Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov [130]
"So far," said Casilia darkly. "It would be better if we left altogether. Heatsinkers go anywhere these days." And there was another lowering look in Seldon's direction.
Seldon said, "What do you mean that Dahl is an armed place? There are strong Imperial regulations against weapons."
"I know that," said Tisalver, "and there are no stun guns here or percussives or Psychic Probes or anything like that. But there are knives." He looked embarrassed.
Dors said, "Do you carry a knife, Tisalver?"
"Me?" He looked genuinely horrified. "I am a man of peace and this is a safe neighborhood."
"We have a couple of them in the house," said Casilia, sniffing again. "We're not that certain this is a safe neighborhood."
"Does everyone carry knives?" asked Dors.
"Almost everyone, Mistress Venabili," said Tisalver. "It's customary. But that doesn't mean everyone uses them."
"But they use them in Billibotton, I suppose," said Dors.
"Sometimes. When they're excited, they have fights."
"And the government permits it? The Imperial government, I mean?"
"Sometimes they try to clean Billibotton up, but knives are too easy to hide and the custom is too strong. Besides, it's almost always Dahlites that get killed and I don't think the Imperial government gets too upset over that."
"What if it's an outsider who gets killed?"
"If it's reported, the Imperials could get excited. But what happens is that no one has seen anything and no one knows anything. The Imperials sometimes round up people on general principles, but they can never prove anything. I suppose they decide it's the outsiders' fault for being there. -So don't go to Billibotton, even if you have a knife."
Seldon shook his head rather pettishly. "I wouldn't carry a knife. I don't know how to use one. Not skillfully."
"Then it's simple, Master Seldon. Stay out." Tisalver shook his head portentously. "Just stay out."
"I may not be able to do that either," said Seldon.
Dors glared at him, clearly annoyed, and said to Tisalver, "Where does one buy a knife? Or may we have one of yours?"
Casilia said quickly, "No one takes someone else's knife. You must buy your own."
Tisalver said, "There are knife stores all over. There aren't supposed to be. Theoretically they're illegal, you know. Any appliance store sells them, however. If you see a washing machine on display, that's a sure sign."
"And how does one get to Billibotton?" asked Seldon.
"By Expressway." Tisalver looked dubious as he looked at Dors's frowning expression.
Seldon said, "And once I reach the Expressway?"
"Get on the eastbound side and watch for the signs. But if you must go, Master Seldon"-Tisalver hesitated, then said-"you mustn't take Mistress Venabili. Women sometimes are treated . . . worse."
"She won't go," said Seldon.
"I'm afraid she will," said Dors with quiet determination.
68.
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 soft. 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 chat the largest you have?"
"Best woman's knife