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"Out," Carstairs repeated

"Definitely," Llewellyn agreed "Yeah," Buck said, rubbing Otie&039;s lean snoot

Phil put his elbows on the table "Gentleh? I am in a position to remedy that"

Carstairs looked at him with mild irritation and raised his open hand Phil s a jewel beyond price," he continued "In order to obtain it, I intend tonight to burgle the pre to let you help me"

At the mention of Fun Incorporated, Buck turned his head at least half an inch, while Carstairs al ideas, don&039;t you?" Llewellyn rereed with a yawn, "he maybe could have picked an easier place"

Carstairs asked Mitzie softly, "You did say he was one of your father&039;s nuts, didn&039;t you?"

Mitzie started to reply, but Phil interposed blandly, "I know a private way into Fun Incorporated, right through Billig&039;s office It&039;ll be simple You needn&039;t worry about the wasps"

Buck drawled, "What is this jewel beyond price, anyhow?"

"So I wouldn&039;t expect you to appreciate," Phil replied "However," he continued, taking adrink, "there should be enough in the way of ordinary valuables lying about to compensate you for your effort I understand that Fun Incorporated is rather wealthy For one thing, all sales-robots work frorandly "Why not hit them where they live?"

Otie stretched leanly from under Buck&039;s chair and snapped at Phil&039;s hand Phil, stiffened by the drink, didn&039;t move it The jaws clashed hardly an inch away "Why do you call him Otie?" Phil asked

"&039;cause he&039;s a coyote,&039; Buck explained, almost with condescension "S&039;posed to have been bred back for ancestral traits to the Oligocene type"

Phil found hiyptian ancestors and whether those ancestors rew bright She looked at her cohtly but not casually "I

"Why don&039;t we?" Mitzie repeated after a moment

Carstairs, Llewellyn and Buck sat there as coolly and as contee as when Phil had first seen them Yet there was a difference

"Of course, it&039;s risky," Phil cut in "Moe Brimstine&039;s boys have orthos"

"What do you know about orthos?" Carstairs deed "They&039;re blue and they sizzle," he said "I got shot at with one earlier tonight"

"Why don&039;t we, I&039;?" Mitzie pressed

"I asked Juno and Jack Jones to help me," Phil put in "You know, the wrestlers But they decided not to"

Still no one answered Mitzie&039;s question "Well, I guess that&039;s it," she said with a triu away from the table "Coan to chuckle quietly Phil , but Mitzie turned back with a carefully repressed eagerness that Phil resented

"Don&039;t kill yourselves running," Carstairs said "Llewellyn and Buck and I are signing up for this little expedition, providing the clown can give the right answers to a few questions e get outside" He s, Mitz This tihed Phil accepted the situation with a "Glad to have your help, boys," and started to take Mitzie&039;s arm, but she linked hers with those of Carstairs and Llewellyn, not sparing Phil another look

The sequined singer had shifted to a snappier rhythm

Slap me silly, honey,

Beat h until I ache

To solace his injured feelings, Phil veered over to Phoebe Fil rather pointedly annoyed by two bearded young itatedly

Phil tapped the nearest ruffian on the shoulder "Lay off, boys," he coful nod toward his own party Buck at least looked his way and Otie growled The bearded ruffians slunk off Phil made Phoebe a tiny bow

"Thank you," she said weakly and astoundedly

He gestured that it was aafter hireen cat of yours?"

He s to"