'Oh, be serious!'
'I always am,' said Carrot.
'He always is,' said Angua.
Sock waved his hands frantically. 'It can just go away. Shoo! I don't want a killer working in my slaughterhouse! You have it, if you're so keen!'
Carrot grabbed the door and forced it wide open. Sock took a step backwards.
'Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law, Mr Sock?'
'Are you insane?'
'I am always sane,' said Carrot.
'He always is,' sighed Angua.
'Watchmen are not allowed to accept gifts,' said Carrot. He looked around at Dorfl, who was standing forlornly in the street. 'But I will buy him from you. For a fair price.'
Sock looked from Carrot to the golem and then back again. 'Buy? For money?'
'Yes.'
The butcher shrugged. When people were offering you money it was no time to debate their sanity. 'Well, that's different,' he conceded. 'It was worth $530 when I bought it, but of course it's got additional skills now - '
Angua growled. It had been a trying evening and the smell of fresh meat was making her senses twang. 'You were prepared to give it away a moment ago!'
'Well, give, yes, but business is busi - '
'I'll pay you a dollar,' said Carrot.
'A dollar? That's daylight robb - '
Angua's hand shot out and grabbed his neck. She could feel the veins, smell his blood and fear... She tried to think of cabbages.
'It's night-time,' she growled.
Like the man in the alley, Sock listened to the call of the wild. 'A dollar,' he croaked. 'Right. A fair price. One dollar.'
Carrot produced one. And waved his notebook.
'A receipt is very important,' he said. 'A proper legal transfer of ownership.'
'Right. Right. Right. Happy to oblige.'
Sock glanced desperately at Angua. Somehow, her smile didn't look right. He scribbled a few hasty lines.
Carrot looked over his shoulder.
I Gerhardt Sock give the barer full and totarl ownership of the golem Dorfl in xchange for One Dolar and anythinge it doz now is his responisbility and nuthing to doe with me.
Singed, Gerhardt Sock.
'Interesting wording, but it does look legal, doesn't it?' said Carrot, taking the paper. Thank you very much, Mr Sock. A nappy solution all round, I feel.'
'Is that it? Can I go now?'
'Certainly, and - '