I know now what I should have known every moment of my life; that unless you help yourself, you die a slave… — Jack Vance

“Bah,” muttered Sul. “I am unable to chop logic with you; you have the superior sleight with words.”

“I made no such assertion,” Ifness said. “You drew a faulty inference, for which I cannot accept responsibility. In any event the situation is more complicated than you suppose, and you must be prepared for subtlety.”

“Subtlety or deception?” demanded Etzwane. “The effect is much the same.”

Ifness held up his hand. “I will explain the situation, if only to reduce the flow of your reproaches.”

I am not the man for this sort of business; I detest puzzlement.