Jan 23,92



     I am approaching an old house in the city.  There is a front porch with soemone 
sitting on it.  They are wearing a mask.  I go on the porch and look at the person.  It is a 
mask of a womans face somewhat in caricature.



     I am inside the house.  The wearer of the mask is the Joker.  He is crazy.  Whoever 
looks upon the mask is supposed to die.  I cautiously make my way through the room 
looking for traps.  I know there is supposed to be a trick somewhere that when I spring 
it, death will rain out.  A bomb, a poison dart, something that may drop down.



     There is a cat sleeping in the middle of the room.  The Joker sits on a couch to the 
side.  I sit on either a couch or a big chair on another wall.  There is a young man in the 
room (possibly named Jimmy).  He tries to choke me blurting out that the Joker told him 
I am trying to take his place as the Jokers minion.  I placate him by telling him that he 
can be the jokers minion and I will be his minion.  Seems to work.  Then the Joker puts 
something in his hands and pulls up the sleeves of his sweater so I can't see it.  Then 
Jimmy tries pushing his hands agains me.  Suspecting a deadly device, I easily grab 
Jimmys wrists and push his hands towards the Joker who shrugs them off.



     I suspect I will spend the night in that house because I am worried that trying to 
leave would spring a trap.  The front door being the most obvious exit probably would 
trigger an explosion if the handle was touched.  I wonder if it would be safe to try and 
leave by a window or if they may possibly be rigged also.



     The Joker pulls out a gun.  Waving it in a silly, lazy fashion he points it towards 
himself in mock suicide and fires.  A bang, but a shot that widely misses his head.  The 
he aims the gun at the wall beside me and shoots it off.  Then he more steadily holds 
the gun and aims it directly at me.  I close my eyes waiting for the shot and can feel it 
leveled at my chest.  I hear the click of the hammer closing on an empty chamber.