"It's all right, Nunzio," I said, trying to edge around
him. "I just ducked out to get some breakfast. Want a
bagel?"
Nunzio was both unconvinced and undaunted in his
scolding.
"How are we supposed to be your bodyguards if you
keep sneaking off alone every chance you get? Do you
know what Don Bruce would do to us if anything hap-
pened to you?"
"C'mon, Nunzio. You know how things are here at
the Bazaar. If the Deveels see me with a bodyguard, the
price of everything goes through the ceiling. Besides, I
MYTH-ING PERSONS 5
like being able to wander around on my own once in a
while."
"You can afford the higher prices. What you can't
afford is to set yourself up as a target for every bozo
who wants the rep of bagging the Great Skeeve."
I started to argue, but my conversation with Aliman
flashed across my mind. Nunzio was right. There were
two sides to having a reputation. If anyone believed the
rumors at the Bazaar and still meant me harm, they
would muster such firepower for the attempt that my
odds for survival would be nonexistent.
"Nunzio," I said slowly, "you may be right, but in
all honesty what could you and Guido do to stop a
magical attack on me?"
"Not a thing," he said calmly. "But they'd probably
try to knock off your bodyguards first, and that might
give you time to get away or hit them yourself before
they could muster a second attack."
