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Half-Elf: 'Catch him and
take the grenade launcher?'
Mayor: 'Expropriators.'
Half-Elf: 'Lock him up
with his weapon?.. Okay, okay,
don't answer,' the Half-Elf
quickly said as the mayor began
to speak. 'I understand. Indeed,
an interesting case.'
Princess: 'So, what do
you want from us then?' asked
the Princess impatiently. 'We
can't kill, disarm, catch or
drive away, so what's left?
Re-educate? That's not our
area.'
Mayor: 'No, of course
not... For such work, we'd call
a psychologist. But then, the
international community would
accuse us of psychological
pressure.'
Gnome: 'And of
desecrating indigenous
traditions,' added the Gnome,
nodding solemnly. 'Shooting at
people with a grenade launcher
is sacred for goblins!'
Mayor: 'Exactly,'
exclaimed the mayor, pleased.
'You understand me.'
Princess: 'So what do you
need from us?' the Princess
interjected again.
Mayor: 'To deliver a
package,' sighed the mayor.
Princess: 'To the
goblin?'
Mayor: 'Yes. There are no
food supplies on that hill. In
an hour, the goblin will get
hungry, declare a truce, and
start negotiations. He does this
every day. Demands food, wine,
weapons, sometimes something
else... Then, once he's full, he
declares that peace talks have
stalled and resumes firing. The
international community is very
sympathetic to him. Thinks he's
principled.'
Half-Elf: 'And if you
refuse to provide him with food
and weapons...'
Mayor: 'Then they'll say
that...'
Half-Elf: 'Okay, okay, we
get it,' waved the Half-Elf.
Mayor: '...and send in
troops,' murmured the mayor.
Half-Elf: 'Well, okay,
but why us? You could send
someone from your own people to
carry the bag.'
Mayor: 'We've sent them
already. None returned.'
Half-Elf: 'What, did the
goblin kill them all?'
Mayor: 'He claims he
didn't.'
Half-Elf: 'And...'
Mayor: 'And the
international community believes
him.'
Half-Elf: 'And...'
Mayor: 'Then they'll say
we're provocateurs. You see,
it's he, the goblin, showing
peaceful initiative, his
gesture of good will. And if
something goes wrong, it's
obviously our fault. But you...
well, you're outsiders, he might
not touch you.'
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