Silence answered her.
“Hey! He’s asleep!” Spyder said.
“Yes.” Pookie said without looking. “And with what I put in his drink, he should be out until well after midnight.”
She rose to her feet and stretched.
“So, little sister, gather up that lovely gold and we’ll be on our way.”
“What?” Spyder exclaimed. “You mean we’re just going to take the gold without going after the Hefalump at all? But that’s…”
“…Stealing.” Pookie said. “If you want to pretty it up, the Duc was ready to swindle adventurers by taking advantage of their short sightedness. We’re just returning the favor. Remember I told you that adventurers are thieves or killers…and you specifically said that, if possible, you’d rather be a thief?”
She paused and considered the sleeping sheriff.
“Of course, if you’ve changed your mind, we could slit his throat on the way out.”
“But won’t they come after us?”
“And admit that they’ve been flim-flamed? By a couple females?” Pookie smiled. “I doubt it. Even if they do, they don’t even have our names when it comes to tracking us down. Looking for a Klahd and a Pervect, they’d be lucky if they didn’t run smack into Aahz and Skeeve.”
GLEEP’S TALE
Robert Lynn AsprinInevitably, when conversing with my colleagues of the dragon set, and the subject of pets was raised, an argument would ensue as to the relative advantages and disadvantages of humans as pets. Traditionally, I have maintained a respectful silence during such sessions, being the youngest member in attendance and therefore obligated to learn from my elders. This should not, however, be taken as an indication that I lack opinions on the subject. I have numerous well-developed theories, which is the main reason I welcomed the chance to test them by acquiring a subject as young and yet as well-traveled as Skeeve was when I first encountered him. As my oration unfolds, you will note…but I’m getting ahead of myself. First things first is the order of business for organized and well-mannered organisms. I am the entity you have come to know in these volumes as…