Page 186 of Misrule
“Outlaw came up with his own marijuana?” Knox asked with skepticism. “Never heard anyone mention that. Neither about Mort’s.”
“See a reason they got to say anything? That’s not something you advertise. Besides, Outlaw been doing this for so long, he able to sell clones of his original plants. He even grow from clones. It’s not a big deal to him.”
Knox eyed the weed. “Everything he does is a big deal.”
“According to you.” Val took another hit from the joint, grabbed the rum, then dropped onto the loveseat. “Outlaw do what he have to, to be the best fucking prez around.”
The strong scent of the “herb” swirled through Knox’s head. Leaning his head against the chair, he closed his eyes. “Of course you’re not biased at all.”
“Not a fucking bit.”
Folding his arms, Knox opened one eye. “Bullshit. He’s indoctrinated all of you into believing he’s the best thing since toasted bread.”
The tip of the special cigarette sent a little spiral of smoke up, so Knox closed his eye. “You know what I wish a motherfucker came up with?”
Knox adjusted his position. “Do I have to know?”
Val sniggered. “Sure the fuck do.”
“Then what?”
“Selling a loaf of toast.”
Knox’s eyes flew open. “That’s called bread, asshole. Buy the bread and make the toast.”
“Sometimes, a man hungry. After his wife suck his cock for a half hour and that motherfucker raw and red and all out of cum, a motherfucker need to eat. Usually, I’m too tired for much. A piece of toast or two. It’s just so much fucking effort to get the raw bread out—”
“My God, man! Bread is not raw when you buy it. It’s already baked.”
“It’s raw until you toast it, Knox,” Val insisted.
“I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Don’t give a fuck. It’s what the fuck I want to talk about.”
Knox growled. “Fine. Talk about bread that’s raw until it’s toasted. Notdoughthat turns into bread once it’s baked. Talk away. I’m all ears.”
Grinning, Val took a couple more leisurely hits, before pinching the end of the joint to extinguish it. “You already learning.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t need to learn anything.”
“That’s not true. Nobody know everything. There’s always room to learn.”
“Point for you. Yet I’m missing exactly whatIneed to learn in this situation.”
“How to stop being such a superior motherfucker. How to respect another motherfucker right to say whatever the fuck he want to, however the fuck he want to. It don’t make you better and me less. It just make us different.” Val swigged from the rum. “Mortician could’ve waited ‘til he was back in town for this, so he could come with you. He sent me with you, though, because he didn’t want your newfound awareness of his wealth to affect how you interacted with him. Now that you know he got money, you wouldn’t have been looking down on him. Mort wouldn’t have liked that, Knox. Around here, we all equal. From me to Mort to Cash…toyou.”
Knox scowled, affronted as a thought occurred to him. “He sent you to teach me what he thinks I need to know?”
Val eyed him with disapproval. “There you go, acting like a stupid motherfucker again. Our hands tied because of Roxanne. Outlaw want to fuck you up because you…you know…you. Mort not happy with you because of his momma-in-law. Digger might fucking ground you because Mort his big brother. Me? I don’t give a good fuck.”
“Yet you were going to help them kill me?”
“Need to stay in practice. We haven’t killed nobody in months.”
“Jesus Christ,” Knox breathed. “You’re a barbarian, too.”
Val smirked at him. “You got to have a little barbarianism in you if you joining the fold.” He indicated him with a sweep of his hand. “Getting inked.”
