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Donte’s Referno
A criminal referral is a whole journey
Wednesday was the Capitol attack. Donte was then 75, basically middle-aged, “nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita,” as he liked to have it.
Then it was Thursday, and he had no plan. He’d lost the diritta via. Three beasts faced him in the night: fraud, violence, and temper tantrums.
Eastman Appeared
Then Friday dawned — But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and this lawyer is the sun. No, wait, that’s the wrong poet.
Anyhow, the author of the Eastmaneid appeared to him. Eastman had been born sub Eisenhower and enjoyed his prime under Reagan.
Should Donte follow Eastman? He paused.
“Don’t worry,” said Eastman; “I’ve been sent by the crowd at the Willard Hotel. They want me to help you.”
“Oh, great,” said Donte. “Off to the underworld we go.”
The Gate
Walking through the Gate of Referno, they heard the buzzing of hornets. Then they heard the human screams.
“The swing voters,” Eastman shrugged. “The uncommitted, who took no sides in life. We’re not in Referno yet, you see. These people aren’t referred. They are merely stung by bees.”
