"Yeah, pretty much. Tried some old tricks, but those didn't work", said Louis K.
"If he tried to trick you, then why do you continue doing business with him?", asked Dr. Evans.
"There's a silent agreement that states that it's okay to screw over newbies in certain ways", said Dr. Eisenberg, "but experienced people wouldn't fall for these tricks".
"Strange business", commented Dr. Blackstar.
"Anyway, how's your fight for justice going along?", asked Louis K, facing Dr. Blackstar.
"Burned a witch today", said Dr. Blackstar.
"Probably wasn't a real witch", said Louis K.
"Why do you think that?", asked Dr. Blackstar.
"A real witch would have used her magic to escape", said Louis K.
"No, we keep them suspended for one to two months, that way they loose their powers", explained Dr. Blackstar.
"And then you torture and rape them before you burn them, right", said Louis K.
"I can assure you that the prison guards are loyal, responsible and incorruptible. They would never do such a think", said Dr. Blackstar, while readjusting his sleeves.
"Fun fact, keeping a witch as a slave would be perfectly legal", said Dr. Evans.
"Slaves with magical powers legally fall under the magical artifact law. If you can properly contain them, you can keep them", added Dr. Blackstar, "but I honestly wouldn't know how".
"The class four A magical personnel control device", said Louis K., "I've seen a witch wearing one once".
"What's that?", asked the symmetrical bald man.
"Basically a slave collar with a few extra features", explained Louis K., "it can be remotely detonated, generates a magic suppression field that can be turned off and can deliver painful shocks whenever the owner wants. The collar and the remote are powered by four nuclear double A batteries".
"What's a nuclear double a battery?", asked Josef K.
"An energy storage device, double a refers to the size", explained Dr. Evans, "as far as I know, the nuclear variant lasts for thousands of millennia".
"I bet these things are extremely valuable", said Dr. Blackstar.
"Yeah, there are only two groups with the resources, capabilities and know-how necessary to produce this marvel of technology", said Louis K.
"You know someone with access to late golden age technology!", yelled Dr. Evans in excitement, "Who are they and where can I find them?".
"Say Josef, have you heard that they're auctioning of another unlucky soul's property?", asked Louis K.
"Stay on topic, please! Where can I find them?", asked Dr. Evans.
"One is called 'Prof. Kortig und Neffe Gentechnik Gmbh', they are located on an island in the Atlantic, northeast of Island. The other is a society of isolationist, technocratic, zealots, called 'Servants of the machine god', their temple is located in the Himalaya mountain range in Asia, carved into a really high mountain", said Louis K. Maka had no idea where any of these places Louis had just listed were, or if he was telling the truth. Dr. Evans looked down at his plate.
"You sure meet a lot of exotic people on your travels", said Dr. Blackstar.
"Anywhere, are you coming to that auction?", asked Louis K. Dr. Evans had started crying softly.
"Is it one of these were they sell all of some unlucky sod's property, and if they don't raise enough to pay his debt, they sell him?", asked the symmetrical bald man.
"Yes", said Josef K, "a trainee at my bank will be conducting the auction".
"I wonder who that unlucky person is", said the redhead.
"Jacqueline, impoverished widow and mother of three", said Louis K.
"I didn't actually want to know", said the redhead.
"Her husband died in the war, leaving her with a crushing debt", said Louis K, "Did I mention it was a arranged marriage, her parents died of the Oregon flu".
"Seriously, we don't want to hear it!", said the redhead.
"I actually find it quite funny", said Screwhead.
"Me, too. I sometimes watch these auctions just to see them get more and more desperate as each item is sold, often extremely cheaply", said the symmetrical bald man, "It's not like that asymmetrical garbage wouldn't deserved it".
"I bid on items I don't want to raise the price", said Dr Eisenberg.
"Say Josef, how much does she owe?", asked Louis K.
"Could we stop talking about this?", asked Dr. Evans, before emptying his wine glass. He had stopped crying. Maka wondered why he had cried. Was it because of that woman's woeful tale? No, Louis K hadn't even mentioned it before her owner started to cry. Was it because the groups he wanted to see where holed up in such exotic locations? Well, the timing would certainly fit. Why did he want to meet these groups? He seemed to be interested in their technology. Maybe he would go to meet them. If he did, what would happen with her? Would he take her along, or leave her here. That would certainly make escape very easy. What if her owner died somewhere in the middle of nowhere and nobody knew that he was dead. She would not only be able to escape, she could steal all of his furniture and sell it, which would make her rich, rich enough to live comfortably for the rest of her live. If he indeed left for these locations, she would be all set. But based on his reaction that seemed unlikely.
"I heard there is a war starting somewhere in Mexico", said Louis K.
"Just shut up, will you", said Dr. Evans. Josef K looked at Maka. Maka tried to remain calm, wondering whether Josef K would rape her. He seemed to have forgotten about it, thanks to his brother's off topic remarks. Screwhead looked at his pocket watch.
"I should get going. I need to get up early tomorrow", said Screwhead, as he got up from his seat. The first guest was already leaving. Maka had almost made it.
"Me too", said the redhead, "nice dinner, but I need to get going". Two guests were leaving.
"If these two leave, the table will be asymetrical, as well as the number of guests", said the symmetrical bald man, "I'm leaving, too. Nice dinner, by the way". Maka couldn't believe it, Screwhead had started a chain reaction, soon all the guest would be gone. But as long as Josef K was there, she wouldn't be safe. She just hoped that the chain reaction would keep going.