"Does Karma come in bags?" I ask the clerk.
"Bags?"
"Yes. Bags."
He peruses me with a questioning eye.
His curled lip snarls with haughtiness.
"Yes i suppose they do." He replies. "They come in 10 and 20 kilo and also in handy 500 gram bags."
He pulls one of the handy bags out holding it by the tip. He then rolls it out over his palm. I look at it. The Karma sloshes around in the bag. Its pearlesque colour leaves a film as it washes back into the body. I reach out to touch it, but the clerk yanks it away.
"So what do you want it for?" His smile broadens. "You've been up to no good haven't you?"
I wring my hands.
"What do you care? You just sell the stuff right. Here give it to me."
He pulls it away.
"Well you know. We have to account for all the stuff we sell. Can't just be selling it to any old person. We have a responsibility.....to the community you see."
I was growing impatient. My nerves were beginning to show. I develop beads of sweat on my brow and my eyes dart from his mouth to his eyes.
"Yes yes i can appreciate that, but i'm in a real bind here. You don't understand. There are things in motion that- that- if they're not rectified, there will be severe consequences. I can't tell you why i've done the things i've done. I- I guess i was just greedy. I wanted everything for myself. You can understand that- surely? We've all sinned at one time or another. Let those who live in glass houses throw the first stone."
His eyebrow cocks.
"Ok " I relinquish. " You got me. No one has done what i have. I have stolen the hearts of many and its too late to give them back. "
I open my bag and place six beating hearts on the table. The clerk picks one up and strokes it as though it were a cat.
"Quite a feat." He looks me in the eye. "I guess you are in a bind hey?" He places it back on the table and waves his hand as if to take them away from his sight. I place them back in my bag and look pleadingly into his eyes.
"So?"
"Here you go Sir. Just drink it all in one go."
I snatch the pearlesque drink and close my eyes as it touches my lips.

Paul.