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He reached a decision。 〃If you lose…well； I suppose that is just a risk we will have to take。 Though I think I would kill you then。 The oz~es who died to get the twenty…seven million deserve at least that。〃 He said it quietly； without malice； and it was more of a considered decision than a threat。
Stamping to his feet； Jason refilled his glass and offered one to Kerk who took it with a nod of thanks。 He paced back and forth； unable to sit。 The whole proposition made him angry； yet at the same time had a fatal fascination。 He was a gambler and this talk was like the sight of drugs to an addict。
Stopping suddenly； he realized that his mind had been made up for some time。 Win or lose…live or die…how could he say no to the chance to gamble with money like that！ He turned suddenly and jabbed his finger at the big man in the chair。
〃I'll do it…you probably knew I would from the time you came in here。 There are some terms of my own； though。 I want to know who you are； and who they are you keep talking about。 And where did the money e from…is it stolen？〃
Kerk drained his own glass and pushed it away from him。
〃Stolen money？ No； quite the opposite。 Two years' work mining and refining ore to get it。 It was mined on Pyrrus and sold here on Cassylia。 You can check on that very easily。 I sold it。 I'm the Pyrric ambassador to this planet。〃 He smiled at the thought。 〃Not that that means much； I'm ambassador to at least six other planets as well。 es in handy when you want to do business。〃
Jason looked at the muscular man with his grey hair and worn； military…cut clothes； and decided not to laugh。 You heard of strange things out in the frontier planets and every word could be true。 He had never heard of Pyrrus either； though that didn't mean anything。 There were over thirty thousand known planets in the inhabited universe。
〃I'll check on what you have told me；〃 Jason said。 〃If it's true we can do business。 Call me tomorrow。 。 。
〃No；〃 Kerk said。 〃The money has to be won tonight。 I've already issued a check for this twenty…seven million； it will bounce as high as the Pleiades unless we deposit the money in the morning； so that's our time limit。〃
With each moment； the whole affair became more fantastic…and more intriguing for Jason。 He looked at his watch。 There was still enough time to find out if Kerk was lying or not。
〃All right； we'll do it tonight；〃 he said。 〃Only I'll have to have one of those bills to verify。〃
Kerk stood up to go。 〃Take them all； I won't be seeing you again until after you've won。 I'll be at the Casino； of course； but don't recognize me。 It would be much better if they didn't know where your money was ing from or how much you had。〃
Then he was gone； after a bone…crushing handclasp that closed on Jason's hand like vise jaws。 Jason was alone with the money。 Fanning the bills out like a hand of cards； he stared at their sepia…and…gold faces； trying to get the reality through his head。 Twenty…seven million credits。 What was to stop him from just walking out the door with them and vanishing。 Nothing really； except his own sense of honor。
Kerk Pyrrus； the man with the same last name as the planet he came from； was the universe's biggest fool。 Or he knew just what he was doing。 From the way the interview had gone； the latter seemed the best bet。
〃He knows I would much rather gamble with the money than steal it；〃 he said wryly。
Slipping a small gun into his waistband holster and pocketing the money； he went out。
2
The robot teller at the bank just pinged with electronic shock when he presented one of the bills and flashed a panel that directed him to see Vice President Wain。 Wain was a smooth customer who bugged his eyes and lost some of his tan when he saw the sheaf of bills。
〃You…wish to deposit these with us？〃 he asked while his fingers unconsciously stroked them。
〃Not today；〃 Jason said。 〃They were paid to me as a debt。 Would you please check that they are authentic and change them。 I'd like five hundred thousand credit notes。〃
Both of his inner chest pockets were packed tight when he left the bank。 The bills were good and he felt like a walking mint。 This was the first time in his entire life that carrying a large sum of money made him unfortable。 Waving to a passing helicab； he went directly to the Casino where he knew he would be safe。 For awhile。
Cassylia Casino was the playspot of the nearby cluster of star systems。 It was the first rime Jason had seen it； though he knew its type well。 He had spent most of his adult life in casinos like this on other worlds。 The decor differed but they were always the same。 Gambling and socialities in public…and behind the scenes all the private vice you could afford。 Theoretically no…limit games； but that was true only up to a certain point。 When the house was really hurt； the honest games stopped being square and the big winner had to watch his step very carefully。 These were the odds Jason clinAlt had played against countless times before。 He was wary but not very concerned。
The dining room was almost empty and the majordomo quickly rushed to the side of the stranger in the richly cut clothes。 Jason was lean and dark and moved with a positive； self…assured manner。 More like the owner of inherited wealth than a professional gambler。 This appearance was important and he cultivated it。 The cuisine looked good and the cellar turned out to be wonderful。 He had a professional and enthusiastic talk with the wine steward while waiting for the soup； then settled down to enjoy his meal。
He ate leisurely and the large dining room was filled before he was through。 Watching the entertainment over a long cigar killed some more time。 When he finally went to the gaming roonls； they were filled and active。
Moving slowly around the room； he dropped a few thousand credits。 He scarcely noticed how he played； giving more attention to the feel of the games。 The play all seemed honest and none of the equipment was rigged。 That could be changed very quickly； he realized。 Usually it wasn't necessary； house percentage was enough to assure a profit。
Once he saw Kerk out of the corner of his eye； but he paid him no attention。 The ambassador was losing small sums steadily at seven…andsilver and seemed to be impatient。 Probably waiting for Jason to begin playing seriously。 He smiled and strolled on slowly。
Jason settled on the dice table as he usually did。 It was the surest way to make small winnings。 And if I feelit tonight； I can clean this casino out！ That was his secret； the power that won for him steadily…and every once in awhile enabled him to make a killing and move on quickly before the hired thugs came to get the money back。
The dice reached him and he threw an eight the hard way。 Betting was light and he didn't push himself； just kept away from the sevens。 He made the point and passed a natural。 Then he crapped out and the dice moved on。
Sitting there； making small automatic bets while the dice went around the table； he thought about the power。 Funny； after all the years of work； we still don't know much about psi。 They can train people a bit； and improve skills a bit…but that's all。
He was fe