task by myself.”
The tears were running freely now, but I didn’t bother
trying to hide them. I just didn’t care anymore.
“Mostly what you’ve done,” I continued, “is to keep
me company. I’ve felt scared and alone ever since I hit this
dimension … or would have if you hadn’t been along.
I’m so screaming afraid of making a mistake that I’d prob-
ably freeze up and do nothing unless I had somebody in
tow to applaud when I did right and to carp at me when I
did wrong . . . just so I’d know the difference. That’s how
insecure I am … I don’t even trust my own judgment as
to whether I’m right or not in what I do! The trouble is, I
haven’t been doing so well in the friendship department
lately. Aahz walked out on me, the M.Y.T.H. team thinks
I’ve deserted them . . . heck, I even managed to offend
J.R. by trying to say thanks with my wallet instead of my
mouth.”
It occurred to me I was starting to ramble. Making a
feeble pass at my tear-streaked face with my sleeve, I forced
a smile.
Robert Asprin
136
“Anyway, I can’t see imposing on you, either as a friend
or a business associate, just to hold my hand in troubled
times. That doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for what you’ve
done or that I’m trying to get rid of you. I’d appreciate it
if you stuck around but I don’t think I have any right to ask
you to.”
Having run out of things to say, I finished with a half-
hearted shrug. Strangely enough, after bearing my soul and
clearing my mind of the things which had been troubling
me, I felt worlds better.
“Are you through?”