human
You ever play football?
gpt
Footsball? What are footsball?
human
Never mind. Scotty grinned.
gpt
The way you took that clerk out, I thought you might have played blocking back for the Green Bay Packers.
human
Football is an American game, Hassan. It is rough. The Green Bay Packers is the name of a famous professional football team.
gpt
One thing is for sure, Scotty offered.
human
The clerks didn't know football. That flat pass you threw was good for plenty of yardage.
gpt
It made a touchdown, Rick pointed out. He changed the subject.
human
Look, what went on in that store, anyway? I don't know who the big man was, but he wasn't Ali Moustafa. At least he didn't come close to Bartouki's description.
gpt
Why didn't you give him the cat, anyway? Scotty asked with a grin.
human
Afraid a brand-new mystery might end without you getting a piece of it?
gpt
Not a bad idea, now that you mention it. I didn't think of it at the time. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wasn't going to hand over any helpless little pussycat to a guy with eyes like that. He'd mistreat it.
human
Uhuh. Only, now what do we do with the cat?
gpt
Give it to the right Ali Moustafa, Rick said.
human
There must be a right one somewhere.
gpt
Help yourself. I'll bet there are ten thousand Ali Moustafas around. How do you find the right one?
human
Could there be another Ali Moustafa in El Mouski?
gpt
I ask my friend when we stop. He say there is only one, and he tell me how we get there.
human
Then that must be the shop Bartouki meant. Only where was big, fat, jolly Ali Moustafa? Or could I be wrong about the description?
gpt
Not a chance. I remember the description the way you do. Either Bartouki didn't know his own partner, or the man you saw was not Ali Moustafa--unless he took off weight and shaved his beard. And changed his disposition in the bargain.
human
Which brings us back to the question before the house. What do we do with the Egyptian cat?
gpt
Give it to Hassan,
human
Cat's nice, he said.
gpt
But no can take. Too much cost for food.
human
Hassan, what do you think is in here?
gpt
You say cat. I believe.
human
Didn't you think carrying a cat wrapped in paper was pretty strange?
gpt
Americans many time do thing I not understand.
human
Pretty strong coffee,
gpt
Hassan, Rick said at last,