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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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"Fine. Next question... what did you take <strong>of</strong>f my body after I died?"<br />

"I?" Pharod licked his lips. "Why, I <strong>to</strong>ok <strong>not</strong>hing, corpse." His face split in a<br />

grin. "Then, I wasn't the one that found your body..."<br />

"Who did?"<br />

Pharod's smile widened, pulling the pasty folds <strong>of</strong> flesh back from his face<br />

like a curtain. "My daughter, the rose <strong>of</strong> my eye, the sweetest <strong>of</strong> my family,<br />

and the sharpest wit <strong>of</strong> them all..." He licked his dry lips and sighed in mock<br />

sadness. "Such a cruel <strong>to</strong>ngue on her..."<br />

"Your daughter? Who?"<br />

"My darlin' girl, Annah. She found you, dead as deader can <strong>be</strong>, in a place<br />

where most Collec<strong>to</strong>rs wouldn't go for a mountain <strong>of</strong> coppers. Could <strong>be</strong> she<br />

plucked something <strong>of</strong>f you, could <strong>be</strong> <strong>not</strong>...?" He leaned in, shaking his head.<br />

"You'll have t'ask her, for it's <strong>not</strong> her Da's place <strong>to</strong> say."<br />

Something about him pricked at me, "Don't lie <strong>to</strong> me, Pharod. You're a<br />

merchant, and you always take a cut from your workers. What did Annah<br />

give you from my body?"<br />

"Ah... yes... my tribute..." Pharod folded his withered hands over his crutch,<br />

almost protectively. "There's no telling what was from you or <strong>not</strong>, corpse.<br />

Most like, there was <strong>not</strong>hing."<br />

As much as my past incarnation had <strong>do</strong>ne him ill, the man was rubbing me<br />

the wrong way. I needed the elements <strong>of</strong> my past if I was <strong>to</strong> piece anything<br />

<strong>to</strong>gether and here was this vulture hanging on<strong>to</strong> my possessions as little<br />

more than trinkets, "Pharod, my patience is at an end. If you <strong>do</strong>n't hand<br />

over what was s<strong>to</strong>len from me, I will see <strong>to</strong> it the Dustmen know where <strong>to</strong><br />

find you." Pharod was silent for a moment. He tapped his fingers against his<br />

crutch... slowly.<br />

"Well?"<br />

"Where has the decency <strong>of</strong> man gone..." Pharod grumbled, shaking his head.<br />

"A courtesy I am <strong>do</strong>ing for you, corpse... such a courtesy. Pharod parting<br />

with anything... it'd <strong>be</strong> the dead-book for me if anyone heard... wait here,<br />

move <strong>not</strong> a yard. I shall return."<br />

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