Arfur steps back from his latest artistic creation - a painting. Scantily dressed Xeenites dancing around a stone pole each pulling along a different coloured dancing string. The Katherian docks lies in the background, both of his picture and in the real world behind the Quality Inn balcony Arfur paints on.
"By the bend in the Muse I think I've cracked it this time!" A waiter nods sagely and stands waiting with a selection of Katherian wines. "It is a wonderful painting. "He suggests. "Oh this thing. "Arfur shrugs but his artistic temperament wins through. "Oh you think so, yes you are right of course but I was referring to the real thing, my new business venture! Why before you can say double your money in a year - my business partner Basil Cheshmore....oh he's from out of town, will walk in that door and tell me we have secured even more sales of these stone dancing poles. Hand crafted I'll have you know by survivors of the terrible times I'm calling...Trouble in the Hilm Protectorate. It was a little haunting thing I solved back in the day. But we have achieved a fine arch in the market, and if I say so myself I have made a few good contacts and Basil wanted to come and see for himself...probably just cannot believe we have done so well. Anyway he has gone to see the business I have created here in the city."
The waiter departs having left all the wines, the tip of a winner in his hand. Arfur waits on his partner. The paint dries.