pages 156-204 Summary

The two men had grabbed Converse. They were in the kitchen of an unidentified house or apartment. Converse has been drugged and is bring interrogate by the two men - Smitty and Danskin. It takes a long time for Converse to convince them that he has no idea what happened to dope or Marge and Hicks.

Smitty takes delight in working Converse over. No matter what Converse says, Smitty is determined to beat him. Converse has been drugged so any defenses he may have had are shattered.

"On the floor he looked up into Smitty's face. It was an undersea face; the eyes were only part of an inflated bag of venom behind it" (pg. 157.)

Smitty beats Converse until Danskin is convinced that Converse is telling the truth. The men finally believe him but not before burning his hand on a...