A Pleasant Trade

To be honest, Evenson remembered The Collector. After all, when Thor had first come to Earth, Evenson had saluted him as a gesture of goodwill. That bizarre ritual—bowing first, then fluttering both palms, and finally spreading his arms like a great roc taking flight—was actually something he had learned from The Collector.

He simply had not shown it in front of Sif, lest it seem too abrupt and lest he reveal some of his own secrets. Besides, he did not know much about The Collector. He only knew that the man seemed to have an enormous background and abundant resources, along with an insatiable urge to collect. To satisfy that desire, he would usually spare no cost and stoop to any means.

But knowing that much was enough. Once you knew someone's greatest desire, you could cater to it and exchange it for certain benefits.

Sure enough, the moment Evenson said he had something worth collecting, The Collector could no longer restrain himself. He leaned forward at once, both hands reaching for the birdcage, wanting to lift the drape and see what was inside. But Evenson drew the cage back, avoiding his hands. "Collecting is an elegant hobby. Being this impatient is hardly elegant."

"Oh, I was presumptuous." The Collector pulled back his hands as though he had been electrocuted and took two steps back. Yet his gaze remained fixed on the birdcage. "If this truly is worth collecting, then it must be extraordinarily valuable. So... what would make you willing to give it to me?"

"Heh heh..." Evenson chuckled as he swayed the birdcage in his hand. "I know that values can differ greatly from planet to planet and civilization to civilization, so settling this with money would probably be inappropriate."

"Well, actually..." The Collector blinked. "There is a