[ IP ] Is this yours ?

It blew my mind how fast that thing could move its giant head. That pale light that emanated from its eyes almost felt warm against my sand-swept skin. It blinked once in that specific way birds eyes almost flash, and the light took a momentary strobe effect. Then its beak lower and the eyes darted between my cart and then to me. I'd sold water to fish, ice to penguins, nuts to squirrels, but never a phoenix egg to the mother phoenix. Without meaning to, my lips curled into what I hoped looked like a clever and confident grin. 
 
 I could feel sand crunch at the back of my jaw. 
 
 `` Is this yours?'' I said, trying hard not to sound like a bad auctioneer. 
 
 The phoenix moved its legs some, the whole gigantic feathered beast shifted and squared its body with me. Its head raised and the beak lowered in what was the most regal thing I'd ever witnessed. 
 
 `` A thief looks to sell me my own child?'' The voice was oddly beautiful and silken. A perfect matriarchal voice of calm authority and cool rational. It was the pitch and rhythm of a tested and polished negotiator. Which I guess made sense for a phoenix. 
 
 My hands came to my chest and pointed inwardly at what I hopped appeared to be an expression of innocence. I had gone over this speech a dozen times in my head, I'd made thousands of sales in thousands of ways. True, none of them were to the mother phoenix, but... 
 
 `` I do n't know how this stopped being yours, but I sold a considerable amount of my life's work to get-'', I was speaking faster than I could plan the words out and was nearly grateful when she interrupted me. 
 
 `` What reward are you seeking? Your life? Riches? Perhaps a bit of nesting down for your own headdress?'' The matronly tone took on a poisonous quality. 
 
 It was true, of course, phoenix feathers were worth more than a whole wagon of wheat. Whatever baubles the phoenix mother had accumulated over the millennium could be just as priceless. These were all things I had considered when I'd planned this parlay, but not getting beaked to death. 
 
 Her head lowered slowly and the broad edge of her beak bumped my chest. 
 
 `` I believe that you are not the thief. I also believe you are here for a profit and not to return my child. I will trade you that one endless life for one wish.'' Her head rose back and returned to the regal position. 
 
 My head spun with wants and desires. A new wagon train, wealth to buy a new wagon train. The feather of a phoenix, with enough lifefull tendril in it to cure a whole city. Gold coins must have filled my vision before she spoke again. 
 
 `` When you know what it is you seek, come back. I must tend to mine.'' 
 
 Her wings blasted out to the sides, trails and arcs of sand kicking out in stunning swirls. A single massive talon reached out and clutched the egg, the massive claws looking nimble and gingerly against the shell. 
 
 `` You'll find me again, trader. I'm sure.'' 
 
 My body turned away from the crushing gust of wind and sand that blew my hair back and nearly knocked me to the ground. In a roar of motion she was up and gone and I was buried to the knee in the silt of ageless dust. 
 
 I've never gone through life with a `` get out of jail free card'' before, but having gotten one, I must tell you: 
 
 When I know what I want, I'll find her again, and next time I wo n't stutter through the opening.
