“The rabbis paled. I’d managed to terrify holy men. Maybe I could beat up a nun for an encore.”

“Beautiful I would never be. Striking, that I could manage.”

“ Dear rabbis, I'm so sorry, I nuked your circle dude. Here is his head as a souvenir. Yeah, that would fly.”

“Maybe if I prayed to Miss Marple, she’d hook me up with a clue”

“The stairs ended. I wished I knew the jackass who’d made the staircase so short. I’d throw him down the damn steps so he could count them with his head.”

“I said, I know why you’re afraid to fight with me.”"And why is that?” If he flexed again, I’d have to implement emergency measures. Maybe I could kick some sand at him or something. Hard to look hot brushing sand out of your eyes."You want me.”Oh boy."You can’t resist my subtle charm, so you’re afraid you’re going to make a spectacle out of yourself.”"You know what? Don’t talk to me.”

“Secret to what?""Secret to shutting you up," he said. "I just have to beat you till you're half-dead, then give you chicken soup and"--he raised his hands--"blessed silence.”