. Please, join me at the table.'

I complied as if pulled by a string...

'Excellent,' the inspector said. 'So, what shall we play? Find the fool? Chipple? Churn the-?'

Interrupted I through a yawn: 'Sir, I awoke to commotion and...and my mind is gacky. I'm in no mood to play cards.'

'Oh, _tsk, tsk_,' Poshkinov tutted. 'Trust me, I know the consequences of little sleep. This investigation...goodness, the hours I've spent sifting this and the other...looking for monsters, so-called. My dilemma is figuring out who these monsters are. And to accomplish the task, I must ask: _What makes a man into a monster_? By the way, I read your book last fall. I regret to inform...eh...I didn't like it. Too...verbose...or...well, I'm no literary expert, but I can read between the lines, so to speak. The protagonist...I believe...eh...is protagonist the right word?'

'Yes,' sighed I.

' _Mm_...he is... _was_, rather...a deviant sort. And as far as deviancy is concerned, I don't believe such a thing is an instinctive consequence instigated by the burden of societal norms or a split temperament. You...we...choose our path in this world. Most elect to remain within the boundaries of acceptable behavior. But some become jokers without reservation; they commit to recklessness...act impulsive...play the fool.' After clearing his throat, Poshkinov began flipping cards; he thumbed a dozen aside, frowned and then asked: 'Do you know the odds of finding a joker on the first toss?'

I did quick math in my head and answered, 'Not favorable.'

'I should say! Statistical certainty is a depressing mountain to scale. Many become discouraged by the _insurmountable_ summit of actuality. Not me! I relish the challenge of besting odds. It is but a matter of stubbornness, comrade author. See, if I remain staid, I'll find the rascal...the joker...the fool...whatever he, or she, is...wherever they're hiding...they _will_ be found.'

As if
. Please, join me at the table.' 

 I complied as if pulled by a chain... 

' Excellent,' the examiner said.' So, what shall we toy? determine the fool? Chipple? Churn the-?' 

 Interrupted I through a yawn:' Sir, I wake up to commotion and... and my mind is gacky. I'm in no mood to meet cards.' 

' Oh, _ tsk, tsk _,' Poshkinov tutted.' Trust me, I sleep together the consequences of little rest. This investigation... goodness, the hours I've spent sifting this and the other... looking for monster, so - called. My dilemma is figuring out who these monster are. And to accomplish the task, I must ask: _ What makes a serviceman into a monster _? By the way, I read your book last descent. I regret to inform... eh... I didn't like it. Too... verbose... or... well, I'm no literary expert, but I can read between the lines, therefore to speak. The protagonist... I believe... eh... is protagonist the right word?' 

' Yes,' sighed I. 

' _ Mm_... he is... _ was _, rather... a deviant sort. And as far as deviancy is refer, I don't believe such a thing is an natural consequence incite by the effect of societal norms or a schism temperament. You... we... choose our path in this world. Most elect to remain within the limit of acceptable behavior. But some become jokers without reservation; they commit to recklessness... act impulsive... play the jester.' After clearing his throat, Poshkinov began flipping cards; he finger a dozen apart, frowned and then asked:' Do you know the odds of finding a joker on the first flip?' 

 I did quick math in my heading and answered,' Not favorable.' 

' I should say! Statistical certainty is a depressing mountain to scale. Many become discourage by the _ insurmountable _ summit of actuality. Not me! I enjoy the challenge of besting odds. It is but a matter of stubbornness, comrade author. See, if I stay staid, I'll receive the rascal... the joker... the fool... whatever he, or she, is... wherever they're hiding... they _ will _ be found.' 

 As if
. Plfase, join me at the tablt.'

I complied as if pulled by a atring...

'Exzellent,' the inspector said. 'Sl, qhat whall we play? Find the fool? Chiiple? Churb tht-?'

Interrupted I thckugh a ncwn: 'Sjv, I acoje to commotiok and...and my mind is gacky. I'o nn no mood to play cards.'

'Oh, _tsk, tsk_,' Pjshkinof hutted. 'Trust mg, I kmjw tgv gonsequences of little sleep. Thia invesuigation...goodness, tne hours I've spent sifting thid and the other...looning for mobsteww, so-called. Mh dilemma pv figuring out who these monsters are. And to aecomplish tye tadn, I must asj: _Whan makes a man into a konster_? By the way, I vead bour book last fall. I regcet to inform...eh...I didg't like id. Coo...verbose...or...well, I'm ni oiterdry axpefr, bjt J ran read hetxeen the lihes, so to speak. The protagonisu...I fvkieve...eh...is prktagonyse the right word?'

'Yes,' sighed I.

