veloping strength on their own. I don’t know. What do you
think, Kalvin?”
I gestured at him with my glass, and realized it was full
again. So much for my resolve. I also realized the pitcher
was almost empty.
“That’s a rough one, Skeeve,” the Djin was saying, and
I tried to focus on his words. “I think everybody has to
reach their own answer, though it’s a rare person who even
thinks to ask the question. I will say it’s an over-simplifica-
tion to try to equate caring about someone with weakness,
just as I think it’s wrong to assume that if we can leam
from our friends, they’re actually controlling our thinking.”
MYTH-NOMERS AND IM-PERVECTIONS 109
He stopped and stared at my hand. I followed his gaze
and realized I was trying to fill my empty glass from an
empty pitcher.
“I also think,” he sighed, “that we should definitely
head back to the hotel now. Have you paid the tab? Are we
square here?”
“Thass another thing,” I said, fighting to get the words
out past my tongue, which suddenly seemed to have a mind
of its own. “What he said about money. I haven’t been
using my money right.”
“For cryin’ out loud, Skeeve! Lower your voice!”
“No, really! I’ve got all thissh money …”
I fumbled my moneybelt out and emptied the gold onto
the table.
“… And has it made ME happy? Has it made ANY-
BODY happy?”
When no answer came, I blinked my eyes, trying to get
Kalvin back into focus. When he finally spoke, he seemed
to be very tense, though his voice was very quiet.
“I think you may have just made someone happy, but I
don’t think it’ll be you.”