Come On Baby, Light My Fire

Fred and Astra looked behind the counter, but the Black Prince was gone. Fred held the cigar that the Black Prince had given him to sample.

"Come on, Fred, let's get out of this *sniff* smoke-filled room. I *hack* need some air. *cough* *cough*"

"It is not affecting me that badly, for some reason, but let's go outside, if it is hurting you that much."

Once outside, Fred gave Astra 10 crowns Allarian for a new wardrobe. Unfortunately, Purgatory is not on the cutting edge of fashion. Astra left the store wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt, lime green polyester slacks, sandals, and an oversized purse, studded with rhinestones, and made from imitiation red leather. She spent most of the money on a scabbard for her sword.

While waiting for Astra to get finished, Fred absent-mindedly puffed on his cigar. Astra rejoined him. "Who are you, kind stranger, and what are you doing?"

"I am Frederigo, Heir Presumptive to the Duchy of Suffex. Or I was before I was crushed by a boulder. This is a cigar - Calife Extra Smooth, it seems."

"Why would you smoke it?"

"I do not know. I never took up the habit myself while I was alive."

Astra held out her hand, curious to try. Fred, seeing the smiling young woman, is happy to oblige. Astra takes a couple of deep breaths, and coughs again before handing the cigar back to Fred.

"You can keep the cigar, but thanks for the help," she said.

Before Fred can reply, something dramatic happened.

1. Fred and Astra find themselves back in the world, amongst the living.
2. A mall guard yells out, "Hey, no smoking!"
3. Astra and Fred are transported back to Saint Peter.

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