"Idon't know," I admitted. "I haven't been in that manytowns."

"Well,let me sketch it out for you. They want to be noticed. They carry onand make lots of noise. They stare at the women and wave at peoplethey've never seen before."

"Butthat's what we've been doing."

"Right!Now do you understand?"

"No."

Aahzheaved an exasperated sigh.

"C'mon,kid. Think a minute, even if it hurts. We're acting like anyone elsewould walking into a strange town, so nobody will look at us twice.They won't pay any more attention to us than they would any othernewcomer. Now if we followed your suggestion and came skulking intotown, not talking to anyone or looking at anything, and tried realhard not to be noticed, theneveryone and his kid brother would zero in on us trying to figure outwhat we were up to. Now do you understand?"

"I…I think so."

"Good…cause there's our target."

Iblinked and looked in the direction of his pointing finger. Theresquatting between a blacksmith's forge and a leather worker'sdisplays was the shop. As I said, I was new to city life, but I wouldhave recognized it as a rug merchant's shop even if it was notadorned with a large sign proclaiming it such. The entire front ofthe shop was lavishly decorated with colorful geometric patternsapparently meant to emulate the patterns of the rugs inside. I guessit was intended to look rich and prosperous. I found it unforgivablygaudy.

Ihad been so engrossed in our conversation, I had momentarilyforgotten our mission. With the shop now confronting us at closerange, however, my nervousness came back in a rush.

"Whatare we going to do, Aahz?"

"Well,first of all I think I'm going to get a drink."

"Adrink?"

"Right.If you think I'm going to match wits with a Deveel on an emptystomach, you've got another think coming."

"Adrink?" I repeated, but Aahz was gone, striding purposefullytoward a nearby tavern. There was little for me to do but follow,leading the unicorn.

Thetavern was a dingy affair, even to my rustic eye. A faded awningsullenly provided shade for a small cluster of scarred wooden tables.Flies buzzed around a cat sleeping on one of the tables… atleast I like to assume it was asleep.

AsI tied the unicorn to one of the awning supports, I could hear Aahzbellowing at the inn keep for two of his largest flagons of wine. Isighed, beginning to despair that Aahz would never fully adapt to hisold-man disguise. The inn keep did not seem to notice anyirregularity between Aahz's appearance and his drinking habits,however. It occurred to me that Aahz might be right in his theoriesof how to go unnoticed. City people seemed to be accustomed to loudrude individuals of any age.

"Sitdown, kid," Aahz commanded. "You're making me nervoushovering around like that."

"Ithought we were going to talk with the Deveel," I grumbled,sinking into a chair.

"Relax,kid. A few minutes one way or the other won't make that muchdifference. Besides, look!"

Ayoung, well-dressed couple was entering the rug shop.

"See?We couldn't have done any business anyway. At least not until theyleft. The kind of talk we're going to have can't be done in front ofwitnesses. Ahh!"

Theinn-keeper had arrived, clinking the two flagons of wine down on thetable in a lackluster manner.

"Abouttime!" Aahz commented, seizing a flagon in each hand andimmediately draining one. "Aren't you going to have anything,kid?"

Atoss of his head and the second flagon was gone.

"Whilemy friend here makes up his mind, bring me two more… and makethem decent sizes this time if you have to use a bucket!"

Theinn keep retreated, visibly shaken. I wasn't. I had already witnessedAahz's capacity for alcohol, astounding in an era noted for heavydrinkers. What did vex me a bit was that the man had departed withouttaking my order.

Idid eventually get my flagon of wine, only to find my stomach was toonervous to readily accept it. As a result, I wound up sipping itslowly. Not so Aahz. He continued to belt them down at an alarmingrate. For quite some time he drank. In fact, we sat for nearly anhour, and there was still no sign of the couple who had entered theshop.

Finally,even Aahz began to grow impatient.

"Iwonder what's taking them so long," he grumbled.

"Maybethey're having trouble making up their mind," I suggested.

"C'mon,kid. The shop's not that big. He can't have too large a selection."

Hedowned the last of his wine and stood up.

"We'vewaited long enough," he declared. "Let's get this show onthe road."

"Butwhat about the couple?" I reminded him.

"We'lljust have to inspire them to conclude their business with a bit morespeed."

Thathad a vaguely ominous ring to it, and Aahz's toothy grin wasadditional evidence that something unpleasant was about to happen.

Iwas about to try to dissuade him, but he started across the streetwith a purposeful stride that left me standing alone.

Ihurried to catch up with him, leaving the unicorn behind in my haste.Even so, I was unable to overtake him before he had entered the shop.

Iplunged after him, fearing the worst. I needn't have worried. Exceptfor the proprietor, the shop was empty. There was no sign of thecouple anywhere.

"MAYI help you, gentlemen?"

Theproprietor's rich robes did not successfully hide his thinness. I amnot particularly muscular… as Skeeve, that is… but Ihad the impression that if I struck this man, he wouldn't bruise,he'd shatter. I mean, I've seen skinny men before, but he seemed tobe a skeleton with a too-small skin stretched over the bones.

"We'dlike to talk with Abdul." Aahz said loftily.

"Iam he, and he is I," recited the proprietor. "You seebefore you Abdul, a mere shadow of a man, pushed to the brink ofstarvation by his clever customers."

"Youseem to be doing all right for yourself," I murmured, lookingabout me.

Theshop was well stocked, and even my untraveled eye could readilydetect the undeniable signs of wealth about. The rugs were delicatelywoven in soft fabrics unfamiliar to me, and gold and silver shonefrom the depths of their designs. Obviously these rugs were intendedfor the wealthy, and it seemed doubtful their current owner would besuffering from a lack of comfort.

"Ann.Therein lies the tale of my foolishness," cried the proprietorwringing his hands. "In my blind confidence, I sank my entireholdings into my inventory. As a result, I starve in the midst ofplenty. My customers know this and rob me in my vulnerable times. Ilose money on every sale, but a man must eat."

"Actually,"Aahz interrupted, "we're looking for something in a deep shagwall-to-wall carpet."

"What'sthat?… I mean, do not confuse poor Abdul so, my humblebusiness…."

"Comeoff it, Abdul… or should I say Frumple." Aahz grinned hiswidest grin. "We know who you are and what you are. We're hereto do a little business."

Athis words, the proprietor moved with a swiftness I would not havesuspected him capable of. He was at the door in a bound, throwing abolt and lowering a curtain which seemed to be of a substance evenmore strange than that of his rugs.

"Where'dyou learn your manners!" he snarled back over his shoulder in avoice quite unlike the one used by the whiney proprietor. "I'vegot to live in this town, you know."

"Sorry,"Aahz said, but he didn't sound at all apologetic.

"Well,watch it next time you come barging in and start throwing my namearound. People here are not particularly tolerant of strange beingsor happenings."