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. Embarrassing.
In consequence I was looking down at my own feet and at his. Did I mention
that Lazarus was barefooted? I had paid it no mind because one thing one becomes
used to at once on Terdus is the absence of compelling dress customs. I don't
mean absence of dress (Boondock sells more clothes than any groundhog city of
similar size-about a million people-in part because garments are usually worn
once, then recycled).
I do mean that neither bare feet nor bare bodies are startling for more
than five minutes. Lazarus was wearing a wrap-around, a lava-lava or it may have
been a kilt; his feet I did not notice undl I stared at them.
Hazel went on, "Lazarus took such cruel advantage of Richard's weak
point-his compulsive hatred of being in debt- that Richard demanded that his new
foot be amputated. In desperate need to cleanse his honor he said to Lazarus,
'Cut it off; put it back in stock'!"
Lazarus said, "Oh, come now! He did not mean that seriously, and I did not
take it seriously. A figure of speech. To show that he was annoyed with me. As
well he might be. I made a mistake; I admit it."
"You did indeed make a mistake!" I interrupted. "A grave mistake. Your
grave perhaps, or mine. For it was not a figure of speech. I want that foot
amputated. I demand that you take back your foot. Your foot, sir! Look here, all
of you, and then look there! At my right foot, then his right foot
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