Magician Interrupted Read Online Free PDF Page A

Been
approved?”
    “Yes, but—”
    The marine lost interest. “Come back in two
weeks.”
    Disgruntled, but with no other choice, Paris
headed out and stood looking around the street. He could find a
part-time job, or do some magic tricks and earn his bread and
board. It wouldn’t hurt surely? Just a few little tricks shouldn’t
draw attention to himself. He was a Spell Caster and his skills
weak without O’rah, the Magnifier. But thinking about her made him
reconsider. He could just go sleep in the forest for a couple of
weeks. How bad could it get?
    There was no way he was going back to the
brunette.
    Paris searched his bag for something he could
sell. As it turned out he found a ring inside. That’s right, Gareth
had bought O’rah a new ring but hid it in Paris’s bag knowing she
would rather bathe in acid than touch anything that belonged to
him. He stared at the gold ring with tiny stones of emerald,
sapphire and diamond. It had cost Gareth a small fortune and now it
was Paris’s fortune. Finders keepers? A tiny niggle of doubt crept
into his head but his stomach rumbled alarmingly drawing glances
from those walking by on some task.
    He looked around and ducked back into supply.
“Hey, is there a pawn shop around.”
    “Porn or pawn?”
    It took him a second to work out what the
marine meant. He shook his head impatiently. “Buy and sell stuff …
goodies … ah, not people.” Wait, that only excluded live people.
“Not robots and plastic … ah, not my body either. Look, p.a.w.n.
….”
    The bored looking marine suddenly stood to
attention. “Whatcha got to sell?”
    Paris almost scowled. Maybe he wanted to buy
but the supercilious look on the marine’s face told him not to be
stupid.
    “Gold ring with stones.” He lay it on the
long bench, and it made a satisfying thud being heavy, and waited.
But seeing the sudden glee on the marine’s face made him less smug.
Paris knew he was going to get ripped off but maybe he could stave
off a little humiliation and make a good deal. On the other hand,
he could just go down the pawn shop.
    In a smooth movement the marine dipped his
hand into a pocket pulling out a little device used by jewelers to
detect impurities. Paris had only seen them because he was asked to
enhance one with magic.
    “You were a jeweler before becoming a
marine?”
    The marine studied the ring from many angles.
“Yus, sir.”
    Paris laughed. “I’m no ‘sir’.”
    The marine pulled away a little from
inspecting the ring. “The chick down at the careers center said you
are.” He resumed studying the ring. “You didn’t piss her off did
ya?”
    “Ah, why?” He reasoned it was normal for the
chick—careers people—to inform the organization of arrivals.
    “Yeah, she’s a bit—” he made the crazy motion
to his head.
    “What did she do before the careers
center?”
    “Marine.”
    “Ah, I see.”
    After a moment Paris saw the beady eyes turn
from greed to craftiness.
    “I’ll give ya supplies and pack to see ya
through the next two weeks.” He tried to make it look enticing but
could tell Paris was losing interest. “Hundred bucks cash as well.”
A look of pity crossed the marine’s face as he said, “And a little
help to get a better job in the marines.”
    At the last offer Paris’s mouth dropped
open.
    “Well, aint got all day.”
    Paris suspected he did have all day but
agreed.
    The marine yelled, “Sammy, get ya arse down
here. I need a 2*B27, E892 pronto!”
    A voice, barely discernable, affirmed
that.
    The marine pulled out a wad of cash and
peeled off one hundred. He added an extra fifty. “Can’t help
myself. The ring’s worth more than what I said. Here—” he ducked
behind the counter and slid over a marine’s uniform. “Pop this on,
it’ll impress the yokels.”
    Impressed with his honesty Paris nodded,
changed and tucked the cash away into his pant pocket. He was
feeling more and more like a marine. As he waited the marine read a
newspaper