Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

The keeper acknowledged the applause and launched into another spiel of gibberish, this time punctuated by gestures and exclamations.

I decided it was about time for me to go.

“Gleep!”

There was a tug at my sleeve.

I looked around. There, behind me, was a small dragon! Well, he was about four feet high and ten feet long, but after looking at the other dragons, he seemed small. He was green with big blue eyes and what appeared to be a drooping white mustache.

For a split second I was panicky, but that rapidly gave way to curiosity. He didn’t look dangerous. He seemed quite content just standing there chewing on….

My sleeve! The beast was eating a piece of my sleeve! I looked down and confirmed that part of my shirt was indeed missing.

“Gleep,” said the dragon again, stretching his neck out for another mouthful.

“Go away!” I said, and cuffed him before I realized what I was doing.

“Gleep?” it said, puzzled.

I started to edge away. I was unsure of what to do if he cut loose with a blast of fire and therefore eager to avoid it.

“Gleep,” it said, shuffling after me.

“Gazabkp!” roared a voice behind me.

I spun and found myself looking at a hairy stomach. I followed it up, way up, and saw the dragon keeper’s face looming over me.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized readily. “I don’t speak your language.”

“Oh. A Klahd!” The Deveel boomed. “Well, the Statement still stands. Pay up!”

“Pay up for what?”

“For the dragon! What do you think, we’re giving away samples?”

“Gleep!” said the dragon, pressing his head against my leg.