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           "Gotaproblemthere,king.Rightenough,"theoldmanhadsaid,astheysharedanipofspiritsonabenchoutsideShaft#2.

           "He’sagoodlad,mindyou,"saidtheking."Soundcharacter.Honest.Notexactlybrilliant,butyoutellhimtodosomething,hedon’trestuntilhe’sdoneit.Obedient."

           "Youcouldchophislegsoff,"saidVarneshi.

           "It’snothislegsthat’sgoingtobetheproblem,"saidthekingdarkly.

           "Ah.Yes.Well,inthatcaseyoucould-"

           "No."

           "No,"agreedVarneshi,thoughtfully."Hmm.Well,thenwhatyoushoulddois,youshouldsendhimawayforabit.Lethimmixabitwithhumans."Hesatback."Whatyou’vegothere,king,isaduck,"headded,inknowledgeabletones.

           "Idon’tthinkIshouldtellhimthat.He’srefusingtobelievehe’sahumanasitis."

           "WhatImeanis,aduckbroughtupamongchickens.Well-knownfarmyardphenomenon.Findsitcan’tbloodywellpeckanddoesn’tknowwhatswimmingis."Thekinglistenedpolitely.Dwarfsdon’tgoinmuchforagriculture."Butyousendhimofftoseealotofotherducks,lethimgethisfeetwet,andhewon’tgorunningaroundafterbantamsanymore.AndBob’syouruncle."

           Varneshisatbackandlookedratherpleasedwithhimself.