### 318

The crowd is beginning to turn ugly. Judging by the way they are looking at you it is clear that they believe the thief’s lies. Rather than risk a confrontation with them or the city militia, you decide that perhaps in this instance discretion is the better part of valour. You toss the stolen item back at the thief and grudgingly you tell him to keep it (erase the first item you have recorded on your Backpack Items list).

The crowd immediately loses interest in what they now believe is just another everyday street incident in Bisutan. The thief sneers as he pockets your property and then he turns and scurries away into the crowd, like a rat entering a sewer.

Turn to 96.