Thieves World 5 – The Face of Chaos by Asprin, Robert

A knife glinted suddenly in the man’s hand as he advanced on Bantu, a glint that

was echoed in his narrowed eyes.

‘… because if he were alive, and if this shop were under his protection, and

if he or his men caught you coming between him and a paying customer, then he’d

have to make an example of you and your friends!’

The man was close now, and Bantu’s throat tightened as the knife moved up and

down in the air between them, gracefully serving as a pointer during the speech.

‘Maybe your ears should be cut off to save you from hearing troublesome rumours

… or your tongue cut out to keep you from repeating them … Better still the

nose … yes, chop off the nose to keep it out of other people’s business ,..’

Bantu felt faint now. This couldn’t be happening. Not in broad daylight on the

east side of town. These things might happen in the Maze, but not here! Not to

him!

‘Please, sir,’ the shopkeeper interrupted. ‘If anything happens in my shop …’

‘Of course,’ the swarthy man continued, as if he hadn’t heard, ‘all this is pure

conjecture. Jubal is dead, so nothing need be done … or said. Correct?’

He turned away abruptly, summoning his men back to the door with a jerk of his

head.

‘Yes, Jubal is dead,’ he repeated, ‘along with his hawkmasks. As such, no one

need concern themselves with silly symbols scratched on shopfronts. I trust we

did not interrupt your business, citizens, for I’m sure you are all here to

purchase some of this man’s excellent stock … and you will each buy something

before you leave.’