Little Myth Marker By Robert Asprin

“Sorry, partner. Figure of speech.”

“Well, that’s just swell!” Guido exploded. “How’re Nunzio ‘n’ me supposed to guard the Boss when we don’t know what’s comin’ at him?”

“You don’t,” Aahz shot back. “This is out of your category, Guido. We’re talking about character assassination, not a physical attack. It’s not in your job description.”

“Izzat so!” Nunzio said in his squeaky voice. “Don Bruce says we should guard him. I don’t remember him sayin’ anything about physical or non-physical attacks. Right, Guido?”

“That’s right! If the Boss has got someone after his scalp, guardin’ him is our job … if that’s all right with you, MISTER Aahz!”

“I wouldn’t trust you two to guard a fish head, much less my partner!” Aahz roared, surging to his feet.

“Stop it, Aahz!” Tananda ordered, kicking my partner’s chair so that it cut his legs out from under him and plopped him back into his seat. “If we’re up against the Ax, we’re going to need all the help we can get. Let’s stop bickering about the ‘who’ and concentrate on the ‘how.’ Okay? We’re all scared, but that doesn’t mean we should turn on each other when it’s the Ax that’s our target.”

That cooled everybody down for the moment. There were a few glares and mutters exchanged, but at least the volume level dropped to where I could be heard.

“I think you’re all overlooking something,” I said quietly.

“What’s that?” Tananda blinked.

“Aahz came close a minute ago. This is my problem . . . and it’s not really in any of your job descriptions. We’re all friends, and there are business ties between Aahz and me, as well as Guido and Nunzio, but we’re talking about reputations here. If I get hit, and everyone seems to be betting against me right now, anyone standing close to me is going to get mud splashed on them, too. It seems to me that the best course of action is for the rest of you to pull back, or, better still, for me to move out and present a solo target. That way, we’re only running the risk of having one career ruined . . . mine. I got where I am by standing on your shoulders. If I can’t maintain it on my own, well, maybe it wasn’t much of a career to start with.”