Refresh for a new fortune!
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/ "Good afternoon, madam. How may I help \
| you?" |
| |
| "Good afternoon. I'd like a FrintArms |
| HandCannon, please." |
| |
| "A--? Oh, now, that's an awfully big |
| gun for such a lovely lady. I mean, not |
| everybody thinks ladies should carry |
| guns at all, though I say they have a |
| right to. But I think... I might... |
| Let's have a look down here. I might |
| have just the thing for you. Yes, here |
| we are! Look at that, isn't it neat? |
| Now that is a FrintArms product as |
| well, but it's what's called a laser -- |
| a light-pistol some people call them. |
| Very small, as you see; fits easily |
| into a pocket or bag; won't spoil the |
| line of a jacket; and you won't feel |
| you're lugging half a tonne of iron |
| around with you. We do a range of |
| matching accessories, including -- if I |
| may say so -- a rather saucy garter |
| holster. Wish I got to do the fitting |
| for that! Ha -- just my little joke. |
| And there's *even*... here we are -- |
| this special presentation pack: gun, |
| charged battery, charging unit, |
| beautiful glider-hide shoulder holster |
| with adjustable fitting and contrast |
| stitching, and a discount on your next |
| battery. Full instructions, of course, |
| and a voucher for free lessons at your |
| local gun club or range. Or there's the |
| *special* presentation pack; it has all |
| the other one's got but with *two* |
| charged batteries and a night-sight, |
| too. Here, feel that -- don't worry, |
| it's a dummy battery -- isn't it neat? |
| Feel how light it is? Smooth, see? No |
| bits to stick out and catch on your |
| clothes, *and* beautifully balanced. |
| And of course the beauty of a laser is, |
| there's no recoil. Because it's |
| shooting light, you see? Beautiful gun, |
| beautiful gun; my wife has one. Really. |
| That's not a line, she really has. Now, |
| I can do you that one -- with a battery |
| and a free charge -- for ninety-five; |
| or the presentation pack on a special |
| offer for one-nineteen; or this, the |
| special presentation pack, for |
| one-forty-nine." |
| |
| "I'll take the special." |
| |
| "Sound choice, madam, *sound* choice. |
| Now, do--?" |
| |
| "And a HandCannon, with the eighty-mill |
| silencer, five GP clips, three six-five |
| AP/wire-fl'echettes clips, two |
| bipropellant HE clips, and a Special |
| Projectile Pack if you have one -- the |
| one with the embedding rounds, not the |
| signalers. I assume the night-sight on |
| this toy is compatible?" |
| |
| "Aah... yes, And how does madam wish to |
| pay?" |
| |
| She slapped her credit card on the |
| counter. "Eventually." |
| |
| -- Iain M. Banks, "Against a Dark |
\ Background" /
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