Fresco's first impulse was to lash out at the hated Garbageman lying helpless in the rickety hospital bed. His second was revulsion. The man was deep in detox, his whole body drenched in a thin sheen of glowing blue as his very pores expelled the drug holding him in thrall. Fresco simply watched at last, settling into dull horror at the sight of the big man so shrunken in on himself, his cheeks hollowed, shining eyes the only bright thing about him.

"We took him shortly after ...