Free MA07 MYTH Inc Link by Robert Asprin Page A

the manager demanded. “Do you recall incurring this debt, Mr. Hoos?”
    “Yes, I recall incurring this debt, Mr. Hoos,” Boo said, mimicking the manager’s voice. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll just pay it and the matter will be settled.”
    “Well, this is most irregular. I don’t know why they didn’t simply follow regular channels and present their claim at the bank.”
    “We did stop by the bank,” Tananda snapped. “All we got was a runaround.”
    The manager peered at her.
    “Oh, yes. I remember,” he drawled. “What I don’t recall is your saying anything about submitting a claim for payment. There was some mention made of a bank robbery, though. Wasn’t there?”
    “You were moving a bit fast there, little sister,” I chided gently.
    “You mean to say you were working legit, Tananda?” Weasel chimed in. “Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”
    “I did! What’s going on here, anyway, Weasel?”
    “Mr. Boos is a very rich man,” the bank manager said. “He is also quite generous ... sometimes too generous for his own good.”
    “It’s my money, ain’t it?” Hoos retorted. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes.”
    He started shoveling handfuls of coins into a paper bag.
    “... We were talking about interest on this bill. What do you think would cover the trouble I’ve caused missing payment the way I did?”
    “See what we mean?” Weasel said. “Mr. Hoos, any interest due should have been set at the time of the debt. Paving any more would be just giving your money away.”
    The bank manager gave us a weak excuse for an understanding smile.
    “As you can see, many of us in this dimension who owe our good fortune to Mr. Hoos have taken it upon ourselves to protect him from unnecessary expense ... not to mention from those who would seek to take advantage of his generosity.”
    “... After you’ve benefited from that generosity yourself,” I added innocently.
    That got a cackle of laughter out of Hoos.
    “That’s right, Big Fella,” he said. “Don’t think too harshly of the boys, though. There’s nothing quite as honest as a reformed criminal. Would you like me to tell you what the manager here was doing before I bailed him out?”
    “I’d rather you didn’t,” the manager huffed, but there was a pleading note in his voice.
    I saw that mischievous glint in the old boy’s eyes again and found myself wondering for the first time who had really framed Weasel just before he decided to reform. I think little sister caught it too.
    “I don’t think any interest will be necessary, Mr. Hoos,” she said, taking the bag from him. “I’m sure my client will be happy with the payment as is.”
    “Are you sure? Can’t I give you a little something for your trouble?”
    “Sorry. Company policy doesn’t allow its agents to take tips. Weasel, you’ll send me a bill for the damages to your place?”
    “You got it, sweetheart,” the bartender waved. “There, now,” Hoos said, reaching into his cart. “I can cover that expense for you, at least.”
    Tananda shook her head.
    “It’s baked into our operating budget. Really, Mr. Hoos, I’m already working legit. I really don’t need any extra boosts. C’mon, Chumley. It’s time we were going.”
    Waving goodbye to the others, I took my place beside her as she started the gyrations to blip us through to our home base on Deva.
    “Perhaps I shouldn’t mention it, little sister,” I said softly, “but unless my eye for damage has deserted me completely, isn’t that bill going to come to more than our company’s share of the collection?”
    “I said I’d cover it personally, and I will,” she murmured back. “The important thing is that I’ve completed this assignment in record time ... and if you say anything to Bunny about the damages, I’ll make you wish you had never been born. Do we understand each other, big brother?”

“I REALLY HAVE to compliment you, dear. It never ceases to amaze me how much you do