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story.”
    Orb considered. It struck her as an excellent story. “Why then I suppose I’ll just have to go to Spain and inquire there,” she said.
    The Gypsy fidgeted. “That may not be wise.”
    “Why not?”
    “Look, lady—you can’t just walk into a Gypsy camp and start asking questions. You’ll wind up in somebody’s tent, and—” He paused, evidently remembering her power of resistance. “Well, maybe not. But the Gypsies of Spain are more—well, they wouldn’t let you get off as easily as I am, and your magic may not protect you there. We’re just a primitive band, but there they know more of the old lore. You would run a risk.”
    His words had the ring of sincerity. Orb leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “I thank you. I shall take care.” She turned away.
    “Wait, lady!” he protested.
    She turned back. “Haven’t you had enough of me?”
    “I think I will never have enough of you, lady! But I recognize your power. Please, a boon—the others have seen me talking to you, and if you just go away they will know I failed with you. If you would stay a little longer, let me show you around, be your guide, they would think—”
    “Why should I care what they think?” she snapped. “You tried to—to handle me!”
    “I know, and I apologize. But this is the way of a man with a beautiful woman—the Gypsy way. I would have been the shame of my tribe if I didn’t try! And now—my reputation—”
    Orb tried to remain objective, but the repeated compliments about her appearance were getting to her. Perhaps the Gypsy had a case. Her temper, quick to fray, was also quick to mend. “I have no intention of—”
    “I understand!” he said quickly. “Obviously a woman of your quality has no interest in riffraff like me! But if you could just appear to be—I would be so grateful, and if there is any favor I could do in return—”
    He wanted to avoid being shamed before his folk. She could appreciate that. She melted, some. “Well, I do need to obtain some food, to travel with—”
    “Yes, yes!” he agreed avidly. “I will guide you to the best we have! The best prices, no cheating! If only—” he made a partial gesture with his arm.
    Orb decided that she was in command of the situation, and the man might indeed be useful. “Yes, you may touch me—but no squeezing. And nothing more—there is nothing beyond this.”
    “Yes! But there will
seem
to be more.”
    She nodded. The Gypsy put his arm about her waist, below the knapsack, and he did not even touch her rear, let alone squeeze. The other Gypsies glanced and nodded appreciatively; the man was scoring again.
    In due course Orb resumed her journey, stocked with excellent food. The man had been as good as his word and had indeed been useful. He had asked only that he be allowed to walk her through the forest, out of sight of the others, so that they would draw their conclusions. She did, and the Gypsies surely did, and that was all. “But if you ever
do
want a man for other purposes—” he said at the end.
    “I will know where to find you,” she agreed. Indeed, heseemed not a bad sort, once reined, and she had learned—or relearned—that the word of a Gypsy, once honestly given, was good.
    Still, as she left him, Orb suffered a tinge of regret, not for anything that might have passed between them, but because she felt she had lost a portion of her innocence.
    Orb took an airplane to Spain, heeding her mother’s advice. Indeed, as she looked out the window and saw the mass of clouds below, she realized that it would have been foolish for her to attempt this trip on her carpet. Any trifling storm could have dumped her, and even the fog of harmless clouds could have caused her to get lost. Magic was grand, but science had its place, too; they were complementary mechanisms of accomplishment.
    The plane landed at Granada. Orb made discreet inquiries and learned that the Gypsy quarter was the Albaicin, on the hill facing the