The lag this time is even more pronounced, probably all of ten seconds, though it feels more like a minute and a half. They know for sure now there is nothing wrong with their television set, because the lingering audio this time is Tarantino, not the five-day forecast. It's Gerry Rafferty and friends still Stuck in the Middle of the seventies -- and definitely coming from downstairs. Amost as one they roll out of bed, reaching as silently as they can for the things they will need. Telephone. Handgun. Do not underestimate your American family. The operation itself is rather quick, if slightly painful, and for the surgeon -- or in our case, hack -- deeply bloody. Let us watch how he goes about it. He leads her downstairs after closing the shop and feeding the cat &. Two sublevels down, and a narrow damp hallway across, is a large, immaculate white room with a heathen stone altarpiece that doubles as a surgical table. YOU CLAIM THERE ARE PROBLEMS AMONG US THAT YOU NEED TO SOLVE. YOU USE THIS CLAIM AS AN EXCUSE TO INVADE OUR PRECINCTS. MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS DON'T EXIST.   Smoldering lava lamps line the walls throwing a flickering warm light into the white room, making the blood flecks on the altar look like furrows in the granite. Saul throws an impressively Gothic knife switch (thunk!), causing a deep and furious hum to pervade the room, as if from some unspeakable Engine. Actually it's just an old fluorescent tube over the altar, but you get the idea. He indicates the altar and asks her to lie upon it. Saul takes from his voluminous back pocket a much worn manual titled Eye Replacement in Three Easy Steps and pulls up a metal swivel stool. WHERE THERE ARE REAL CONFLICTS, WHERE THERE ARE WRONGS, WE WILL IDENTIFY THEM AND ADDRESS THEM BY OUR MEANS. WE ARE FORMING OUR OWN SOCIAL CONTRACT . THIS GOVERNANCE WILL ARISE ACCORDING TO THE CONDITIONS OF OUR WORLD, NOT YOURS.   He looks all over her, taking in the folds in the expensive dress, the curve of her lip, the peaceful look of expectation on her face. Then he asks her to close her eyes. They have already discussed make and model on the way down, but he asks one more time to be sure. "Look, you're certain you want fire-breathing red?" he asks. "Yeesss," she breathes, scrunching up her chiseled shoulders in anticipation, "Do it to me NOW!" OUR WORLD IS DIFFERENT.