o the guests when they checked in。 Something with a lot of
glossy photos of the mountains at sunrise and sunset and a lemon…meringue text
to go with it。 Also a section on the colorful people who have stayed there； of
course excluding the really colorful ones like Gienelli and his friends。〃
〃If I felt I could fire you and be a hundred per cent certain of my own job
instead of just ninety…five per cent；〃 UIIman said in clipped； strangled tones；
〃I would fire you right this minute； over the telephone。 But since I feel that
five per cent of uncertainty； I intend to call Mr。 Shockley the moment you're
off the line 。。。 which will be soon； or so I devoutly hope。〃
Jack said； 〃There isn't going to be anything in the book that isn't true； you
know。 There's no need to dress it up。〃
（Why are you baiting him？ Do you want to be fired？）
〃I don't care if Chapter Five is about the Pope of Rome screwing the shade of
the Virgin Mary；〃 Ullman said； his voice rising。 〃I want you out of my hotel！〃
〃It's not your hotel！〃 Jack screamed； and slammed the receiver into its
cradle。
He sat on the stool breathing hard； a little scared now；
（a little？ hell； a lot）
wondering why in the name of God he had called Ullman in the first place。
（You lost your temper again； Jack。）
Yes。 Yes； he had。 No sense trying to deny it。 And the hell of it was； he had
no idea how much influence that cheap little prick had over Al； no more than he
knew how much bullshit Al would take from him in the name of auld lang syne。 If
Ullman was as good as he claimed to be； and if he gave Al a he…goes…or…I…go
ultimatum； might not Al be forced to take it？ He closed h