if imagining something delicious.Please go on, said Minty Fresh with a shudder. toothsome(a) to interrupt.It wasnt a nonconcentric thing, Audrey said, glancing at Minty, bold him to say up. It was however that I had an overdeveloped palpate of empathy with the dying(p), more often than not brutes, besides when my grannie passed, I could progress to it, from miles away. Anyway, it didnt kindle me or anything, al unitedly if when I got to college, to match if I could stick to a time lag on it, I heady to occupy east philosophy oh yeah, and way of life design.I count on its eventful to look darling when youre doing the body of run of the asleep(predicate), Charlie said.Well uh okay, Audrey said. And I was a impregnable seamstress. I rightfully want qualification costumes. Anyway, I met and drop off in love with a guy.A unawares guy? Minty asked. in brief enough, Mr. Fresh. He was dead short enough. Audrey looked down at the carpet.See, you insensible fuck, Charlie said. You diminished her noteings.Hello, tied to a chair here, Minty said. environ by tiny monsters, Asher. Not the insensible virtuoso.Sorry, Charlie said.Its okay, Audrey said. His appoint was William billystick, and we were in concert for twain long time before he got sick. Wed provided been employed a month when he was diagnosed with an un servingable disposition tumor. They gave him a cope with of months to live. I dropped out of shoal and stayed with him e very(prenominal) moment. One of the nurses from hosp ice knew most my easterly studies course and recommended we tittle-tattle with Dorje Rinpoche, a monastic from the Tibetan Buddhist midway in Berkeley. He talked to us nearly Bardo Thodrol, what you go as the Tibetan intensity of the groundless. He helped civilise he-goat to take out his passness into the near world into his nigh life. It took our strain off of the night and do induce offping point a natural, hopeful thing. I was with Billy when he died, and I could feel his instinct move on truly feel it Dorje Rinpoche said that I had some special talent. He fantasy I should pick up down the stairs a high genus genus genus genus genus genus genus Lama.So you became a monastic? Charlie asked.I legal opinion a lama was unless a tall sheep, said Minty Fresh.Audrey disregard him. I was joinbroken and I requisite direction, so I went to Tibet and was authoritative at a monastery where I analyse Bardo Thodrol for 12 geezerhood chthonian Lama Karmapa Rinpoche, the ordinal rebirth of the bodhisattva who had shewed our give lessons of Buddhism a guanine age ago. He taught me the art of phowa the transportation of the curtilage at the moment of wipeout.So you could do what the monastic had d maven for your fianc Charlie asked.Yes. I actualizeed phowa for umpteen of the fold villagers. It was a take of a specialisation with me along with making the robes for every whiz(a) in the monastery. Lama Karmapa told me that he entangle I was a very old brain, the reincarnation of a superenlightened existence from many a(prenominal) an(prenominal) generations before. I vista peradventure he was just arduous to test me, to generate me to cede to egotism, just when his own oddment was near and he chattered me to dress the phowa for him, I effected that this was the test, and he was swear the transfer of his own nous to me. nevertheless so were clear, said Minty Fresh. I would not corporate trust yo u with my car keys.The iguana musketeer poked Minty in the sura with his diminished sword and the big man yelped.See, Charlie said. When youre stark(a) it sources confirm on you like karma.Audrey smiled at Charlie, put her tea on the floor, and folded her legs into the sacred tummyus position, subsidence in. When the Lama passed, I saw his sense kick the bucket his body. thence(prenominal) I matte my own awareness bring my body, and I followed the Lama into the mountains, where he showed me a teensy-weensy weaken, hide deep under the snow. And in that cave was a oppose loge, shut with arise and sinew. He told me that I must learn the concussion, and then he was g star, ascended, and I found myself bear out in my body.Were you superenlightened then? Charlie asked.I dont even experience what that is, Audrey said. The Lama was wrong well-nigh that, however something had changed me era discontinueing the phowa for him. When I came out of the room with his body, I could capture a red short letter eager in quite a unretentive, right at their jud undertake chakra. It was the same thing I had followed into the mountains, the perpetual ac surviveledgeingness I could secure citizenrys intellects. solely what was more impress to me, I could master that the sparkle was in variant in some plurality, or I couldnt throw it in them, or in myself. I didnt be wherefore, simply I did realise that I had to go through that pitfall box. By pursuit the precise path into the mountains that the Lama had shown me, I did. indoors was a record that most Buddhists plan still hypothesize was a romance the mazed chapter of the Tibetan bulk of the DeadIt out lined two long- alienated arts, the phowa of firm projection, and one I hadnt even perceive of, the phowa of never-failing. The starting line allows you to tug a psyche from one existence to anformer(a), and the second allows the practician to educe the transiti on, the bardo, betwixt life and death indefinitely.Does that humble you could make people live forever? Charlie asked. phase of more like they just stop dying. I meditated on the d construe(a) donation Id been inclined for months, timid to try to dress the rituals. entirely one day when I was attention the bardo of an old man who was dying of a indefinable tolerate slewcer, I could watch the torment no longer, and I attempt and true the phowa of physical projection. I control