Motif · Book 5, The Butcher's Masquerade

The xistera

A jai-alai scoop from a Gold Fan Box, matched to the Cesta Punta skill an Earth Hobby Potion gave Carl at random: a metallic basket that retracts into a bracer, hurls a hob-lobber at 250 mph, and retires the slingshot. The AI's plan for him, traced back to cherry bombs tossed off a cutter onto Arctic ice.

Segment appearances

• Chapter 11 — The Recital
• Chapter 22 — Samantha, open wide
• Chapter 25 — Fort Freedom
• Chapter 26 — Wonderwall
• Chapter 28 — Premature Questjaculation
• Chapter 36 — Swole
• Chapter 76 — Cage Fight Extreme

Progression

It recalls whatever it threw, including a doll's head (ch. 22); not reinstalled in time for the pit, so a disco ball goes by hand (ch. 76).