"You have a south-western accent," Lis said. "Don"t you remember where you"re from?"

"Okay, I remember but you also remember watching your mouth."

"All right, all right," Lis shook his head.

"And can you count, do you know book-keeping?" Tol asked Nikto again.

"I can."

"Look at him, he can do anything!"

"I heard you"re good with maps," Lis said.

Nikto glanced at him.

"Yes, quite so," he said slowly, his eyes not leaving Lis"s face.

"And you can even draw them," Lis said standing Nikto"s gaze.

"Hey, Lis," Orel said, "do you need a map?"

"No," Lis lowered his gaze obeying Orel"s words.

"And can you play cards?" Tol brightened. "Like Snap, or Rummy, or…"

Nikto looked at Tol.

"I can. I can play cards, Tol. I"ll leave you broke in a moment."

"We"ll see!" Tol bellowed. It looked like he enjoyed this little quarrel to no end.

"And do you like human women?" he asked Nikto again. Nikto looked at Orel who was smiling.

"I like women," Nikto said.

"Me too," Tol said happily. "Do you prefer blondes or brunettes?"

"Oh, I don’t know, I like them all."