CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Assets.

"For the last time," said Pawno, "we cannot and will not purchase defective merchandise. Yeah. Sir, I don't care if it's the original buggy Game Pak that lets you go windsurfing with the hookshot! The next time you call, try to find something not broken to sell." With that, he hung up the phone.

The rat had moved his business out of Jolly Roger Lagoon and into a semi-secluded area in the outskirts of the Isle o' Hags. He certainly wasn't one to stand around losing money during a recession. A wind variety of doodads, jewelry and electronic equipment hung from the walls of his shop, each destined for a new owner. But as they say, pawning ain't easy.

The bell attached to the top of his door jingled as two patrons stepped in.

"Hey there," greeted Pawno. "What can I do ya for?"

"We are looking for a particular item," one of them said. "A book."

"We don't carry many books," the rat reasoned. "There ain't exactly a lot of literary folks living here."

"It's a book of spells," said the other patron. "It once belonged to the witch formerly known as Gruntilda."

"Oh, yes, yes." Pawno tapped his palm on the counter nervously. "Got it just this morning, real cheap too. But I'm not interested in selling it."

"Why not?" asked the first one.

"Are you kidding? I currently own the spellbook of THE most feared witch in the entire Isle! This is a one of a kind collectible -- despite its heavy water damage."

"We were really hoping you would part with it," said the second one.

"Well sorry, I won't. Who are you guys, anyway?"

The first one took off his sunglasses. "I'm Yellow Egg."

The second also revealed himself. "I'm Blue Egg. How do you do?"

Pawno choked on his saliva. "COFF! Oh, ahem, excuse me. I didn't recognize you guys."

"We're kinda laying low for a while," explained Yellow. "Klunty and her drones are after us."

"Yeah," said Blue. "It's not really safe for two brightly colored eggs to go out in the daylight when a mob is after them."

"Of course," the rat understood. "I suppose getting the spellbook back has something to do with finding your lost friends?"

"Friend," corrected Yellow. "There's only Purple left."

"That sad to hear," said the shop owner. "Tell ya what: you give me whatever you have now, and we'll trade."

Blue looked to Yellow, and Yellow to Blue. They couldn't possibly trade either of their books, so there was only one option. "Take this."

Leaky was handed over to the rat. "A bucket?" he asked. "What am I going to do with that?"

"Look inside," suggested Yellow.

So he did. "My word!" He began to slosh the fluid it held around a bit. "Is this what I think it is?"

"Yes," said Leaky suddenly.

"Corr..." Pawno dipped his claw into the liquid. "Enchanted water! Do you know how many people still search for this stuff?" He touched a bit of it to his lips. "Where did you guys find it?"

Then the eggs explained the earlier incident with Ice Key.

He quickly spat the residue onto the floor. "Yuck! You guys could have said something sooner, you know."

"That's the thing," said Blue. "If you could figure out a way to synthesize the water, not only would you have an infinite supply to keep and sell, but we could also reassemble Ice Key."

"Mm-hmm. I know someone who could replicate this stuff in large enough quantities. He'd be surprised at how much of a sample he'd have to work with. Yow."

"So we have a deal then?"

"Sure." He stomped his claw down on the counter. The cash register drawer promptly jutted out, nailing the rat in the gut. "Oof!"

"You really should get around to fixing that," said Yellow.

------

Snide's phone rang. "Yo?"

"Hey, this is you-know-who."

"You mean Pawno?"

"I told you not to use my name over the phone!"

"Hey, I think I deserve a little more respect than that, since I'm the one paying for this long-distance call."

"Oh really? You feel proud of all the dirty money you've got? Well, some of us try to earn their keep legitimately, Snide."

"I don't seem to recall that selling ripped pages from spellbooks was a legitimate business."

"Ah. Actually, that's what I wanted to call you about."

"What do you mean?"

"I had purchased the witch's book -- complete and intact -- off of some guy, and later that day Yellow and Blue cot him back. Guess what I got in return?"

"I don't know."

"Magic H2O."

"Whoa."

"I also have to send you the pail it was carried in so you can fix it. No biggie."

"Yeah, yeah. Now you send me a sample of that, all right?"

"All right."

"I'll be busy melting down this balloon trophy I've got here. Try not to call back too soon."