The Animated Pinup Part 4

"Well," w.i.l.l.y said. "Let's get to it."

I won't elaborate on the details on my act of friendship. I killed w.i.l.l.y in as gentle a manner as possible, and when I turned back to the layout pad they were sitting there embracing. w.i.l.l.y-the-Figment stood up proudly and extended his hand, the one Red wasn't clinging to.

"Thanks, Jim," he said, when I had shaken it warmly with my finger-tip.

"I knew when I phoned you tonight that you were just the one who would come up with an unselfish, practical solution to my dilemma. I'd like to say--"

"Oh, come on, come on, w.i.l.l.y," Red said impatiently, pulling him back to the pad. "Jim knows how much we appreciate his help. Come _on_!"

"Oh, very well," said w.i.l.l.y, winking at me. I winked back. "Lucky sti--"

I began, but then remembered w.i.l.l.y's corpse. That brought a nagging thought to my mind, but w.i.l.l.y and Red were lying side-by-side, half submerged in their second dimension, and Red was beckoning impatiently, pointing to the dough rubber beside her.

"Hurry up," she said. "Rub us out."

I rubbed them out.

w.i.l.l.y's body vanished from the floor as I dropped the eraser. And just as suddenly I was sober. Cold, shaking sober.

Where was w.i.l.l.y? I looked around the room. n.o.body but me. Me and my delirium tremens.

I got out of that apartment fast and headed for a long line of drinks. I had a big case of murder to wash away. Or did I?...

... So you see, that's how it is. w.i.l.l.y's gone, and n.o.body knows where.

n.o.body but me. And I don't know either. I keep thinking of what Red said about her "fourth dimension" world. I think about it a lot.

I've given up my job at the agency. My apartment too. I got a new one.

w.i.l.l.y's. It's just as it was that night. Right down to the last pastel and brush. It's going to stay that way too. Everything just as it was.

Every gadget that w.i.l.l.y used in his work.

I've got a use for everything in that apartment. I've got to _know_ what happened. And there's only one real way to find out.

I spend my days thinking about my ideal woman. Each day she gets more vivid in my mind.

My evenings are spent at Art School. I'm learning fast....