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Sprawled across Ublala, Tehol stared up at her ‘Expensive?’

‘All those spices, of course Tell me, Ublala, what did you see when you walked across the bottom of the canal?’

‘Mud’

‘What else?’

‘Junk’

‘What else? What were you walking on?’

‘Bodies Bones Crayfish, crabs Old nets Broken pots, furniture-’

‘Furniture?’ Tehol asked ‘Serviceable furniture?’

‘Well, there was a chair But I didn’t sit in it’

‘Bodies,’ Shurq said ‘Yes Lots of bodies How deep was the canal originally?’

Bugg had arrived, and with this question Tehol looked over at his ineer and all that’

‘But I’ pointed out

‘So pretend to know the answer to Shurq’s question!’

‘It was said seven tall men could stand, foot to shoulder, and the last would be able to reach up with his hands and find the surface Used to be big trader ships could th’

‘I wasn’t far fro over, unmindful of Tehol who yelped as he was tumbled to one side with a thu hi co,’ Ublala said

‘I didn’t say you were,’ Bugg said

‘So,’ Shurq asked, ‘who is killing all those people?’

‘Never mind all that,’ Tehol said as he clambered to his feet ‘Shurq Elalle, per The canal walk is very lovely at night, yes? Not in it, I e Perfect for a promenade-’