but, if they insist …”
For the next several minutes I took my anger out on the
bag, which was probably the safest object to vent my spleen
on. I hefted it, swung it over my head, slammed it against
the floor a couple times, and did everything else to it I could
think of short of climbing inside. I’ve got to admit the thing
was sturdily made. Then again, I was starting to see why
goods on Perv had to be tough. The salesmen never favored
me with so much as a glance.
“Check me on this, Kalvin,” I panted, my exertions
finally starting to wear on my endurance. “The price tag
on this bag does say 125 gold, doesn’t it?”
I may not be able to read many written languages, but
numbers and prices have never given me any trouble. I
guess it comes from hanging around with Aahz as long as
I have . . . not to mention Tananda and Bunny.
“That’s the way I read it.”
“I mean, that’s not exactly cheap. I’ve seen clerks treat
10-copper items with more concern and respect than these
guys are showing. Don’t they care?”
“Not so’s you’d notice,” the Djin agreed.
” Do you think they’ d notice if I tried to just tuck it. under
my arm and walk out without paying? It would be nice to
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 45
know something can get to these guys.”
The Djin glanced around nervously.
‘ ‘I really don’t know, but I don’t think you should try.”
That cooled me down a bit. I was still in strange territory
on a mission, and it was no time to start testing security
systems.
“Okay,” I growled. “Let’s try this again.”
This time, when I approached the sales counter, I figured