A red mushroom, a green mushroom, Officer Howard Sterner observes in his head about the yard beside him. This must be the childhood home of the famous Frank C. Lynn. Deserted his hood for a fat, rich life in the hills after writing that bestseller book, pheh.
And there’s the woman who helped him get to the top, Officer Sterner thinks 2 minutes later in his beat while passing the Fern’s sign across the road, not his usual beat since he’s filling in for Jr. Officer Philburg Johnson Jones, sick with the pill. Fern Stalin — odd name; easy to remember (Philburg told him all about her). Sounds like a commie, a red, he continues to ruminate. Maybe she converted Frank Lynn to a red, hmm. Maybe that would explain that red book he wrote. Gotta read that sometime now and see if this theory holds any water, he makes a mental note to himself.
Not too long afterwards, he spots prostrate Philip Strevor on a pile of mattresses outside the Mile High Building and rouses him to consciousness. 4:44, he pinpoints with his watch. Time of life.
Sunklands 