Robert Asprin – Tambu

“What I meant was that we could decide to give up the whole idea of pirate hunting.”

Tambu leaned back in his chair and studied her carefully.

“What’s bothering you, Whitey? We’ve gone over this a hundred times. The four of us. You were in favor of it then, and now suddenly you’re against everything… the weapons, the fighting, pirate hunting… everything. What happened? Have you changed your mind?”

“I don’t know,” Whitey admitted. “I was never that wild about the idea, but the three of you kind of swept me along-especially you, Mr. Tambu. You can be awfully persuasive. Now that we’re actually moving on the plan… I don’t know. I guess I’m just scared.”

“You can still deal yourself out if you want to,” Tambu offered gently.

“I’m not that scared.” Whitey broke into a smile. “Who knows what kind of trouble you three would get into if I wasn’t there to watch over you. No, I may grumble a lot, but I’m still in.”

“You’re sure I’m not ‘persuading’ you again?”

“I’m sure, but don’t laugh about your power to convince people. I was serious about that. You have a way about you… I don’t know what it is, that wins folks over to your way of thinking. If you weren’t so honest, you’d make an incredible con-man.”

Tambu protested, “I hate to argue with you, Whitey, but you’re wrong. Maybe you’re susceptible to my logic, but not everyone is. I remember a couple of girls-twins, in fact-that Egor and I made a play for on Isle, who weren’t persuaded at all. Neither were their parents-or the police, for that matter. We were lucky our captain interceded for us, and he stepped in only because he didn’t want to lose two crewmen-not because I convinced him to.”