The appliance store dealer’s mustache was clearly as lush as it had been in his younger days, but it was grizzled now, even though the hair on his head was still black. He touched the mustache out of sheer habit as he gazed at Dors and brushed it back on each side.

He said, “You’re not a Dahlite.”

“Yes, but I still want a knife.”

He said, “It’s against the law to sell knives.”

Dors said, “I’m not a policewoman or a government agent of any sort. I’m going to Billibotton.”

He stared at her thoughtfully. “Alone?”

“With my friend.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of Seldon, who was waiting outside sullenly.

“You’re buying it for him?” He stared at Seldon and it didn’t take him long to decide. “He’s an outsider too. Let him come in and buy it for himself.”

“He’s not a government agent either. And I’m buying it for myself.”

The dealer shook his head. “Outsiders are crazy. But if you want to spend some credits, I’ll take them from you.” He reached under the counter, brought out a stub, turned it with a slight and expert motion, and the knife blade emerged.

“Is that the largest you have?”

“Best woman’s knife made.”

“Show me a man’s knife.”

“You don’t want one that’s too heavy. Do you know how to use one of these things?”

“I’ll learn and I’m not worried about heavy. Show me a man’s knife.”

The dealer smiled. “Well, if you want to see one—” He moved farther down the counter and brought up a much fatter stub. He gave it a twist and what appeared to be a butcher’s knife emerged.

He handed it to her, handle first, still smiling.

She said, “Show me that twist of yours.”

He showed her on a second knife, slowly twisting one way to make the blade appear, then the other way to make it disappear. “Twist and squeeze,” he said.

“Do it again, sir.”

The dealer obliged.

Dors said, “All right, close it and toss me the haft.”

He did, in a slow upward loop.

She caught it, handed it back, and said, “Faster.”

He raised his eyebrows and then, without warning, backhanded it to her left side. She made no attempt to bring over her right hand, but caught it with her left and the blade showed tumescently at once—then disappeared. The dealer’s mouth fell open.

“And this is the largest you have?” she said.

“It is. If you try to use it, it will just tire you out.”

“I’ll breathe deeply. I’ll take a second one too.”

“For your friend?”

“No. For me.”

“You plan on using two knives?”

“I’ve got two hands.”

The dealer sighed. “Mistress, please stay out of Billibotton. You don’t know what they do to women there.”

“I can guess. How do I put these knives on my belt?”

“Not the one you’ve got on, Mistress. That’s not a knife belt. I can sell