touched, some want EVERYTHING removed. Whatever
is your pleasure it will be done."
64 "This is all fine stock," agreed The Hawk, "but they don't have the
bearing I'm looking for. I understand you can provide Children of
Spirit, both
men and women. This is the kind of quality I'm looking for."
65 "If you had come last year," explained the slaver, "I could have
given you all you wanted, but last season some son of a she-dog called
The Hawk eliminated my supplier, wiped out his entire band! He'd been
bringing me some good quality stuff for several years, but now I can
get nothing. There's not a decent bandit band in the desert any more.
They're all scared to death of The Children of Spirit!"
66 "Then perhaps," suggested The Hawk, "you could tell me who bought
some of the other stock, and I can make a bargain with them."
67 "A slave dealer never reveals his customers under any circumstances.
Maybe I could speak to some of them for you, and make some deals, but
that would be the best I could do."
68 "I'm afraid," announced The Hawk, "that wouldn't be enough." He
slipped his dagger from beneath his robes and jabbed it into the
slaver's fat belly. The man looked down to the blade in surprise. "What
is the meaning of this?" he asked.
69 "I," answered The Hawk, "am that son of a dog From The
Land of Spirit you were speaking about. And if you do not do EXACTLY as
I say, I'll split that fat belly of yours wide open!" A look of horror
came over the man's face, and he slowly nodded. "Call over the four
guards in the room. Don't excite them, just tell them you want them to
come here."
70 The slaver choked. "Guards!" he stuttered, "Come over here! I want
you!"