The Devouring

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The body of Wilson Goode, 56, no known address, was found by sanitation workers in a dumpster on Lawrence Street, at the heart of what is commonly known as "The District," Friday morning. According to Buffalo's 10th Precinct Captain, Jack Lucas, Goode had apparently been dead for several days. Chief Lucas could not disclose the cause of death, saying only, "It is under investigation. We do not at this point suspect foul play."

Goode's last known address, according to people in the area, was the Peacock Hotel, on Gadow Street. There are no known survivors.

In Buffalo, New York

"How many is that, Vera?" John asked from his La-Z-Boy.

"Twenty-two," Vera answered. Vera-a chunky forty-five-kept track of trick-ortreaters. The previous Halloween there had been forty-seven of them, five more than the year before, but three less than the year before that. "Eight Frankensteins, two ghosts," she went on; she also kept track of costumes-keeping track of things was an obsession with her. She kept track of birthday cards, sunny days, gray squirrels (there were thirty-one of them, she insisted, in the twin maple trees in front of the house), salesmen, robins; anything that could repeat itself and therefore could be kept track of, she kept track of with a vengeance. She continued her litany of trick-or-treaters: "Three skeletons, one gremlin-"

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