“Beats me,” the Djin shrugged “I’ve never run into the problem. Of course, I travel in a bottle and people can’t see me anyway.”
“Well, what do you recommend, Edvik?”
“Let me take you by a department store. You can pick up a small bag there and maybe some stuff to put in it. Believe me, it’ll pay in the long run in dealing with a hotel.”
I pondered the point for a moment, then decided it was senseless to hire a guide, then not listen to his advice. “All right,” I said at last. “How far is it to this store you were talking about?”
“Oh, not far at all. Hang on!”
This last warning was a bit late, as he had already thrown the cab into a tight U-turn which scrambled the traffic around us and sent me tumbling across the seat. Before I could recover my balance we were well on our way back in the direction we had come from.
As accustomed as I was to madcap excursions, it occurred to me that this one was quickly becoming more complex than anything I had previously experienced. I hoped the education would prove to be more enjoyable and beneficial than it had been so far.
Chapter Five:
“I just need to pick up a few things.”
—I. MARCOS
I’VE MADE NUMEROUS references to the Bazaar at Deva, where I make my home. For the benefit of those who do not travel the dimensions or read these books, it’s the largest market center in the known dimensions. Anything you can imagine, as well as many an item you can’t, is for sale there. Competition is stiff, and the Deveel merchants will turn themselves or their customers inside out before they’ll let a sale get away.