Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

Early the next morning, Durin was rudely awoken by the sound of gunshots while still in bed. He hopped out wearing his cotton robe, slippers slapping against the floor, and pushed open the door.


He discovered the blond human mister, gun in hand, going from carriage to carriage—no, not robbing, according to him, but "soliciting funds for the resistance." The halfling woman who had visited yesterday was also masked, now rifling through the wallet she'd taken from a disconcerted chubby man.


"What are you looking at, it's a robbery! Your turn's coming up, kid!" Old Anvil too covered his face, turning his head with an over-the-top performance.


After a short while, the door was hammered on. Durin opened it to find three bandits, young and old, with a menacing look on their faces.


They called out loudly for money, but in reality, they didn't take Durin's. Old Anvil even patted Durin's head.


Chapter 6: The Great Train Robbery III