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.Is something wrong, sir?""I have this urge to sit with people who come from the same planet as me,"Remo explained, without a hint of humor.The stewardess looked momentarily blank.Remo jerked a surreptitious thumb inthe direction of his spidery seatmate.The stewardess nodded."I'm sure I canfix you up, sir.""It's been ooky," Remo told Delpha, as he vacated his seat."We are destined to meet again," said Delpha Rohmer in a sepulchral voice."Not if I see you first.""You cannot escape your destiny, mortal man.""Maybe not.But I can hightail it back into coach.Regards to MargaretHamilton.""A pox on you."Remo settled into a seat over the wing.After the luxury of First Class, itfelt like a baby's high chair.But at least the woman seated next to himwasn't wearing cobra-green eyeshadow.Page 23ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe descent of the 727-it was one of the former Rumpp Shuttle fleet, now takenover by another carrier-brought it over Manhattan.Curious, Remo tried to see past his seatmate, hoping to catch a glimpse of theRumpp Tower-and maybe a hint of what all the trouble was about.The pilot's voice came over the ceiling speakers."Ladies and gentlemen, the saw-toothed skyscraper over to our right is thefantastic architectural triumph known as the Rumpp Tower.Most of you haveheard the reports of what's going on down there.And if any of you understandit, let us know," he added with a dry chuckle.A hush fell over the aisle.Then the buzz of conversation rose anew, moreanimated than before.Remo attuned his hearing and began separating out snatches that interestedhim."There it is!""They say over six hundred people are trapped inside.""Do you think they'll condemn it?""How? They can't even touch it!"The 727 banked, and the tower suddenly appeared framed in Remo's window.Underthe rays of the setting sun, it was a thing of golden panels and monumentalego.Remo thought it resembled a set of high-tech disposable razor headswelded together.It was smaller than he had expected."Incredible," the woman seated next to him murmured."Excuse me," Remo said politely."I've been out of touch.What happened to thetower?"The woman turned, blinked, and said, "Why, it's disappeared."It was Remo's turn to blink.He pointed out the window at the unmistakableshape of the Rumpp Tower."But it's right there.In plain sight.""Yes," the woman said dreamily."Incredible, isn't it?""Excuse me," Remo said, slipping from his seat.He found another vacancy,thinking that all the loons come out on Halloween night.There was a serious-faced businessman in the seat next to Remo.He lookednormal, so Remo asked, "Hear what happened to the Rumpp Tower?""Of course.Chilling.""Then clue me in.All I hear is rumors.""It's not there anymore."Remo's returned "Thanks" was very small.Okay, he told himself, everybody's ajoker tonight.Must be a new thing.Halloween Fools.The seatbelt light came on and Remo buckled up, figuring he'd just keep hismouth shut and tough out the last few minutes until touchdown.At La Guardia, Remo caught a cab."Rumpp Tower," he told the driver."And step on it."Where you been? Nobody can go to the Rumpp Tower.""Why not?""They got it cordoned off.""I'll settle for the cordon."The cabby shrugged."It's your twenty, pal."On the way into the city, Remo decided to take another stab at the riddle."So what happened to the Rumpp Tower? Exactly."The cabby looked into his rearview mirror in surprise."You don't know?""No.""Then why're you so hot to check it out?" "Just answer the question.""The tower ain't there anymore.""Pull over," Remo said suddenly."Huh?""I said, 'Pull over.' ""Suit yourself."The cabby pulled over, and Remo reached forward for the safety shield thatseparated the driver's seat from the passenger.He grabbed it by the moneyslot.Page 24ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThe stuff was Plexiglas.Not brittle enough to shatter under an ordinaryblow."If this is a heist, you're wasting your time," the cabby warned.Remo used both hands to rub circles in the glass.His right hand rubbedclockwise, and the left counterclockwise.The Plexiglas soon began to warp and actually run, like melting wax.It becamevery warm in the taxi.The driver, seeing the impossible thing that was happening to his safetyshield, tried to get out from behind the wheel.He was too late.Remo put one hand through the widening hole and got him bythe back of his neck
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