[in a sauna] You ever heard of the myth of the Bannik?
Yeah. The shapeshifting spirit that supposedly frequented the steam rooms of Northern Europe.
The story goes that your Bannik, well, he's a... he's a mischievous kind of spirit. Sometimes he appears as a naked little man stroking his beard, smoking a pipe. But you be careful that you don't invite in other kinds of spirits. If you're asking his advice, you gotta make sure you pay him his due. Otherwise, uh, he can get up to all sorts of mischief. [Bannik appears invisible to Eddie] Fortunately, there are other rituals that you can use that appease the Bannik. Now, these rituals range from smothering a black-feathered chicken and burying his unplucked corpse under your steam house, or you can just offer him a fir branch when you've finished your steam and say thank you. But you gotta be sure you pay him. Now, your Bannik, he does have his uses.
And what would those be, Father?
Well, he can see into the future. I'll show you how to do it.
Oh.
[gets up] Now, you stand with your back to the furnace, which you leave half open. Now, you ask the Bannik a question, any question you want, but the Bannik, he won't answer you directly, you see. He can't talk. He can only touch. Now, if it's a good omen, you'll feel his little hand pat you on the back. But if it's a bad one, well, he'll scratch you with his sharp little claws.
And what question did you ask him, then?
I asked him about the emergence of the Mafia boss, Marco Moretti, and this business about the picture.
Right. And what exactly did this Bannik say, then, Bobby?
Do I buy the Botticelli for Marco Moretti? [Bannik's hands appear on Bobby's shoulders] The Bannik gave my back a lovely little fսcking rub.
Hm.
[points] You ought to buy him that picture.
Well, my concern is, despite our early success that we've enjoyed in Italy, Cico, he remains sloppy and unreliable.
But, if he smooths out the business with Moretti, then he's getting the job done. Buy him the fսcking picture! The Bannik has spoken, okay?ǃ
Loud and clear.
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