“Please, venerated
human male,” he said, “take from Two-Five of Four-Seven, Slash Second, this
pouch and open it to view the offering I make for the gem.”

      The human took
the pouch and narrowed his eyes. Two-Five wasn’t sure what that meant. “This
better not be some kind of— geezus! Where’d you get human money?”

      “He procured it
from the clan, venerated human male. There is no shortage.”

      “You want to give
me 100 smackers for a bit o’ paste, I’m not stupid enough to say no. Have at
it, with my blessing.” The human removed the cash and returned the pouch.

      Two-Five dashed
over to the part of the kiosk where the epsilon ruby was affixed with a kind of
starchy paste. Extending a claw, he inserted the tip into the dried paste and
popped the gem free. Then, when the human was inattentive, counting his money, he slipped unseen
through the grate.

      Once inside, he
admired its transcendent beauty for a few heartbeats – not paste, no, not this! – before placing it into the pouch. His
Slash First and their broodmale would be well pleased.