LATE

Shit! I have to write this down. Shit. This can not be happening. I know for a fact that I only had a half glass. If one of those bastards slipped some more into the juice I was drinking, I am going to kill him. Maybe I should call security. Maybe I am just going insane. Shit!

The Absinthe tasted like licorice soaked in detergent and it gave me an immediate headache. The evening's stage performance was a puppet show with all sorts of high-tech lighting and sound effects. There was no way I would enjoy it with my head throbbing the way it was; instead, I went into one of the big function rooms and just sat there with the lights off and stared at the moonlight outside through the three big windows. It was peaceful, quiet, and before too long the headache went away.

As I sat resting, I suddenly saw Gregor walk by outside the first window. It was definitely him -- no question. I thought, "That is strange for him to be out there at night," since I knew that the masquerade would be starting very shortly, and surely he would want to take part in that.

He disappeared for a moment, and then reappeared, passing across the second window. The moon was bright and I could see him very clearly. He was walking with a purpose, obviously going somewhere. "Probably hurrying to the masquerade," I thought.

He disappeared again, but it was Kchierath that passed by the third window two seconds later.

I almost fell out of my chair! The catcoon glided right past and out of sight. I sat for a moment in shock, then ran to the window and fought with the latch to get it open. When I leaned out I could just barely see the tip of his tail vanishing into one of the back entrance doors. The door swung shut, squeezing out the light from within, and I was left with just the moonlight and my own wild thoughts.

Of course, what I thought I saw was completely impossible. The man is a master costumer, no doubt about that, but could even he shrug his way into such a complex suit in just a couple of seconds? Had I really seen him, or was that damned Absinthe having an effect on my mind? If it was a hallucination, why were there no swirling colors or flying elephants along with it? I thought maybe it had played with my sense of time. For all I know he might have been out there for fifteen minutes getting changed into his costume. But why would he do that outside in the yard?

The questions burned through my head while I sat in the darkness. I did not realize how much time was passing until I heard a thunder of applause. It occurred to me that it had been going on for a while; I had just been too distracted to notice. Hurriedly I got up, ran into the auditorium, and stood at the back of the crowd.

There was Kchierath, prowling about the stage as if stalking his prey. He hissed and swiveled his ears and bared his fangs and the audience roared their approval. I do not remember any of the other acts that followed. All I remember is watching him sneak out after the curtain call, and me stealing after him. I kept my distance, following him through the maze of corridors and trying to look nonchalant in doing so. He turned a corner ahead of me, but before I reached it I heard the ka-clunk of a door closing. "Damn," I thought! I ran to the corner and peeked around but the hallway was empty.

There were three doors on either side, and as I stood there trying to decide what to do, Gregor suddenly emerged from one of them. He was clad in a white bathrobe and had a towel over his arm. He glanced briefly up and down the hallway and I jerked back around the corner. After a moment I peeked back and saw him strolling in to the shower room that was at the opposite end of the hall. In a moment I heard the rush of water, and a soft, lighthearted humming.

Naturally, he had locked his door behind him. Europeans still love transoms, though, and with a jump I grabbed the top of the doorjamb and pulled myself up until I could peer into the room through the open window. It was in perfect order, the bed made, luggage lined up at attention under the window. The wardrobe stood open, empty except for one shirt on a hanger. Kchierath's loincloth and leather vest lay on the bed, but otherwise there was no sign of the suit anywhere.

How long do the effects of Absinthe last?