Soul Music - Worm Talk

THIS DRINK'S GOT MAGGOTS IN IT.

The barman squinted at it. 'That's not a maggot, sir,' he said. 'That's a worm.'

OH THAT'S BETTER, IS IT?

'It's supposed to be there, sir. That's mexical, that is. They put the worm in to show how strong it is.'

STRONG ENOUGH TO DROWN WORMS?

The barman scratched his head. He'd never thought of it in those terms. 'It's just something people drink,' he said vaguely.

Death picked up the bottle and held it up to what normally would have been eye level. The worm rotated forlornly.

WHAT'S IT LIKE? he said.

'Well, it's a sort of-'

I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU.

***

Soul Music - p170