Orel sat silent for a while, looking at the paper in front of him.

"Nothing," he said at last. "Not a thing!" he screamed in rage and tossed the papers on the floor.

Lis was the first to laugh, then Tol and Enriki joined. They really rolled in laughter, unable to say a word.

"They laugh," Orel said to Nikto, exasperated. "Do you see it: instead of helping me they laugh at me! I try to bring our business into order!" he yelled at them angrily. "How can you behave like that?" He sat down. "What shall we do now?" He looked distressed. "I don"t understand anything any more."

"I think," Nikto said, "either Vil messed up somehow, or we made a mistake. Or someone in the Upper City tries to cheat on you."

"All three things at once, likely," Lis said laughing. "Orel, wouldn"t it be easier just to scare the shit out of them and everything will be all right?"

"But I want to find every one whose fault it is," Orel didn"t give up. "I want to punish them, punish mercilessly."

He paused for a while.

"And I"ll kill Vil. Now that"s for sure."

"You said you couldn"t kill him," Tol said.

"Yes, I said that but now he touched me and I can do anything!"

"He just tries to do his best and help you," Enriki tried to explain.

"Yes, I know, I know," Orel waved his hand at him. "But he ruined my mood."

"It"s a good reason," Lis agreed.

"Aren"t you tired of killing someone every day?" Enriki asked looking at Orel disapprovingly.

"No, I"m not!" he snapped back. At this moment Vil entered the "Arbor".

"Hello," he smiled. "Am I timely?"

"More than untimely," Lis hissed through the clenched teeth. "As always."

"Come in, sit down," Orel said quite friendly, to their joy.

Vil noticed the papers on the floor and his smile faded.