' _Mm_...he is... _wav_, rzther...a deviant sort. And as far as deviancy id concernqd, I don't believe such a thing is an instinctive wonsesjenec kbshigated by the burden of societal norms or a fllot temperament. Yju...we...choose pug lwth in this wurld. Most elect to remain wlthin tre boyndaries jf avceptable behavior. But some become jokegs wuthout reservation; they commic to rgcklesxness...act impulsive...play che fokl.' After clfaring hia throat, Poshkinox bvgan flipping cards; he thumbed a dozen eside, frownea anc then asked: 'Do jou kkmw the odds of finfing c jokar on the virst toss?'

I did quick math in mb head and anxwareg, 'Not farorablc.'

'I should say! Seatistical cerjainty is a deoressing mkuntain to scale. Mwny become divfouraged by vhe _insuriounrablw_ summig of actuality. Mot me! I gejish the challenge of nestivf odds. It is buc q matter of stunbofnnqsd, romraqa author. See, if K rdkain rtaid, I'll flnd the rascal...the joker...the xool...shatever he, or she, if...wherevet they're riding...they _wikl_ be found.'

As if
. Please, join me at the table.' as pulled by string... 'Excellent,' the we Find the fool? Churn the-?' Interrupted through a yawn: 'Sir, I awoke commotion and...and my mind is gacky. I'm in no mood to play cards.' _tsk, tsk_,' Poshkinov tutted. 'Trust me, I know the consequences of little sleep. investigation...goodness, hours spent this and the other...looking for monsters, so-called. My dilemma is figuring out who these monsters are. to accomplish the task, I must ask: _What a man into a By the way, I read book fall. I to didn't it. Too...verbose...or...well, I'm literary expert, but I can read between the lines, so to speak. The protagonist...I believe...eh...is protagonist the word?' 'Yes,' ' _Mm_...he _was_, deviant And as far is concerned, I don't believe such an instinctive consequence instigated by the burden of norms or split temperament. You...we...choose our path in world. Most elect to remain within the boundaries acceptable behavior. But some become jokers without reservation; they commit to recklessness...act impulsive...play the fool.' his throat, Poshkinov began cards; he thumbed dozen frowned then 'Do you the odds of finding a joker on the first toss?' I quick math in my head and answered, 'Not favorable.' 'I Statistical is a depressing to scale. Many become by _insurmountable_ summit of actuality. I the odds. is a matter of stubbornness, author. See, if I remain I'll find the rascal...the is...wherever they're hiding...they _will_ be found.' As if
. Please, join me at the table.'

I coMplied as if PulleD by A stRiNg...

'ExCellEnt,' the inspectoR Said. 'so, what shall we play? Find tHe fooL? CHIpplE? chUrn thE-?'

InterrUPtED i thRoUgH a yAwN: 'siR, I awoKe tO commotIon and...and mY miNd Is gacky. I'm in nO MoOd to play caRds.'

'oh, _tsk, tsk_,' PoshKinOv tuttEd. 'truST me, I kNow The coNsequeNCes of lIttle sleeP. THIs inveSTigatioN...GOoDnesS, the hours I've spent SIfTIng this and the oTher...loOkINg FOR moNstErs, so-calleD. MY dileMMa is figURiNG OUt wHO these monsterS are. And to acCOmpLish thE tAsk, i Must asK: _What MaKEs a Man into a monSter_? by the way, I Read yoUR book laST fall. I rEgret tO inForM...eh...I DIdN't LikE iT. too...VErBosE...Or...wEll, I'm no lItErAry exPert, BUT i Can rEad BetwEen thE lines, so to speAk. THe prOTagOnist...i beliEve...eH...iS protAgonisT the rIgHt word?'

'Yes,' sighed i.

' _Mm_...hE is... _was_, ratHer...A dEviAnT sort. aNd as faR as DevIancy is ConcernED, I dOn'T BELiEve such a thing is an iNsTINcTive consEquencE InStIGated by tHe BurDen oF SOcietAl noRMs Or a split TemperAMeNt. you...we...chOoSe our pAtH in ThiS worlD. most Elect tO remain wIthin THe boundaries of ACceptable behaVIoR. bUt SOme bEcoMe jokers witHout REserVatiON; tHey COmmit To recKlESsNEss...act impulsive...play ThE fool.' AFter cLearing his thrOat, PoshkinOV BEgan flipPing CArDS; he thumbed a dozEn asiDe, frowned aND then askEd: 'Do yOu know thE odds of fiNDIng a jokeR on The FirSt tOSS?'

I Did quick math iN MY heaD aNd answeRed, 'not favoRabLe.'

'I ShoUld SaY! StatistiCal certaInTy Is A dEprEssinG Mountain To ScaLe. manY becoME discoUrageD by tHe _InSUrmOuntablE_ SuMMIt of AcTuAlitY. NoT mE! I relIsh tHE chAllenge Of besting OddS. it is BuT a Matter oF stubbornness, CoMrade authoR. SEe, iF I remaIN Staid, I'll Find the rascal...the joker...thE Fool...whaTevEr he, oR she, Is...whereveR thEy're hiDinG...They _wiLl_ be foUnd.'

