Tags:
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adventure,
Media Tie-In - General,
Media Tie-In,
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Political candidates
a bit remarkable that Janine could even wave, considering that she was simultaneously talking on the phone, positioning a paper cup of coffee on her desk, shrugging off her coat, and placing her handbag in the bottom drawer of her desk. Ray guessed that she had probably just arrived herself.
"No, I'm sorry, Mister Milken," Janine was saying. "Doctor Venkman hasn't arrived yet. Would you like to leave a message?"
Egon had clearly been there longer. He was already hard at work, hunched over a computer. The light from the screen reflected off his glasses and illuminated his gaunt, severe features. Combined with his unruly hair, the effect made Egon look like the stereotypical crazy scientist in a 1950s science-fiction movie. Actually, Ray reflected (and not for the first time), the comparison wasn't entirely unfounded.
Ray circled around Egon and looked over his shoulder to see what he was doing. Before he could ask, Egon leaned back in his chair and shook his head. "No mention of any 'Xanthador' in the standard databases. We'll have to check the classical paper archive."
"Yup," Ray agreed. "Time to hit the books."
But as Ray lifted his head from the screen, he saw a grotesque figure swooping straight at hirn. It was pale green, blob-like, and mottled with light brownish spots. The creature had no legs, but that didn't seem to prevent it from gliding effortlessly (if not gracefully) through the air. It looked as though half of its body was taken up by its huge eyes, mouth, and teeth—particularly since it had an entire roast turkey crammed in its mouth. The legs of the turkey stuck out at odd angles as the creature noisily chomped and gnawed at the bird.
Ray gave the creature a high five. "Hey, Slimer."
The creature's reply would have been gibberish even if its mouth hadn't been full.
The two of them proceeded to greet each other with a brief and obviously well-practiced bit of hand jive. They mirrored each others' movements as they slapped the fronts and backs of each others' hands, reached up over their respective shoulders, and pro tended to draw nutrona wands to shoot "ghosts" overhead. They capped the routine off with a mutual, ghostly "Oooooooooo" and burst into laughter.
"You do realize that the name of this little organization is Ghostbusters," said a voice from the parking bay. "We're supposed to get rid of the repulsive little spuds, not adopt them as pets."
"Hey, Peter," said Ray. He casually wiped a few pieces of semi-chewed turkey off his clothes.
"I mean, how are we supposed to maintain any sort of credibility with the public if people come in here and find this...ectoplasmic reject kicking back with a beer? 'Sure. Mrs. Vandergelt, we'll rid your mansion full of wraiths in no time. One hundred percent guaranteed. When the Ghostbusters come in, the spooks stay gone. I'm sorry, what did you say? Oh, that? That's just our mascot!' "
Slimer spit a turkey bone at him.
"Not to mention," Venkman continued, "that, thanks to onionhead over here, we've got a food bill bigger than the national debt. Half our overhead, right there!"
Ray was unruffled. "Dana won't take your calls, huh?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
In fact, Venkman looked like a mess. His receding hair was disheveled, and he hadn't shaved. The dark lines under his eyes suggested he hadn't slept well last night.
With a surly "I'II be in my office," he stomped off to the open office area behind the receptionist's desk. A moment later, he stomped back to point an angry finger into Janine's face.
"And another thing," he told her. "In the future, I'd appreciate it if you'd remember that your job description does not include running around the streets of New York, telling everyone I've been at the movies all day!"
She rose to face him eye to eye. "In the future," she shot back, "I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a little advance warning before you decide to make up stories about nonexistent monsters eating the Chrysler