“He served me a roast Klahd on a platter!” I said, leveling a shaky but accusing finger at the Pervect.
“Is that a fact now?” The policeman cocked an eye at the Pervect, who became quite agitated.
‘ ‘Non-sense! Eet is against the law to serve sentient beings without a license. See for yourself, Offisair! Thees is a replica onley.”
Sure enough, he was right! The figure on the platter was actually constructed on pieces of unidentifiable cuts of meat with what looked like baked goods filling in the gaps. The rat seemed to be authentic, but I’ll admit I didn’t look close. The overall effect was, as I can testify, horrifyingly real. The policeman studied the dish closely before turning his attention to the waiter once more.
“Don’t ya think it was a trifle harsh, servin’ the lad with what seemed to be one of his own?”
“But he deed not look like thees when he came in! I on-ley served heem what he asked for . . . sometheeng from Klah!”
That’s when I became aware of the fact that my disguise spell was no longer on. I must have lost control of it when I fainted. When it disappeared, however, was not as important as the fact that it was gone! I was now seen by one and all as what I really was . . . a Klahd!
The policeman had now turned his gaze on me and was studying me with what I felt was unhealthy interest. “Really, now,” he said. “Perhaps you could be tellin’ how it is you come to be wearin’ a disguise in such a fine place? It couldn’t be that you were plannin’ to skip out without payin’ fer yer meal, could it?”