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Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 84 из 110"You know, the stuff that puts food on the table for our whole dimension? Besides, if you were just going out to kick up your heels a bit I wouldn't care. What I DO mind is your sneaking off to check up on me."
"So what? It shouldn't bother you ... unless you haven't been telling me everything, that is."
"What bothers me is that you can't bring yourself to believe me," Kalvin shot back. "Why do you even bother asking me anything if you aren't going to believe I'm telling you the truth?"
"I used to believe everything you told me. YOU taught me how stupid that was. Remember?"
This seemed to be going nowhere fast, so I summoned my courage and stepped forward to intervene.
"Excuse me, but I thought you two were friends."
Kalvin broke off his arguing to spare me a withering look.
"Friends? Is that what she told you?"
He rounded on the Djeanie again.
"You know, babe, for someone who keeps accusing me of lying, you play pretty fast and loose with the truth yourself!"
"Don't be silly," the Djeanie said. "If I had told him I was your wife, he would have just covered for you. You think I don't know how you men lie to protect each other?"
"Wait a minute," I interrupted. "Did you say 'wife'? Are you two married?"
Whatever was left of my interest in Daphnie died without a whimper.
"Sure," Kalvin said with a grimace. "Can't you tell by the loving and affection we shower on each other? Of course we're married. Do you think either of us would put up with this abuse from a stranger?"
He gave a brief shake of his head, and for a moment seemed to almost return to normal.
"By the way, Skeeve, good to see you again," he said, flashing a tight smile. "Sorry to have forgotten my manners, but I get ... Anyway, even though it may be a bit late, I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Daphnie."
"Well, at lest now I know what it takes to be introduced to one of your business friends."
And they were off again.
There was a knock on the door.
I answered it, thinking as I did that it was nice to know at least a few people who came into my room the normal way ... which is to say, by the door ... instead of simply popping in unannounced.
"Is everything okay, Boss? I thought I heard voices."
"Sure," I said, "it's just ... Guido?"
My mind had to grapple with several images and concepts simultaneously, and it wasn't doing so hot. First was the realization that Guido was back from his mission as a special tax envoy. Second, that he had his arm in a sling.
The latter probably surprised me more than the former.
"So what? It shouldn't bother you ... unless you haven't been telling me everything, that is."
"What bothers me is that you can't bring yourself to believe me," Kalvin shot back. "Why do you even bother asking me anything if you aren't going to believe I'm telling you the truth?"
"I used to believe everything you told me. YOU taught me how stupid that was. Remember?"
This seemed to be going nowhere fast, so I summoned my courage and stepped forward to intervene.
"Excuse me, but I thought you two were friends."
Kalvin broke off his arguing to spare me a withering look.
"Friends? Is that what she told you?"
He rounded on the Djeanie again.
"You know, babe, for someone who keeps accusing me of lying, you play pretty fast and loose with the truth yourself!"
"Don't be silly," the Djeanie said. "If I had told him I was your wife, he would have just covered for you. You think I don't know how you men lie to protect each other?"
"Wait a minute," I interrupted. "Did you say 'wife'? Are you two married?"
Whatever was left of my interest in Daphnie died without a whimper.
"Sure," Kalvin said with a grimace. "Can't you tell by the loving and affection we shower on each other? Of course we're married. Do you think either of us would put up with this abuse from a stranger?"
He gave a brief shake of his head, and for a moment seemed to almost return to normal.
"By the way, Skeeve, good to see you again," he said, flashing a tight smile. "Sorry to have forgotten my manners, but I get ... Anyway, even though it may be a bit late, I'd like to introduce you to my wife, Daphnie."
"Well, at lest now I know what it takes to be introduced to one of your business friends."
And they were off again.
There was a knock on the door.
I answered it, thinking as I did that it was nice to know at least a few people who came into my room the normal way ... which is to say, by the door ... instead of simply popping in unannounced.
"Is everything okay, Boss? I thought I heard voices."
"Sure," I said, "it's just ... Guido?"
My mind had to grapple with several images and concepts simultaneously, and it wasn't doing so hot. First was the realization that Guido was back from his mission as a special tax envoy. Second, that he had his arm in a sling.
The latter probably surprised me more than the former.