difficult to focus on him and what he was saying.
“It doesn’t help . . . but that’s not the whole problem,”
I said. “All alcohol does is amplify what’s there already.
It may make my irritating habits more irritating, but it isn’t
causing them.”
“True enough,” he admitted grudgingly.
“So lay it on me,” I urged. “What is it about me that’s
so irritating? I try to be a nice guy, but lately it hasn’t been
working so well. First with Aahz, and now with you.”
The Djin hesitated before answering.
“I haven’t really known you all that long, Skeeve. Any-
thing I could say would be a snap judgment.”
“So give me a snap judgment. I really want to . . .”
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 69
“Your dinner. Sir!”
The Pervect who had first seated me was hovering over
my table again, this time with the waiter in tow. That latter
notable was staggering under a huge covered platter which
had steam rising from it enticingly.
I was desperately interested in hearing what Kalvin had
to say, but the sight of the platter reminded me that I was
desperately hungry as well. Apparently the Djin sensed my
dilemma.
“Go ahead and eat, Skeeve,” he said. “I can hold until
you’re done.”
Nodding my thanks, I turned my attention to the waiting
Pervect.
“It smells delicious,” I managed, honestly surprised.
“What is it?”
“Wan uf ze House Specialties,” he beamed, reaching
for the tray cover. “From Klah!”
The tray cover disappeared with a flourish, and I found
myself face-to-face with someone else from my home dimen-
sion of Klah. Unfortunately, he wasn’t serving the meal. . .