He slipped in when I opened br the outer screen door, to let br a bit of that balmy Spring air, br laden with pollen and bits br of indescribable matter, br inside. He didn't seem to mind br the stench of extinguished Gauloise, br stale John Boags and worn pheromones, br he just sat on the linen hamper, br flashed a mischievous grin, br and said, simply 'I'm Death, howdy'. br br I didn't have the heart to inquire, br what exactly was his business, br or his 'mission', at this inconvenient time. br Supplies had run out and I was no Rocky, br which stands for Rockefeller, one of. br So it happened that not even a sprout br of a conversation ever developed, br cat must have got his tongue badly. br br In a sudden subliminal fit of nervousness br I tripped over Gentleman Jack, teardrops br of Tennessee rolled onto the carpet, br swallowed up at once, stained, like my soul. br A raised eyebrow of silence spoke to me, br and without breathing or a heartbeat, br I became aware that all cranial activity br had, indeed, been not suspended but, br in the interest of a Universal Intelligence br br had been extinguished and sent to the hole, br black hole that is. It was educational, br stimulating to observe the final moments, br and I was just glad that it had been deemed, br by those who are in supreme command, br that I was to walk with him, that fellow br with his mischievous grin, through the br valleys of the shadows, toward infinity.