Chapter 68

The appliance store dealers¹ 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, "Youre not a Dahlite."
"Yes, but I still want a knife."
He said, "Its against the law to sell knives."
Dors said, "Im not a policewoman or a government agent of any sort. Im 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 sullenly³.
"Youre buying it for him?" He stared at Seldon and it didnt take him long to decide. "Hes an outsider too. Let him come in and buy it for himself."
"Hes not a government agent either. And Im buying it for myself."
The dealer² shook his head. "Outsiders are crazy. But if you want to spend some credits, Ill 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 that the largest you have?"
"Best womans knife made."
"Show me a mans knife."
"You dont want one thats too heavy. Do you know how to use one of these things?"
"Ill learn and Im not worried about heavy. Show me a mans knife."
The dealer smiled. "Well, if you want to see one--"
He moved farther down the counter and brought up a much fatter stub. He gave it a twist and what appeared to be a butchers knife emerged. He handed it to her, handle first, still smiling.
She said, "Show me that twist of yours."
He showed her on a second knife, slowly twisting one way to make the blade appear, then the other way to make it disappear. "Twist and squeeze," he said.
"Do it again, sir."
The dealer obliged.
Dors said, "All right, close it and toss me the haft."
He did, in a slow upward loop.
She caught it, handed it back, and said, "Faster."
He raised his eyebrows⁴ and then, without warning, backhanded it to her left side. She made no attempt to bring over her right hand, but caught it with her left and the blade showed tumescently at once--then disappeared. The dealers mouth fell open.
"And this is the largest you have?" she said.
"It is. If you try to use it, it will just tire you out."
"Ill breathe deeply. Ill take a second one too."
"For your friend?"
"No. For me."
"You plan on using two knives?"
"Ive got two hands."
The dealer sighed. "Mistress, please stay out of Billibotton. You dont know what they do to women there."
"I can guess. How do I put these knives on my belt?"
"Not the one youve got on, Mistress. Thats not a knife belt. I can sell you one, though."
"Will it hold two knives?"
"I might have a double belt somewhere. Not much call for them."
"Im calling for them."
"I may not have it in your size."
"Then well cut it down or something."
"It will cost you a lot of credits."
"My credit tile will cover it."
When she emerged at last, Seldon said sourly, "You look ridiculous with that bulky belt."
"Really, Hari? Too ridiculous to go with you to Billibotton? Then lets both go back to the apartment."
"No. Ill go on by myself. Ill be safer by myself."
Dors said, "There is no use saying that, Hari. We both go back or we both go forward. Under no circumstances do we separate."
And somehow the firm look in her blue eyes, the set to her lips, and the manner in which her hands had dropped to the hafts at her belt, convinced Seldon she was serious.
"Very well," he said, "but if you survive and if I ever see Hummin again, my price for continuing to work on psychohistory--much as I have grown fond of you--will be your removal. Do you understand?"
And suddenly Dors smiled. "Forget it. Dont practice your chivalry⁵ on me. Nothing will remove me. Do you understand?"

1 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

2 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

3 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

4 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

5 chivalry   

n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤

参考例句：

• The Middle Ages were also the great age of chivalry.中世纪也是骑士制度盛行的时代。
• He looked up at them with great chivalry.他非常有礼貌地抬头瞧她们。