Chapter 96

They had everything from cleavers and machetes to bayonets, katana-style blades, and military daggers. After stating my purpose, the shop owner, Steve Rodney, immediately led me to the back room. There, he lifted a blanket off a bed and revealed an entire bed covered in restricted knives and weapons for me to choose from. I quickly selected a machete, and after some haggling, paid 35 dollars for it. "Sharpen it for me," I told Steve. He froze for a moment, surprised. "Young man, everyone wants their blades dulled these days. You really want it sharpened?" "Make it sharp," I said. Steve looked hesitant. I took out my remaining 11 dollars and handed them all to him, repeating, "Make it sharp." He hesitated for a moment but ultimately took the money and got to work. As I watched the gleaming edge of the machete being sharpened on the whetstone, I kept murmuring under my breath, "Sharper, make it even sharper." Steve spent nearly ten minutes grinding it before finally running his