The Wish List Read Online Free PDF

electrical impulses provide the power source. Ingenious, if I do say so myself.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” agreed Beelzebub, feeling just a tad faint.
    Myishi pulled a remote from the pocket of his designer suit, smearing the silk with gobbets of brain matter.
    â€œNow, let’s see what this creature saw.”
    The tiny screen flickered into life, and the two demons saw themselves staring at themselves as Belch saw them. It was all very confusing. The sort of thing that would give you a headache.
    â€œThat’s no use, you moron.”
    Myishi bit his bottom lip to hold in a reply. Beelzebub made a mental note. Watch him. Getting uppity.
    â€œI’ll rewind it.”
    The picture wavered and sped into reverse. Belch flew down the tunnel, and was born again. Only in his mind, of course.
    â€œRight. Play.”
    On the screen, Belch was once again grinning down at the writhing old man.
    â€œI like this boy,” commented Myishi. “Real talent.”
    â€œPlodder,” sniffed Beelzebub, ever the hypocrite. “Okay, hold it there!”
    Myishi jabbed at the controls and the memory playback froze. In the jittering frame, Meg Finn was kneeling protectively over the frame of the injured old man.
    â€œAha!” said Beelzebub. “She protected him. That’s what got her off the hook. What are the odds of that? Must be a million to one.”
    Myishi consulted a calculator the size of a credit card.
    â€œEighty-seven million to one, actually,” he corrected, the words plopping smarmily from between his lips.
    Beelzebub counted to ten. You’d need the patience of a saint to put up with this smart aleck. And he was no saint. He pointed his trident threateningly at the computer programmer.
    â€œThis blob is no good to me like this, and neither are you if you can’t fix him up somehow.”
    Myishi grinned, unfazed. “No problem, Beelzebubsan. I’ll install a virtual-help hologram, and upgrade him from catatonic to . . . let’s say . . . dogged, if you’ll excuse the pun.
    â€œWhat about infernal?”
    â€œCan’t be done. Not with his cranium. Very few skulls can support true evil, takes real strength of character. This particular specimen is never going to be anything more than a thug.”
    â€œDogged will have to do, then.”
    Myishi’s manicured nails clicked on the remote pad. “That, added to the canine genes, should turn him into a right automaton. Once you set him in motion, he won’t stop until the job is done, or his life force runs out.”
    Myishi hit SEND, and Belch’s frame spasmed as the bytes ran down the brain spike. “What’s all the urgency, anyway? What have you got in store for this guy?”
    â€œThis is my new Soul Man,” said Beelzebub, his eyes shining. “He’s going back to reclaim our lost spirit.”
    Myishi stroked his goatee, a miniature version of the devil’s own. “I’d better juice him up, then. A few cc’s of liquefied residue straight into the cortex. He . . . it’ll be running smoother than a newborn babe.”
    â€œIt?” noted Beelzebub. “You can’t get the dog out of him?”
    â€œNo, Beelzebub- san . The mainframe is too corrupted.”
    â€œMainframe?” Beelzebub was certain Myishi used these technical terms only to confuse him. He was, of course, exactly right.
    â€œMainframe—brain. Imagine trying to unmix salt and water with a spoon.” All this was said in a tone of barely disguised condescension.
    â€œHow soon will he be ready?”
    Myishi shrugged casually. “A day, perhaps two.”
    Beelzebub had had enough of all this flippancy. It was true he could not afford to nullify Myishi’s soul, but he could certainly cause him some discomfort.
    He allowed a sizable charge to build up in his trident, and discharged it into Myishi’s behind. The programmer executed a high jump that would not