S167

“Let’s consider the ladder,” I begin. “A firmly built rung series set against a solid metal wall. Three hundred feet in height, yes, but no hazards or distractions of any kind along the entire climb. Each rung is grip-coated.”

“Since the accident, I have climbed the length of that ladder seven times. That grip coating is marvelous. I have no idea, short of a heart attack or stroke, that anyone could slip off those rungs. That fact came strongly to my mind when Ezebel herself, despite her own guilt response at the time, said the same thing.”

“Angi was an acrobat of the highest order. Her fall is a truly remarkable stroke of bad luck.”

Draw an explosion in the “Boom” box.