Oh For A Handful Of Bishani

[Lis Spencer]

Lis walked slowly down the crowded street, pushed and shoved by countless knees and elbows and shoulders and hips. She hardly noticed the crush of people on every side of her, shifting her from side to side and inexorably forward through the streets. Her gaze was focused on the thing in her hands: a smooth round stone, deep blue and clear as glass, cut so that it sparkled in the sun. It was small, only about the size of a toddler's fist, beautiful, perfect -- and no doubt expensive. Whoever had owned it would be upset about its disappearance, maybe even offer a reward. Lis wondered how much she could get for it.

She held it up to the watery sunlight, admiring how it sparkled. Although she was surrounded by hundreds of people, she wasn't concerned about being caught -- everyone was only interested in their own business, and Lis often found that one of the best hiding places was in plain sight, under everyone's very nose.

Still, as she neared the shadier, less populated areas of the city, Lis quickly slipped the stone into one of the numerous pockets she'd sewn all over her dark grey trousers and jacket. The people here were all like her -- desperate, poverty-stricken members of the lower class who'd resorted to illegal activity for survival. Though many of them were -- like her -- rich from their lawless exploits, if they saw what stolen valuables she carried they wouldn't have the slightest qualm about slitting her throat in a dark alley -- of which there were plenty -- for her goods.

"'Ey, eet's Lees!" a hoarse voice cried out as she neared a run-down stall. The owner of the stall, a thin grey-haired man, wearing a fancy if mismatched and wrinkled suit, winked at her as she approached. "Vhat haff hyu gott for me today, eh, Lees?" He rubbed his long hands together in anticipation.

Lis smiled. "Hello, Henry," she said cheerfully. "I've brought you a rare piece of finery from far, far away." She pulled out the stone and showed it to him.

Henry's keen eyes widened. "Oh, dat ees a nice von," he breathed, reaching for it automatically. Lis laughed and pulled it out of his reach.

"You know me better than that, Henry," she said, holding out her hand. "Money first."

Henry's eyes narrowed as he withdrew his hand. "Hokay, how motch?" he asked warily.

"Four hundred bishani," Lis replied instantly.

"Ho, no vay!" Henry cried, as she expected him to. "Dat ees vay too motch...I offer von hondret."

Lis shook her head with a smile and tucked the gemstone away. Henry's eyes followed it hungrily. "Three fifty," she said. Henry huffed.

Let the haggling begin.