They drove to yet another cheap ranch-style motel. A neon moon that read Star Dust Inn flickered off and on in the parking lot. As usual, they got rooms with no trouble, though Katelina began to wonder exactly what went on inside the motel offices. Jorick had been able to bend the staff of the hospital to his will. Was he applying the same trick to the motel management?

The bed was only slightly more sanitary than usual, but after the coffin and the long car ride it was a ...