'Yes,' said the shopkeeper, 'that is the one.'
Meghan wanted to buy the first soldering iron in the shop as it was the most expensive, though when she went next door to the steel manufacturer, the salesman there told her that the cheapest one was the one she was looking for. Meghan was never a confident shopper and so she decided to go back into the shop.
The man behind the counter examined the iron. 'All of them aren't as good as this one. Not many are.'
'Can you replace it if it breaks?'
'Of course I can.'
'Can you replace the motor?'
'No problem.'
'Can you replace the head, too?'
'No problem.'
'Can you be more specific about how many of these motors go bad, please?'
'Heck,' the shopkeeper said, 'there's no pattern. I think you'd have a better chance with the dealer. And even then, only if the dealer had a repairer out here, but I can tell you that there's no guarantee. Sometimes they drive like this, and sometimes they drive better. I use it, and I love it.'
'Can I borrow it?'
'Sure, take it.'
Meghan was a smart witch. She knew how to treat magical metals. She knew that you didn't want to apply too much pressure. She ran her hand down the shaft, checking the life expectancy. She checked the end for signs of warping, or a burnt edge. She checked the tool for signs of wear.
'Well,' the shopkeeper said, 'you're a good witch. Would you like to buy it? It's three hundred gilders.'
'Just like that?'
'Just like that.'
Meghan took the soldering iron. The shopkeeper helped her load it into the trunk of her car.
'You're a good witch, you know that?'
'Thank you. What's your name?'
'My name is the Mountain. I was just opening the door to the outside world when you came in. And if you believe it, I'll tell you a story. But first let's buy you a meal.'
'I don't have that kind of money with me.'
'No money?' the Mountain said. 'Except I don't have any money either. Here, take this. It is magic.'
Meghan looked at the coin. It fell to the floor.
'Pick it up,' the Mountain urged.
Meghan's hand had burned a hole into the stone floor. The coin was still firmly in place, though red hot.
'I don't know what to say.'
'Say "thank you". And go, before the coin does.'
'Thank you.'
'And don't worry, that was the last coin of its kind. Now, go.'
The Mountain was right about the coin. It was the last one. He was a truthful being. His shop was called the World of Wonders because it was home to the last of the wonders.
The coin was the oldest coin in the world, and it was worth about one thousand gilders. It was a piece of the original coin that the Witch Queen had offloaded to the tunnel guard as compensation for killing Prince Herris.