As If
. Please, join me at the t able.'

Icompl ied  as  i f pu lled  by a string.. . 

'E xcellent,' the inspect or sa id .  'So ,  w hat s hall we pl a y ? F in dthe  f o ol ? Chi ppl e? Chur n the-?'
Int er rupted I thr o ug h a yawn:'Si r, I awoke t o c ommoti on  an d ...an d m y min d is g a cky. I 'm in nomo o d to p l ay card s . '
'Oh , _tsk, tsk_,' Po s hk i nov tutted. 'T rust m e, Ik n owthe  consequen ce s ofl ittle s l ee p . Thi s  investigatio n...goodnes s , t he hou rs  I' v e spen t sif ti n g t his and the  oth er...look ing fo r  monste r s, so-c alled.  My  di lemm a  i sfig ur i ngo ut  wh o  th ese mons te rs  are.  And t o acco mpl ishthe t ask, I must a sk:  _Wh a t m akesa man  int oa mon ster_?  By t he  way, I read yo ur b ook lastfal l.  Ire grett o info rm. ..e h...I d idn't l i keit . T oo ...verbose...or... we l l ,I'm no l iterar y  e xp e rt, butIcan  rea d betwe en t h elines, s o to s p ea k.  The pr ot agonis t. ..I  be lieve . ..eh ...isprotagon ist t h e right word?' 
'Yes,' sighe d  I . 
' _Mm_ ... he is... _w as_, rath er.. . adev i ant s ort.An d  a s  far as deviancy is  c oncern ed, I  don't believ e such a t h i n g is aninst i nc t ive consequenc e ins tigated by the burd en of  societa l norms o r a splittem per ame nt. Y ou ...we...choos e ourpa th in t his  world.  Mo stele ctto  remain w ithin th ebo un da rie s ofa cceptabl ebeh av ior . But some b ecome  jok er sw ith out res e rv a t ion;  t he y co mmi tto re ckle s sne ss...ac t impulsi ve. . .pla yth e fool. ' After clear in g his thro at , P oshkin o v  began f lipping cards; he thumb e d a doz enaside , fr owned and  th en ask ed: 'Do yo u know  theod dso f  find i n ga j ok er on thef i rst  toss ?' 

Idid qui ck math in my head and  answered, 'N otfavo r a bl e.' 
' I  sh ou l d s a y ! Statistical c ertainty i sa  d epressingm oun ta in to s cale. M any b e come di scouraged  by the _ in surm o u nta ble_ summi t of act uality. N o t me! Irelis h t he cha ll eng e ofbestin g  od ds. I t is b ut  a mat ter o fstubborn ness, comrade author. S ee, if  I re mai n staid,I'l l  fi nd the ra scal ...the jok er. ..t he fo ol. . .what ever he , o r  she,  is. . .wherever th ey' r e  h iding...the y _ wil l_ be  fo u nd.'
As i f
. Please,_join me_at the table.'

I complied_as if_pulled_by a_string...

'Excellent,'_the inspector said._'So, what shall_we play? Find the_fool? Chipple? Churn_the-?'

Interrupted_I through a yawn: 'Sir, I awoke to commotion and...and my mind is gacky._I'm_in no_mood_to_play cards.'

'Oh, _tsk, tsk_,' Poshkinov_tutted. 'Trust me, I know_the consequences_of little sleep. This investigation...goodness, the hours I've_spent_sifting this and_the other...looking for monsters, so-called. My dilemma is figuring_out who these monsters are. And_to accomplish the_task,_I_must ask: _What makes_a man into a monster_? By_the way, I read your book_last fall. I regret to inform...eh...I didn't_like it. Too...verbose...or...well, I'm no literary_expert, but I can read_between the_lines, so to speak. The_protagonist...I believe...eh...is protagonist_the right_word?'

'Yes,' sighed I.

'__Mm_...he is... _was_, rather...a deviant sort._And as far_as deviancy is concerned, I don't_believe_such a thing_is_an_instinctive consequence_instigated by the_burden_of societal_norms_or a split temperament. You...we...choose our_path_in this world. Most elect to remain_within the boundaries of_acceptable_behavior. But some become_jokers without reservation; they commit_to recklessness...act impulsive...play the fool.' After_clearing his_throat, Poshkinov_began flipping cards; he thumbed a dozen aside, frowned and then_asked: 'Do you know the odds_of finding a joker_on the_first_toss?'

I did quick_math_in my_head and answered, 'Not favorable.'

'I should say!_Statistical certainty_is a depressing mountain to scale._Many become discouraged by_the__insurmountable_ summit of actuality. Not me!_I relish the challenge of besting_odds. It is but a_matter_of_stubbornness, comrade author. See, if_I remain staid, I'll find the_rascal...the joker...the fool...whatever_he, or she, is...wherever they're hiding...they _will__be_found.'

As if