Cash Quote by Joe Abercrombie
““So we wait?” asked Severard. “We wait, and we look to our defences. That and we try to find some money. Do you have any cash, Severard?” “I did have some. I gave it to a girl, down in the slums.” “Ah. Shame.” “Not really, she fucks like a madman. I’d thoroughly recommend her, if you’re interested.” Glokta winced as his knee clicked. “What a thoroughly heartwarming tale, Severard, I never had you down for a romantic. I’d sing a ballad if I wasn’t so short of funds.” “I could ask around. How much are we talking about?” “Oh, not much. Say, half a million marks?” One of the Practical’s eyebrows went up sharply. He reached into his pocket, dug around for a moment, pulled his hand out and opened it. A few copper coins shone in his palm. “Twelve bits,” he said. “Twelve bits is all I can raise.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Blade Itails by Joe Abercrombie, 2006
Characters discuss desperate finances, using crude humor to reveal their grim reality and strained camaraderie.
In simple terms: Characters talk about money and humor in a harsh world.
Acknowledge humor while confronting hardship.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- war-torn societies
- budget constraints
- selling services
- seeking allies
- making deals
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor mask desperation?
- What are the costs of such bargains?
The dialogue glosses over deeper moral implications of exploiting others.