Heseemed to be merely grumbling to himself, so I seized the opportunityto whisper to Aahz.

"Psst.Aahz. What's a wall-to-wall…."

"Later,kid."

"You!"The proprietor seemed to see me for the first time. "You're thestatue! I didn't recognize you moving."

"Well…!…."

"Ishould have known," he raved on. "Deal with Imps and youinvite trouble. Next thing you know every…."

Hebroke off suddenly and eyed us suspiciously. His hand disappearedinto the folds and emerged with a clear crystal. He held it up andlooked through it like an eye glass, scrutinizing us each in turn.

"Ishould have known," he spat. "Would you be so kind as toremove your disguises? I like to know who I'm doing business with."

Iglanced at Aahz who nodded in agreement.

Closingmy eyes, I began to effect the change to our normal appearance. I hadenough time to wonder if Frumple would wonder about mytransformation, if he realized I was actually a different person thanthe statue he had seen earlier. I needn't have worried.

"APervert!" Frumple managed to make the word sound slimy.

"That'sPervect if you want to do business with us," Aahz corrected.

"It'sPervert until I see the color of your money," Frumple sneeredback.

Iwas suddenly aware he was studying me carefully.

"Say,you wouldn't by any chance be an Imp named Throckwoddle, would you?"

"Me?No! I… I'm…."

Buthe was already squinting at me through the crystal again.

"Hmph,"he grunted, tucking his viewer back in his robe. "I guess you'reokay. I'd love to get my hands on that Throckwoddle, though. He'sbeen awfully free spreading my name around lately."

"Say,Frumple," Aahz interjected. "You aren't the only one wholikes to see who he's doing business with, you know."

"Hm?Oh! Very well, if you insist."

Iexpected him to close his eyes and go to work, but instead he dippeda hand into his robe again. This time he produced what looked like asmall hand mirror with some sort of a dial on the back. Peering intothe mirror, he began to gently turn the dial with his fingers.

Theresult was immediate and startling. Not merely his face, but hiswhole body began to change, filling out, and taking on a definitereddish hue. As I watched, his brows thickened and grew closertogether, his beard line crept up his face as if it were alive, andhis eyes narrowed cruelly. Almost as an afterthought, I noted thathis feet were now shiny cloven hooves and the tip of a pointed tailappeared at the bottom hem of his robe.

Inan impressively short period of time, he had transformed into a…well, a devil!

Despiteall my preparations, I felt the prickle of superstitious fear as heput away the mirror and turned to us again.

"Areyou happy now?" he grumbled at Aahz.

"It'sa start," Aahz conceded.

"Enoughbanter," Frumple was suddenly animated again. "What bringsa Pervert to Klah? Slumming? And where does the kid fit in?"

"He'smy apprentice," Aahz informed him.

"Really?"Frumple swept me with a sympathetic gaze. "Are things reallythat tough, kid? Maybe we could work something out."

"He'squite happy with the situation," interrupted Aahz. "Nowlet's get to our problem."

"Youwant me to cure the kid's insanity?"

"Huh?No. C'mon, Frumple. We came here on business. Let's declare a trucefor a while, okay?"

"Ifyou insist. It'll seem strange, though; Perverts and Deveels havenever really gotten along."

"That'sPervects!"

"Seewhat I mean?"

"Aahz!"I interrupted. "Could you just tell him?"

"Hmm?Oh. Right, kid. Look, Frumple. We've got a problem we were hoping youcould help us with. You see, I've lost my powers."

"What!?"exploded Frumple. "You came here without the magical ability toprotect yourself against being followed? That tears it. I spend sevenyears building a comfortable front here, and some idiot comes alongand…."

"Look,Frumple. We told you the kid here's my apprentice. He knows more thanenough to cover us."

"Ahalf-trained apprentice! He's trusting my life and security to ahalf-trained apprentice!"

"Youseem to be overlooking the fact we're already here. If anything wasgoing to happen it would have happened already."

"Everyminute you two are here you're threatening my existence."

"…which is all the more reason for you to deal with our problemimmediately and stop this pointless breast-beating!"

Thetwo of them glared at each other for a few moments, while I tried tobe very quiet and unnoticeable. Frumple did not seem to be the rightchoice for someone to pin our hopes on.

"Oh,all right!" Frumple grumbled at last. "Since I probablywon't be rid of you any other way."

Hestrode to the wall and produced what looked like a length of ropefrom behind one of the rugs.

"That'smore like it," Aahz said triumphantly.

"Siddown and shut up," ordered our host.

Aahzdid as he was bid, and Frumple proceeded to circle him. As he moved,the Deveel held the rope first this way, then that, sometimes loopedin a circle, other times hanging limp. All the while he staredintently at the ceiling as if reading a message written there in fineprint.

Ididn't have the faintest idea what he was doing, but it was strangelyenjoyable to watch someone order Aahz about and get away with it.

"Hmm…."the Deveel said at last. "Yes, I think we can say that yourpowers are definitely gone."

"Terrific!"Aahz growled. "Look, Frumple. We didn't come all this way to betold something we already knew. You Deveels are supposed to be ableto do anything. Well, do something!"

"It'snot that easy. Pervert!" Frumple snapped back. "I needinformation. How did you lose your powers, anyway?"

"Idon't know for sure," Aahz admitted. "I was summoned toKlah by a magician and when I arrived they were gone."

"Amagician? Which one?"

"Garkin."

"Garkin?He's a mean one to cross. Why don't you just get him to restore yourpowers instead of getting me involved?"

"Becausehe's dead. Is that reason enough for you?"

"Hmm…that makes it difficult."

"Areyou saying you can't do anything?" Aahz sneered. "I shouldhave known. I always thought the reputation of the Deveels wasoverrated."

"Look,Pervert! Do you want my help or not? I didn't say I couldn't doanything, just that it would be difficult."

"That'smore like it," Aahz chortled. "Let's get started."

"Notso fast," interrupted Frumple. "I didn't say I would helpyou, just that I could."

"Isee," sneered Aahz. "Here it comes, kid. The price tag. Itold you they were shake-down artists."

"Actually,"the Deveel said dryly, "I was thinking of the time factor. Itwould take a while for me to make my preparations, and I believe I'vemade my feelings quite clear about you staying here longer than isabsolutely necessary."

"Inthat case," smiled Aahz, "I suggest you get started. Ibelieve I've made my feelings quite clear that we intend to stay hereuntil the cure is effected."

"Inthat case," the Deveel smiled back at him, "I believe youraised the matter of cost. How much do you have with you?"

"Well,we have…." I began.

"Thatstrikes me as being unimportant," Aahz glared warningly at me."Suppose you tell us how much you feel is a fair price for yourservices."

Frumplegraced him with one withering glare before sinking thoughtfully intohis calculations.

"Hmm…material cost is up… and of course, there's my time…and you did call without an appointment… let's say it wouldcost you, just as a rough estimate, mind you, oh, in the neighborhoodof… Say!"

Hesuddenly brightened and smiled at us.

"Maybeyou'd be willing to work this as a trade. I cure you, and you do me alittle favor."