374 | John W. Warner IV to the past, and a thousand plumpish children. What of it? Bea leaned back on the plush banquette. You two take much more than you give back, thats for damn sure. Balance must be kept. Ill trade the lot for their freedom. Stew hissed: What did you just say? You cant be serious? asked Lew, lifting his sunglasses. Their collective value is much higher due to market demand, blame it on the Orion-Draconis Concrete Consortium. How about our entire zoos worth of animals instead? Theyre flash-frozen in temporal glass cubes and will last forever. Open one up and instant gazelle. Bea laughed. Nothing doing, but now that I think upon it.. .111 take them too. If not, then you two bleached hyenas better find a lot more gold under some tropical rainbow. Stew wiped the table clean in one go. Why you little poxed poppet Gwafa instinctively stood. Fair and square. Fine yellow gold, beaucoup dor. Pay up. If you were dishonorable cutthroats you would have killed us all by now. If you have honor, present it. Bea added: Tsk, tsk, add the two Monet paintings for that outburst. Manners please, or well let it known through the grapevine that you monkey-business chaps welched on a payment due. You do like Monet, dont you sergeant? With clenched teeth, he replied: Indeed, Madame. I will raise money for my village by selling them, but only after one of the two artists copies them for my wall someday. Lew held his arm. Take it easy, brother. They strike a hard bargain, you have to respect that at least. We need our precious gold at the moment for pending deals, the overheated market is tight, and Earth gold is the best quality found anywhere. Dont fret, its going to be a very lo-o-o-o-ong war. Bea laid down the Tarot Balance card and tapped it. And no chits or fine print, snowmen, I want a signed ironclad contract on permanent parchment.