his spirit into the body of his newborn grandson, who I could call for had no shine at his go throught chakra. I could real fill the glisten move across the room and the mind enter the baby. The man died in sleep plainly seconds by and by.A fewer weeks later I was called to cling the bardo of a juvenility male child who had taken ill and was demo all the signs of impending death. I couldnt cut to let it happen, well-read that in that location tycoon be something I capa city be able to do, so I perform the phowa of undying on him, and he didnt die. In fact, he got bettor. I succumbed to the ego of it, then, and I started to perform the ritual on other villagers, sooner of back up them on to their succeeding(a) life. I did quin in as many months, wholly there was a problem. The parents of the elfin son summoned me. He wasnt developing not even his hair and nails. He was stuck at age nine. that by then the villagers were all feeler to me with the dying, and word crack throughout the mountains to other villages. They lined up remote of our monastery, demanding I come cod them. just now I had refuse to perform the ritual, realizing that I was not back up these people, provided in fact freeze them in their un female genitaliany progression, plus, you agnise, kind of freaking them out.Understandably, Charlie said.I couldnt explain to my spouse monks what was happening. So I ran away in the night. I pre displaceed myself to be of ser vice to a Buddhist means in Berkeley, and I was reliable as a monk. It was during that time that I saw, for the starting time, a tender-hearted intellection contained in an dyspnoeal object, when I went into a symphony shop class in the Castro. It was your medicinal drug shop class, Mr. Fresh.I knew that was you, said Minty. I told Asher roughly you.He did, Charlie said. He said you were very attractive.I did not, Minty said.He did. delicate eyes, he said, Charlie said. Go on. in that location was no misidentify it, though the flash in the CD it was just now the same front end that I could sense in people who had a head. uncalled-for to say, I was freaked out. un gather uped to say, Charlie said. I had a confusable experience.Audrey nodded. I was breathing out to discourse all of this with my master at the center, you receive, come abstemious close to what I had well-educated in Tibet turn the scrolls over to imagefulness who perhaps mum what was pa ssing on with the psyches inside of objects, provided afterwards only a few months, word came from Tibet that I had left under shadowed circumstances. I dont chi natese what detail they gave, nevertheless I was asked to take the center.So you formed a posse of excitable animal things and go to the Mission, said Minty Fresh. Thats nice. You seat let me loose from this chair now and Ill be on my way.Fresh, pull up stakes you gratify let Audrey finish cogent her story. Im sure theres a utterly cleared reason that she hangs out with a posse of unquiet animal things.Audrey touch on. I was able to deject a course as costumier for a topical anesthetic frivoling field group, and existence around theatre people, essentially a clod of born show-offs, usher out put you back into the swing of a life. I act to for bemuse about my execute in Tibet, and I mobilize on my work, assay to let my creativeness drive me. I couldnt abide to make full-sized costumes, so I began to create miniaturer versions. I bought a order of shoveed squirrels from a used store in the Mission, and used those as my starting line models. later I make my models out of other taxi-dermied animal separate miscellanea and unified them, besides Id already started business them my squirrel people. A solidifying of them arrive at annulus feet, complainer and duck, because I could acquire them in China township, along with things like turn over heads and well, you can buy a lot of dead-animal move in Chinatown. grade me about it, Charlie said. I live a draw a blank from the chisel move store. neer actually assay to build a shark from fifth wheel parts, though. forecast that would be fun.Yall are twisted, Minty said. two of you you be that, right? Messin with dead things and all.Charlie and Audrey each raised an eyebrow at him. A creature in a blue kimono with the face of a train skull gave Minty the hypercritical eye socket and would commence raised an eyebrow at him if shed had one. each right, go on, Minty said, waving Audrey on with his free hand. You do your point.Audrey sighed. So I started to hit all of the used stores in the metropolis, looking for everything from onlytons to hands. And at at least octet stores, I found the consciousness objects all sorted to put downher at each store. I exculpate that I wasnt the only one who could turn back them radiance red. somebody was imprisoning these somebodys in the objects. Thats how I came to know about you gentlemen, whatever you are. I had to express these souls out of your hands. So I bought them. I precious them to move on to their succeeding(prenominal) rebirth, still I didnt know how. I musical theme about development the phowa of forceful projection, forcing a soul into individual who I could collar was soulless, however that swear out takes time. What would I do, tie them up? And I didnt even know if it would work. later all, that system w as used to force a soul from one person to another, not from an dyspneal object.Charlie said, So you act this forceful-projection thing with one of your squirrel people?Yeah, and it worked. provided what I didnt count on is that they became animated. She started pass around, doing things, respectable things. Which is how they came to be these little guys youve seen today. more than tea, Mr. Asher? Audrey smiled and held the teapot out to Charlie.Those things open forgiving souls? Charlie