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Thanks to those members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, scientists in the RCMP Forensic Lab, pathologists at Vancouver General Hospital, professors at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, and librarians at the Vancouver Public Library, North Vancouver City Library, and West Vancouver Memorial Library, who graciously answered a thousand questions.
A tip of the hat to the Anvil Chorus, who hammered out the bumps.
And to Chris and Barney, who conjure Slade. Note to the Sladists: for those of you scratching your heads, this is Skull & Crossbones. On hearing the original title, one of the Anvil Chorus said, “Avast ye hearties! A pirate book!” The title went downhill from there. The story survivors will return.
SLADE
Vancouver, B.C.
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
DEMONIACS
WITCHES’ SABBATH
PART I
LICE
SKINNER
TATTOO
SCARECROW
GRAND GUIGNOL
MINDHUNTER
SÉANCE WITH A KILLER
FOREIGN LEGION
JOLLY ROGER
BUGS
MAGICK
BRADY & HINDLEY
THE FRANKENSTEIN CONUNDRUM
BEAST 666
HOOKERS
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
BLACK CANDLES
JACK THE RIPPER
SEX BABE
TAROT
HOUSE OF HORRORS, ROOM OF DEATH
GHOSTWRITER
THE HANGED MAN
THE WITCHING HOUR
PART II
OWLS
TAUTRIADELTA
PIERCINGS
CROWLEY’S TRUNK
HAMMERHEAD
ZOOPHILIA
DIANICS
DEADMAN’S ISLAND
OWL PROWL
CASTLE CRAG
THE DEVIL’S PICTUREBOOK
SKULL & CROSSBONES
RIPPER’S CROSS
PHANTOM FINGER
HATCHET JOB
WILLIAM TELL
HELL-HAGS
HANGMAN’S NOOSE
BOOBY TRAPPED
MOTHER MASK
PART III
WITCHES AND DEMONS
HUMPTY-DUMPTY …
… HAD A GREAT FALL
LEOPOLD …
GOD’S TOILET
POINTED STICKS
MISANDRY/MISOGYNY
A TERRIBLY STRANGE BED
LOCKED ROOM
POSSESSED
… & LOEB
DYING MESSAGE
LUCIFER’S LIBRARY
MADHOUSE
GUILLOTINE
FLUSHED
HOGGER
PROWLING DEAD
MILLER’S COURT
EPILOGUE
DOPPELGANGER
SKULL WITHOUT CROSSBONES
AUTHOR’S NOTE