some of the dangers I had faced in my adventures, the idea
of hiring someone to guard me just to walk down the street
seemed a little ludicrous.
‘ ‘I appreciate your concern, but I’m pretty good at looking
out for myself.”
“Suit yourself, it was just a suggestion. Say, you want
something to eat? I sell snack packs.”
He used one hand to pick up a box from the seat beside
him and shove it in my direction. It was filled with small
bags with stuff oozing through the sides.
“Uh . . . not just now, thanks,” I said, trying to fight
down the sudden queasiness I felt.
The driver was not to be daunted. He tossed the box back
onto the seat and snatched up a booklet.
“How about a guidebook, then? I write and print ’em
myself. It’s better’n anything you’ll find on the stands . . .
and cheaper, too.”
That might have come in handy, but glancing at it I could
see the print was a series of squiggles and hieroglyphics
that were meaningless to me. I always travel with a translator
pendant to get around the language barrier, but unfortunately
its powers don’t extend to the written word.
“I don’t suppose you have a Klahdish translation, do
you?”
“Sorry,” he said, tossing the booklet in the same general
direction the box had gone. “I’m takin’ a few courses to
try to leam some other languages, but Klahdish isn’t one ;
of them. Not enough demand, ya know?” I
Despite my continuing concern over his attention to his
driving, the cabbie was beginning to interest me.
“I must say you’re enterprising enough. Cab driver, pub-
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 37