“Not from around here, eh?” the cop snarled. “So tell me, Mr. Can’t-Walk-Like-Normal-Folks-Skeeve, just where is it you’re from . . . exactly.”
So much for keeping my origins a secret. “Well, I was born on Klah, but lately I’ve been living at the Bazaar at Deva where I . . .”
“From off-dimension! I might have known. I suppose comin’ from Deva that you’re going to try to tell me you’re here on business.”
“Well, sort of. I’m here looking for my business partner.”
“Another one from off-dimension! Any more and we’ll have to fumigate the whole place.”
The cop’s mouth was starting to get on my nerves, but I thought it wise to keep a rein on my temper, despite the warning from Kalvin.
“Actually, he’s from here. That is, he’s a Pervect.”
“A Pervect? Now I’ve heard everything. A fellow from off-dimension who claims to have a Pervect for a business partner!”
That did it.
“That’s right!” I barked. “What’s more, he happens to be my best friend. We had a fight and I’m trying to find him and get him to rejoin the company. What’s it to you, anyway?”
The cop gave ground a little, then scowled at me. “Well, I guess you’re tellin’ the truth. Even someone from off-dimension could come up with a better lie than that. Just watch your step, fella. We don’t like outsiders much on Perv.”
He gave me one last hard glare, then wandered off, glancing back at me from time to time. Still a little hot under the collar, I matched him glare for glare.
“That’s better,” Kalvin chortled, reminding me of his presence. “A Klahd, huh? That explains a few things..”