Dionysus The backdoor leads to an impossibly large room.

• Jack_C admires it.

Dionysus There's all manner of strange things back here. A set of beautiful weapons. Ornate clothing. Jewels. Pottery of unsurpassed beauty. And an old, crinkled songbook sitting on a pedestal.

Jack_C I started to admire the weapons, but there is now nothing else in the room but the song book.

Jack_C I reach for it, but pause. "May I?"

Dionysus The old merchant looks, "You are a musician?"

Jack_C "Yes. My name is Jack Crane."

Dionysus "Crane? Auspicious name, that. yes, you may look at it."

Jack_C I open it carefully.

Dionysus The book is credited to a man named 'Thrush.'

Dionysus It is his song book. The old merchant says, "From First Shem, this book."

Jack_C "Really."

Jack_C "How much?"

Dionysus He laughs, "Can you possibly afford it? What have you got worth this much?"

Jack_C "If you assessed me a poor man, why'd you invite me back here?"

Jack_C "Tell me what you want, and I'll see if I can go get it for you. Obviously I have nothing on me right now."

Dionysus "You are very right. Very right. Perhaps I could ask for your faith? Your musical skill? Your ancestry? But these would rape you of any benefit from the book. So I must ask something else, musn't I? Have you any ideas?"

• Jack_C looks to the shopkeeper. "I gave my name. Yours?"

Dionysus "Hasim Windkin, purveyor of curiosities & antiques, specialties & characteristics."

Jack_C "What kind of specialties and characteristics do you purvey?"

Jack_C "Is it all stuff like ancestry, skill, and faith?"

Dionysus "Those, yes, & others, if I come across them."

Dionysus "The color of your skin, the shape of your face? The inflection of your words? I do those, too, but they are not worth this book."

Jack_C "No doubt."

Jack_C "No. I'm afraid I have nothing to offer you then."

Jack_C "But thanks for your consideration, ay?"

Jack_C I turn to go.

Dionysus He chuckles, "If there is anything else here you like, do not hesitate to ask. Not everything is so expensive."

• Jack_C stops. "Well I don't suppose you have a good flail?"

Jack_C "Also, would you consider mere money for the book? I bet that's askin' a lot."

Dionysus He looks around, then pulls out three antique flails. "There's not enough money in the world. This one is dwarven, from the War of the Gods. This one is from First Shem, probably too expensive for you. And this one is Dhunic. Suits you, this one."

Jack_C "What's that one run?" the dhunic.

Dionysus "An endorsement at your show tomorrow night."

Jack_C "That I can do. Wanna come up on stage and be introduced, or just be mentioned?"

Dionysus He laughs, "Just mentioned, please."

Jack_C "Great. So, Hasim Windkin, Purveyor of Curiosities, Antiques, Specialties, and Characteristics, right?"

Dionysus He nods, smiling, "That would be splendid!"

Dionysus He hands over the flail.

Jack_C I take it. "Thanks. Sorry to waste your time about the book. I had to try, you know."

Jack_C "I'd have been a fool not to."

Dionysus He nods, "A free present for you, on parting, good customer! This man, 'Thrush,' he is of some interest to you. Look up who he was sometime."

Jack_C "That I will. Thank you."

Dionysus He bows. "Have a goodnight, Jack Crane."

Jack_C I bow back, probably awkwardly. "You too, Hasim Windkin."