The diamond merchant let the insult roll off of him as he responded, “Madam, two Presidents have issued executive orders forbidding trafficking in blood or conflict diamonds in this country, which, without the proper documentation, these are classified as such. You can go to your local fence who will not know what to do with these potentially nice stones or go to another country where ethics are not so scrupulously observed.
“I recognize their value. However I cannot deal with you for them as it will cost me my business and my freedom. I treasure both, having come from a Nazi concentration camp where human rights meant nothing. In this country, they do. Therefore, I am not inclined to subsidize regimes without honor. I understand that there are underground people in South Africa that could remove them from the setting and essentially change all their characteristics. Enjoy your travels. Good day, madam.”
Zara was furious. She recognized she was wasting her time as she packed up her hard won booty that couldn’t be brokered through the normal channels and stormed to the door. As a parting gesture of animosity, the shop keeper didn’t release the door lock as she went to leave. The result was her piling into the glass door and unexpectedly bumping her nose up against it.
The shopkeeper smiled and innocently apologized, “Oops! Gracious me! Should have unlocked the door sooner. As my grandson would say, my bad!” The shopkeeper chuckled loud enough for Zara to hear until the door closed and the sounds of the city intervened.
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