was touch and go. Don’t kid yourself about it being over,
though. You’d just better hope your luck holds the next
time.”
Suddenly, my aching muscles were no longer the main
claim to my attention.
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 143
“Next time?” I said, sitting up straight. “What next
time?”
“I don’t want to sound pessimistic,” the cabbie shrugged,
“but I figure it’s a given. Those guys you messed up are
going to be back on the street today, and will probably
devote a certain amount of their time and energy trying to
find you for a rematch.”
“You think so?”
“Then again, even if I’m wrong, the word is out that
you’re carrying a good sized wad around with you. That’s
going to make you fair game for every cheap hoodlum
looking to pick up some quick cash.”
I hadn’t stopped to consider, it, but what Edvick was
saying made sense. All I needed to make my mission more
difficult was to have to be watching my back constantly at
the same time!
“I’m sorry, what was that again?” I said, trying to con-
centrate on what the driver was saying.
“Huh? Oh, I was just sayin’ again that what you should
really do is hire a bodyguard . . . same as I’ve been sayin’
right along.”
He had been saying that all along, and Kalvin had agreed
with him. I had poo-pooed the idea originally, but now I
was forced to reexamine my stance on the matter.
“Nnnnno,” I said, finally, talking to myself. “I can’t
doit.”
“Why not?” Edvick chimed in, adding his two cents to
the argument drawing to a close in my mind.
“Well, the most overpowering reason is that I can’t afford