of exquisite dreams and nostalgias tested on the sensitized cells of junk sickness and bartered for raw materials of the will, drinkers of the Heavy Fluid sealed in translucent amber of dreams. The Meet Cafè occupies one side of the Plaza, a maze of kitchens, restaurants, sleeping cubicles, perilous iron balconies and basements opening into the underground baths. On stools covered in a white satin sit naked Mugwumps sucking translucent, colored syrups through alabaster straw. Mugwumps have no liver and nourish themselves exclusively on sweets. Thin, purple-blue lips cover a razor-sharp beack of black bone with witch they frequently tear each other to shreds in fights over clients. These creatures secrete an addicting fluid from theri erect penises which prolongs life by slowing metabolism.(In fact all longevity agents have proved addicting in exact ratio to their effectiveness in prolonging life ). Addicts of Mugwump fluid are known as reptiles. A number of these flow over chairs with their flexible bones and black-pink flesh. A fan of green cartilage covered with hollow, erectile hairs through wich the Reptiles absorb the fluid sprouts from behind each ear. The fans, which move from time to time touched by invisible currents, serve also some form of communication known only to Reptiles.During the biennial Panics when the raw, pealed Dream Police storm the City, the Mugwumps take refuge in the deepest crevices of the wall sealing them­selves in clay cubicles and remain for weeks in bio­stasis. In those days of grey terror the Reptiles dart about faster and faster, scream past each other at