Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

“Men!” the officer called. “Cut this carrion down and haul it out of town. Leave it at the city limits as a warning to anyone else who would seek to .cheat the citizens of Twixt.”

“You’re too considerate.” The restaurant owner’s voice was edged with sarcasm.

“Think nothing of it, citizen,” the officer sneered.

I barely remembered to stop flying before they cut the rope. I bit my tongue as I started into the ground, and risked sneaking it back into my mouth. No one noticed.

Unseen hands grabbed me under the armpits and by the ankles, and the journey began to the city limits.

Now that I knew I wasn’t going to be buried, my thoughts returned to my future.

First, I would have to do something to Frumple. What, I wasn’t sure, but something. I owed Aahz that much. Maybe I could restore Quigley and enlist his aid. He was supposed to be a demon hunter. He was probably better equipped to handle a Deveel than I was. Then again, remembering Quigley, that might not be a valid assumption.

Then there was Isstvan. What was I going to do about him? I wasn’t sure I could beat him with Aahz’s help. Without it, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

“This should be far enough. Shall we hang them again?”

I froze at the suggestion. Fortunately the voice at my feet had different ideas.

“Why bother? I haven’t seen an officer yet who’d move a hundred paces from a bar. Let’s just dump ’em here.”

There was a general chorus of assent, and the next minute I was flying through the air again. I tried to relax for the impact, but the ground knocked the wind out of me again.