“Aren't you supposed to take it?”
 
“Probably.”

Defort made a sound from several meters away. Koldin ignored him.

The homeless man looked down at the weapon.

Koldin said, “Hang onto it.”

The man met his eyes.

“You sure?”

“I may not be around next time.”

The statement changed something.

Not much.

The homeless man closed his hand around the revolver.

“Understood.”

Koldin looked at the blind yinglet.

“You two all right?”

“We're fine.”

“You hurt?”

“No.”

“Dog?”

The blind yinglet reached behind him and touched the animal's head.

“He's more offended zhan injured.”

The dog looked unconvinced. Koldin nodded.

“Good.”

A groan came from the ground. The criminal moved one arm.

Koldin looked down.

“Don't get up yet.”

The man stopped moving. Whether if it was due to obedience or neurological disagreement was unclear.

Koldin turned and walked back toward Defort.

The crowd reopened around him only gradually. People began talking again. The market resumed its previous shape, absorbing what had happened with remarkable efficiency. Someone stepped around the unconscious man to inspect a lantern.

Defort held out the golok.

Koldin took it and fastened the scabbard back at his side, then took back the haversack. Defort watched him secure his gear.

“Good move, ying-man.”

“Yeah.”

“You got him good.”

“Yeah.”

Defort looked toward the homeless human, who was now examining the revolver discreetly.

“You gave him the gun.”

“Yeah.”

“You know we're supposed to turn that in.”

“I know.”

Defort considered this.

“You gonna put that in the report?”

Koldin tightened the belt.

“No.”

Defort smiled.

“Sweet.”

Koldin looked at him.

“We are reporting him to zhe polis.”

“Fine by me.”

“Later.”

“Also fine.”

Behind them the blind yinglet had begun putting his merchandise back into order. The dog sat beside him. The homeless human moved the revolver somewhere beneath his clothes and returned to the mat.

The criminal remained on the ground.

Around them, money changed hands. A merchant sold two spoons. A child cried because somebody would not buy him a sweet. A woman haggled over a repaired clock.

The market had accepted the interruption and continued.

Koldin looked once toward the blind yinglet.

The other yinglet's ears turned toward him, although his sightless eyes did not.

“Broer,” he called.

Koldin stopped.

“Yeah?”

“Take care out zhere.”

Koldin touched the brim of his hat.

“You too.”

He and Defort walked on.

After a few steps Defort said, “You realize that was probably illegal.”

“What?”

“All of it.”

Koldin thought about it.

“Probably.”

“You worried?”

“No.”

“Why?”

Koldin looked ahead through the crowd.

Because the police station was cool and clean and contained forms for stolen bottles. Because the market was hot and confused and had contained a frightened dog, two people with almost nothing, and a man demanding taxes he had invented himself. Because procedure was good when procedure arrived before harm and considerably less impressive afterward.

He did not say any of this.

“He had a gun,” Koldin said.

“That's your answer?”

“Yeah.”

Defort nodded.

“Good answer.”

They continued toward the far end of the market.

The afternoon had begun descending toward evening. Light entered beneath the canvas at lower angles, turning dust and insecticide and cooking smoke gold in the air. Vendors counted money. Others counted what had failed to sell. Somewhere the first lamps were being lit although the sun remained above the roofs.

Koldin's foot had begun to ache slightly. Not badly, but enough to remind him that precision did not abolish consequence. He flexed it once while walking and continued.

The patrol still had hours left.