Myth 13 - Myth Alliances by Asprin, Robert (ebook reader online free .txt) 📕

“And you can buy my books for everyone to read,” the little gray man added. 'That way you will have a written guideline to mental self-​sufficiency. I'll be delighted to of?fer you a bulk rate."

Wensley called a mass secret meeting to announce the out?come of the morning's action. Most of the Wuhses came out of curiosity, to find out who had torn whom apart. They were all thankful to see Wensley alive and well. He and Kassery wouldn't let go of one another, kissing and whis?pering together. Bunny_ sighed.

“It's so romantic,” she kept saying. I don't know why that made me feel uncomfortable, but it did.

When we had all the committee leaders safely stuffed into Montgomery's inn and sealed the doors closed, I thanked them all for coming.

“We've reached a new understanding with the Pervect Ten,” I explained. “You all know my friends. I'd like to in?troduce our guests. I think you know them?”

Into the midst of the Wuhses a loud bamf heralded the arrival of the Pervects. There was a general stampede for the doors. If we hadn't barred them magically I would have lost my entire audience in five seconds.

“You have nothing to worry about!” I shouted over the panicked bleating. “From today onward you will be led by a Wuhs. The Pervects will go back to being consultants, answerable to him, as they were supposed to be from the beginning.”

“But who?” Gubbeen asked curiously, once we had coaxed him back to the table. “Who is this Wuhs who will lead us?”

“Wensley,” I announced, putting my arm around the

hero of the day. “He'll be a great leader. He was ready to sacrifice himself for your greater good, and he's ready to serve you in a less life-​threatening capacity.”

“But,” began Ardrahan, puffing herself up indignantly. “The style with which we are most comfortable is for everyone to have an equal voice in all decisions.”

“Not any more,” I informed them. “That didn't work. That's how you got in trouble in the first place. Wensley's ready to take all your input and be fair in his judgment, but the final decision has to rest with him. He's in charge now.”

As Niki had predicted, the committeefriends conferred and complained, but in the end they agreed with everything we told them to do. The Pervects were relieved. Wensley and Kassery were elated and awed but ready to try. The dis?enfranchised spokesWuhses were doing their best to influ?ence the new leaders to see their points of view. And I was ready to go home.

“Well, that's that,” I stated, shaking hands with Zol Icty. “So, are you going back to Kobol now?”

“No, indeed,” the little gray man informed me happily. “I am going to stay here to observe the Pervect Ten assist our young friend there in finally putting Pareley back on the financial map, and then I will go back to Perv with them. I want to study them very closely for the new book I am researching: I'm Okay, You're Pervect. When it's fin?ished I'll send you all copies.”

“I'll look forward to it,” I thanked him. “I'm going back to my studies. I've still got a lot to learn.”

“You're on your way,” Zol assured me. “I was very im?pressed with both your application and your wisdom.”

“I'm sorry,” Wensley said, turning to me with some em?barrassment. “But we can't pay you yet. Wuh is on the fi?nancial mend, and your fee will just send us back again into negative territory. I'm sorry.”

“How about an in-​kind fee instead?” I said.

Wensley looked uncomfortable, but nodded. “We owe you so much. What do you have in mind?”

“It's something you already have,” I explained. “I'd like to have your D-​hopper.”

“But you don't need one,” the Wuhs said, looking puz?zled. “You can already travel the dimensions.”

“I know,” I acknowledged, “but I do need it. What about it?”

He looked at the others, who were clearly urging him not to give up their precious D-​hopper, but he nodded. “It's caused enough trouble here,” he decided at last. “I think that once we learn responsibility there will be plenty of time to learn how to travel between the dimensions.”

“Thank you,” I asserted, tucking the device into my belt pouch. Bunny and Tananda gave me odd looks, knowing I had one just like it in my boot. “Good riddance to it,” Loorna insisted, producing the device. She slapped it into my palm.

Paldine came up to join me. “Come on, Skeeve the Magnificent. We've got some Deveels to dazzle.”

Oshleen came over to envelop me in a massive, bonecrushing hug. “Any time you need some quality finan?cial work done, honey, you've got a freebie coming.”

“I've got a top accountant, thanks,” I replied. Bunny, who had not even noticed she had tensed, relaxed and smiled brilliantly at me.

“Well, any time you need someone's hindquarters chewed off, we'd be glad to help out,” Charilor offered, showing her teeth.

“Gee, where were you a couple of weeks ago?” I asked, innocently. “I was looking for an organized force to throw out a bunch of Pervects who had taken over another dimension.”

To give them credit, the Pervect Ten laughed.

“You've got chutzpah, bubby,” Vergetta chuckled,

crushing my hand in a tight grip. “Don't be a stranger. Okay, ladies, back to the castle. We've got glasses to en?chant.” She glanced at Wensley. “Come with us, Sonny. You might learn something.”

Tananda, Bunny and I slipped out of the hastily-​convened