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Chapter 3
The Scorpion’s Song
The face on the full moon, like a lazy old owl, watched two riders lumber across the Sahara on
their camels laden down with loot. These travelers, these dreamers, laughed and sang an Istari
celebration song under the stars: “Life Smells Like Shit When You Are Rich and Piss When You
Are Poor.”
A hoard of gold and salt, and the promise of even more in the Ganju mines—what more
could two men want? Belly Pot and Goban joyously extolled the name of their benefactors, King
Kanja and Queen GoGo Bah.
“Royal idiots!” shouted Belly Pot.
Goban laughed.
“Did you see the dog’s face when she looked into the mirror?” Belly Pot said.
“The ugly bitch! I’m surprised it did not crack!” said Goban.
The men roared again with laughter.
“A mirror! It was a great and clever insult, Belly Pot!”
“It was, wasn’t it? She thought she could get the best of me!”
“And her stupid king pays us for the insult!” said Goban. “But I wish we could have stayed
for the feast.”
“We did feast,” Belly Pot said and belched loudly.
Their eyes met and the men shouted together, “On gold!” then coughed with laughter like
two pirates choking on the strongest ale.
