"Um, Lina?"

	"Yes, Gourry?"

	"Why are we supposed to blow this place up?  They don't look 
like bandits to me," the tall swordsman asked, scanning the small 
group of houses and surrounding green fields with an expert eye.  
Both he and Lina were well hidden at the top of a hill nearby, 
watching the farmers below.

	Lina sighed, remembering their meeting with their current 
employer.

	
	"Ah, the infamous and well endowed Lina Inverse," greeted 
the smarmy little pencil pusher.  "And her large, ahem, traveling 
companion.  Just the people I wanted to see."

	"Don't push your luck, pal," Lina growled.  "Just what is so 
important that you had to interrupt MY dinner?"

	The official smiled nervously, losing his condescending 
attitude.  "Terribly sorry, Miss Inverse, but it is important.  My 
life is at stake, so to speak.  South of here is a small village 
known only for its one crop which is used to make ropes.  Due to 
various... abuses of this crop, the king has outlawed its 
production 
and ordered all supplies destroyed.  There has been resistance to 
this edict."  He shifted nervously.

	"I was told to have it immediately destroyed for them, or 
else.  Unfortunately, the treasury is empty, and we can't afford 
to call out the army.  And it would take an army, or at least the 
work of a powerful sorceress such as yourself, to destroy that 
much."

	Lina snorted.  "If you're out of money, why are you 
bothering me?  I'm not cheap you know."

	The official held his hands up placating.  "Please, Miss 
Inverse, hear me out.  While we can't afford to give you money in 
return, perhaps something can be arranged?"

	In response to some hidden signal, a castle servant arrived 
bearing a tray of sweet cakes and offered them to the two 
adventurers.

	After a little chewing, Gourry, who hadn't been paying 
attention, said, "Mmm!  These are pretty good!  Got any more?"

	Lina nodded, still chewing.

	Gesturing expansively to the sweets, the official continued.  
"We have the finest chefs in the land.  I'm sure we can arrange 
for an all you can eat feast fit for a king in return for your-"

	"Deal!" Lina agreed enthusiasticly, shaking his hand.

	"I already told you, noodle brain!  We're getting a reward 
for this job!  Food, and lots of it!"

	"But why these people?" he asked, puzzled.  "They haven't 
hurt anyone, have they?  And they haven't been robbing people."

	Lina shrugged.  "Maybe not, but that official said that 
they're growing an illegal crop and selling it in the cities.  
Either way, we're getting fed!"

	"But..." Gourry began.

	"Oh, alright," she replied, exasperated.  "We'll give them a 
chance to cooperate before we set them on fire along with the 
weeds.  Happy?"

	"Oh, okay," he said, nodding happily.  "As long as we don't 
hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it."

	They both stood and walked boldly into the town square, 
hoping to gather the people and explain the situation.  While the 
people were friendly, those who noticed them, anyway, no one 
questioned them.

	Using Gourry's wide shoulders as a platform, Lina started 
shouting for attention.  "People!  Your attention, please!"

	One, a large man reclining on a bulging sack, lifted his 
head to stare at her.

	Taking this as an encouraging sign, she continued.  
"According to the rulers of this land, you are all breaking the 
law!  We have been sent here to destroy you!"

	That got some attention, as people started murmuring and 
looking frightened.

	"Umm, Lina?" Gourry reminded.  "You said you were going to 
give them a chance?"	

	"Oops!" Lina said, blushing.  "I mean, we have been sent 
here to destroy your crops!"

	Instantly, the people went from frightened to furious.

	One, a dark skinned man with braided hair, spoke out.  "Hey, 
mon!  What you be messin' with us fo?  We ain' done nuthin'!"

	"The king said to destroy these crops, and so that's what 
we're going to do!  Be grateful we're not the army, they would 
have destroyed your homes as well!  We don't want any unnecessary 
violence!"

	"Just do what she says and no one will get hurt!" added 
Gourry helpfully.

	Although angry, they were a peace loving group and soon 
settled down.  One asked, "What do you want us to do?"

	Lina looked over the town square until she found suitable 
demonstration material.  "You there!" she cried, pointing at a 
group standing near a laden wagon.  "Move it or lose it!"  Barely 
waiting for them to move, she cast a fire spell.  "Flare bit!"

	The wagon burned nicely, causing people to back away 
quickly.  "Dude..." one commented.

	Hopping down from her perch, she and Gourry made a tour of 
the village, fireballing drying sheds and using flare arrow on 
small plots.  Gaav flare took care of the fields.  Then they moved 
on to cleanup, catching all that they had missed.

	A few hours later, Gourry threw one last bale onto a bonfire 
in the center of the town and beat a hasty retreat back to where 
Lina was standing.  Strangely, the people seemed drawn to the 
fire.

	"That's the last of it," Gourry said, dusting his hands.

	"Ah," Lina sighed happily.  "The sweet smell of success."  
Abruptly she broke into a coughing fit.

	"Funny," Gourry replied, sniffing the air, "All I can smell 
is smoke."  He took his own turn coughing as Lina elbowed him in 
the gut.

	"Come on, Gourry.  We're through here, and our feast awaits!  
Raywing!"

	And the villagers just smiled and waved.  Sitting there on 
that sack of seeds.

	Although they didn't know it at the time, they had even 
managed to get some measure of revenge for their destroyed crop, 
as a few hours later, Lina and Gourry, both half crazed from the 
munchies, descended on the poor capital city.