As Reader Read Arsenal as he left, he realized that he had been spot on.
And he had never been more afraid of being spot on in his life.
Arsenal is going to kill us all!
He stared, wide-eyed, as Arsenal reached for the door handle to open the door and end Reader’s life...
...and then Dr. Game came.
Reader had never loved a vanilla more in his life than he loved Dr. Game right at this moment.
Arsenal turned around and barked at Reader. “Reader, you are to be confined to quarters until further notice, and assigned only basic rations. Remain respectful of town authorities, and I promise that is the worst that will happen to you."
Reader Read his meaning perfectly clear: Provoke me once more, and you will be killed violently and painfully. And so, instead of ranting out loud to Arsenal, he rambled in his head, becoming oblivious to everything around him.
That storming Arsenal! He’s worse than any of us! Worse than Scribbler, worse than me--heck, he’s worse than Deathwish, and Deathwish wants to take over the town! If I wasn’t on a death sentence right now I swear I’d march right up to Vondra and tell...
Reader grinned, unnoticed by any one else as Arsenal shot Elsa in the leg. Or maybe I’ll have Vondra march right up to me....
His plan formed, Reader waited for Arsenal to stop ranting and raving. “I ask again. Does anyone else have anything to add? Threats to administer? Boasts to give? I think you'll be surprised how many powers can be countered by a little ingenuity.”
When no one answered, all of them too afraid to annoy Arsenal any more, Reader spoke up. “Um, sir, if I may, how am I going to get to my quarters while I’m locked up in this dog crate? For that matter, how am I going to get my nose fixed and set while I’m in here?” He reached up and rattled the cage door one more time. “Could someone help a guy out and unlock this and get these weights off my arms?”