The Prof was a legend Inside. And he had picked me to school. "Only thing that's true is what you *do,*" is what he taught. I live that. That's how I found the place I rightfully belong. That place isn't just worth my life — it *is* my life. Trespassers, bring your own body bags.

I was in the prison yard, walking the perimeter with my eyes, checking the gun towers. The Prof materialized next to me. He didn't have to ask what I was doing. "First place to look is inside your head, schoolboy. Over the wall don't get it all." BLOSSOM vachss.com/av_novels/blos…

From HARD CANDY: I got off the street before the citizens took over the city. Gave Pansy the food I'd brought back from Mama's. Felt her pleasure as she lit into it, her sadness when it was gone. In a couple of minutes, she forgot about both feelings, back to herself. Lucky dog.

When I got back, I let Pansy out to her roof. I had some rye toast and ginger ale, thinking I might bet on a horse when this was all over. Pansy came back inside. I worked on her commands for a half hour or so, just to keep her sharp. Like oiling a gun. Then I went to sleep.

I brought back the newspapers and a bagful of bakery for Pansy. Took my time, stretched it out. I read the paper the way I did in prison, sucking every ounce of juice from the pages. It didn't bother Pansy—she has a dog's sense of time. Only two limits for her: never and forever.

Investigative journalism is the maintainer of our democracy. If you take it out of the picture, then we have no chance. As a society, as a people, we have no chance whatsoever. UNDERGROUND vachss.com/underground.ht…