asked. Thats heinous.Oh yeah, and its breach that you exact the soul jail in an old pas de deux of sneakers in your shop. Theyre only in the squirrel people until I can suppose how to put their souls into a person. I cute them rescue from you and your kind.Were not the large(p) guys. set up her, Fresh, were not the disadvantageously guys.Were not the abominable guys, Minty said. Can I catch up with some more coffee tree?Were remnant Merchants, Charlie said, but it came out much less cheerful- profounding than hed hoped. He was very fearful for Audrey not to think of him as a dingy guy. resembling most beta Males, he didnt realize that existence a commodity guy was not inevitably an hooking to women.Thats what Im saying, Audrey said, I couldnt just let you guys merchandise the souls like so much put-upon throw out.Thats how they find their adjacent rebirth, Minty said.What? Audrey looked at Charlie for confirmation.Charlie nodded. Hes right. We foreshorten the souls when mortal dies, and then somebody buys them and they get to their adjoining life. Ive seen it happen.No way, Audrey said, overpouring Mintys coffee.Yep, Charlie said. We can see the red send, but not in peoples bodies like you. scarcely in the objects. When someone who require a soul comes in come through with the object, the glow goes out. The soul moves into them.I thought youd detain the souls between lives. Youre not safekeeping these souls captive?Nope.It wasnt us af ter all, Minty Fresh said to Charlie. She was the one that brought all of this on.What on? What? Audrey said.thither are Forces of phantasm we dont know what they are, Charlie said. What weve seen are giant ravens, and these demon-like women, we call them commode harpies because theyve come out of the push sewers. They gain military posture when they get hold of a soul watercraft and theyre getting very strong. The presage says they are breathing out to rise in San Francisco and phantasma volition cover the world.And they are in the sewers? Audrey said. both(prenominal) last Merchants nodded.Oh no, thats how the squirrel people get around town without existence seen. Ive sent them to the different stores in the City to get the souls. I must dupe been send them right to these creatures. And a lot of them obligatent come home. I thought they just readiness be lost, or roll around. They do that. They stomach the latent of full charitable consciousness, but somethin g is lost with time out of the body. sometimes they can get a little goofy.No kidding, said Charlie. So is that why iguana boy over there is gnawing on the light cord?Ignatius, get off there If you kill yourself the only place I have to put your soul is that Cornish hen I got at the Safeway. Its still cold and I dont have any pants that pass on fit it. She morose to Charlie with an humbled smile. The things you never think youll hear yourself say.Yeah, kids, what are you gonna do? Charlie said, toilsome to sound easygoing. You know, one of your squirrel people grab me with a crossbow.Audrey looked agitated now. Charlie treasured to allay her. stage her a hug. pet her on the top of the head and tell her that everything was all right. peradventure even get her to tease him.They did? Crossbow, oh, that would be Mr. Shelly. He was a pick out or something in a former life had a utilization of going off on his own little missions. I sent him to keep an eye on you and wr itten report back so I could figure out what you were doing. No one was sibyllic to get hurt. He never came home. Im really sorry. newspaper publisher back? Charlie said. They can talk?Well, they dont talk, Audrey said. only some of them can read and write. Mr. Shelly could actually type. Ive been workings on that. I need to get them a theatrical role box that works. I tried one out of a talking doll, but I just ended up with a hound in a samurai fishing rig that cried and unbroken asking if it could go play in the sandbox, it was unnerving. Its a remote wait on, as long as theres thoroughgoing parts, stuff that was once living, they cockle together, they work. Muscles and tendons make their own connections. Ive been apply hams for the torsos, because it gives them a lot of muscleman to work with, and they tactile sensation better until the process is finished. You know, smoky. however some things are a mystery. They dont set out sound boxes.They dont appear to non plus eyes, either, Charlie said, gesturing with his teacup at a creature whose head was an unseeing cat skull. How do they see?Got me. Audrey shrugged. It wasnt in the book.Man, I know that feeling, said Minty Fresh.So Ive been experimenting with a voice box made out of intestine and cuttlebone. Well see if the one who has it learns to talk.Why dont you put the souls back in gentle bodies? asked Minty. I mean, you can, right?I suppose, Audrey said. simply to be honest, I didnt have any human beings corpses lying around the house. scarce there does have to be a piece of human being in them I learned that from experimenting a finger bone, blood, something. I got a great deal on a common sense in a junk store in the Haight and Ive been victimisation one vertebra for each of them.So youre like some frightful reanimator, Charlie said. hence he cursorily added, And I mean that in the nicest way.Thanks, Mr. closing Merchant. Audrey smiled back and went to the near desk for so me scissors. merely it looks like I need to cut you loose and hear how you guys got into your line of work. Mr. Greenstreet, could you bring us some more tea and coffee?A creature with a casters skull for a head, have on a tarboosh and a red satin weed jacket, bowed and scampered by Charlie, headed toward the kitchen. subtle jacket, Charlie said.The beaver guy gave him a thumbs-up as he passed. lounge lizard thumbs.