“Inn-sewer-ants,” repeated Rincewind. “Tha’s a funny word. Wossit mean?” “Well, suppose you have a ship loaded with, say, gold bars. It might run into storms or, or be taken by pirates. You don’t want that to happen, so you take out an inn-sewer-ants-polly-sea. I work out the odds against the cargo being lost, based on weather reports and piracy records for the last twenty years, then I add a bit, then you pay me some money based on those odds—” “—and the bit—” Rincewind said, waggling a finger solemnly. “—and then, if the cargo is lost, I reimburse you.” “Reeburs?” “Pay you the value of your
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