MA04 Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin Page B

Terrific.
    “Well, like ... um.”
    And Massha exploded into the room.
    “Everything’s ready downstairs, hot stuff, and ... oh! Hi there, green and scaly. Thought you were gone for good.” Aahz spun around, his eyes wide.
    “Massha?” he stammered. “What are you doing here?”
    “Didn’t the man of the hour here tell you?” she smiled, batting her expansive eyelashes. “I’m his new apprentice.”
    “Apprentice?” Aahz echoed, his old fire creeping into his voice.
    “Um ... that’s one of the things I wanted to talk to you about, Aahz,” I smiled, meekly.
    “Apprentice?” he repeated, as if he hadn’t heard. “Kid, you and I have got to talk ... NOW!”
    “Okay, Aahz. As soon as I ...”
    “Now!”
    Yep. Aahz was back.
    “Um, if you’ll excuse us, folks, Aahz and I have to ...”
    For the second time, there was a BAMPH in the room.

    This one was louder, which was understandable, as there were more beings involved. Specifically, there were now four
    Deveels standing in the room ... and they didn’t look happy. “We seek the Great Skeeve,” one of them boomed.
    My heart sank. Could my involvement with the Mob have been discovered so fast?
    “Who’s asking?”
    Aahz casually placed his bulk between me and the intruders. Tananda and Chumly were also on their feet, and Massha was edging sideways to get a clear field of fire, Terrific, All I needed to complete my day was to have my friends soak up the trouble I had started.
    “We are here representing the merchants of the Bazaar on Deva, seeking an audience with the Great Skeeve.”

    “About what?” my mentor challenged.
    The Deveel fixed him with an icy glare.
    “We seek the Great Skeeve, not idle chit-chat with a Pervert.”
    “Well, this particular Pervect happens to be the Great Skeeve’s business manager, and he doesn’t waste his time with Deveels unless I clear them.”
    I almost said something, but changed my mind. Concerned or not, this was not the time to take a conversation away from Aahz. The Deveel hesitated, and then shrugged.
    “There is a new difficulty at the Bazaar,” he said. “A group of organized criminals has gained access to our dimension threatening to disrupt the normal flow of business unless they are paid a percentage of our profits.”
    Tananda and Chumly exchanged glances, while Massha raised an eyebrow at me. I studied the ceiling with extreme care. Aahz alone was unruffled.

    “Tough. So what does that have to do with the Great Skeeve?” he demanded.
    Anticipating the answer, I tried to decide whether I should fight or run.
    “Isn’t it obvious?” the Deveel frowned. “We wish to retain his services to combat this threat. From what we can tell, he’s the only magician around up to the job.”
    That one stopped me. Of all the strange turns events could have taken, this had to be the most unanticipated and ... well, bizarre!
    “I see,” Aahz murmured, a nasty gleam in his eye. “You realize, of course, that the Great Skeeve’s time is valuable and that such a massive undertaking would require equally massive remuneration?”
    Every alarm in my system went off.
    “Um ... Aahz?”
    “Shut up, k ... I mean, be patient, Master Skeeve, This matter should be settled in a moment.”
    I couldn’t watch.
    Instead, I went to the window and stared out. Listening over my shoulder, I heard Aahz name an astronomical figure, and realized there might be a way out of this yet. If Aahz was greedy enough, and the Deveels stingy enough...
    “Done!” said the spokesman.
    “Of course, that’s only an advance,” Aahz pressed. “A full rendering will have to wait until the job is completed.”
    “Done,” came the reply.
    “And that is the fee only. Expenses will be reimbursed separately.”
    “Done! The advance will be awaiting your arrival. Anything else?”
    In tribute to the Deveel’s generosity, Aahz was unable to think of any other considerations to gouge out of them.
    There was another BAMPH, and the