Chapter 1: The Colour of Magic, pp. 33-41 Summary

Over lunch, Twoflower and Rincewind discuss the risks that barroom brawls pose for innkeepers. Twoflower tells Rincewind that back in Bes Palargic, he assesses risks for a living. In his native tongue it is called inn-sewer-ants. He explains that a ship owner would take out an inn-sewer-ants polly-sea to make sure that expensive cargo is not lost or stolen in transit. The ship owner then pays a small amount of money to Twoflower and if the cargo is lost, Twoflower reimburses the owner for the value of the cargo. A now-drunk Rincewind compares the concept to a bet or wager and Twoflower concedes that it is similar. Rincewind says he understands magic much better. Twoflower tells him that magic is one thing and "reflected sound as of underground spirits" is quite...