deathworld-第3部分

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　 Which　was　just　the　way　Jason　wanted　it。　He　needed　to　get　as　deep　into　them　as　he　could　before　someone　realized　they　might　be　on　the　losing　end。　The　rough　stuff　would　start　and　he　wanted　to　put　it　off　as　long　as　possible。　It　would　be　hard　to　win　smoothly　then…and　his　psi　power　might　go　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　That　had　happened　before。
　 He　was　playing　against　the　house　now；　the　two　other　players　were　obvious　shills；　and　a　crowd　had　januned　solidly　around　to　watch。　After　losing　and　winning　a　bit；　he　hit　a　streak　of　naturals　and　his　pile　of　gold　chips　tottered　higher　and　higher。　There　was　nearly　a　billion　there；　he　estimated　roughly。　The　dice　were　still　falling　true；　though　he　was　soaked　with　sweat　from　the　effort。　Betting　the　entire　stack　of　chips；　he　reached　for　the　dice。　The　stickman　reached　faster　and　hooked　them　away。
　 〃House　calls　for　new　dice；〃　he　said　flatly。
　 Jason　straightened　up　and　wiped　his　hands；　glad　of　the　instant's　relief。　This　was　the　third　time　the　house　had　changed　dice　to　try　and　break　his　winning　streak。　It　was　their　privilege。　The　hard…eyed　Casino　man　opened　his　wallet　as　he　had　done　before　and　drew　out　a　pair　at　random。　Stripping　off　their　plastic　cover；　he　threw　them　the　length　of　the　table　to　Jason。　They　came　up　a　natural　seven　and　Jason　smiled。
　 When　he　scooped　them　up；　the　smile　slowly　faded。　The　dice　were　transparent；　finely　made；　evenly　weighted　on　all　sides…and　crooked。
　 The　pigment　on　the　dots　of　five　sides　of　each　die　was　some　heavy　metal　pound；　probably　lead。　The　sixth　side　was　a　ferric　pound。　They　would　roll　true　unless　they　hit　a　magnetic　field…which　meant
　the　entire　surface　of　the　table　could　be　magnetized。　He　could　never　have　spotted　the　difference　if　he　hadn't　looked　at　the　dice　with　his　mind。　But　what　could　he　do　about　it？
　Shaking　them　slowly；　he　glanced　quickly　around　the　table。　There　was　what　he　needed。　An　ashtray　with　a　magnet　in　its　base　to　hold　it　to　the　metal　edge　of　the　table。　Jason　stopped　shaking　the　dice　and　looked　at　them　quizzically；　then　reached　over　and　grabbed　the　ashtray。　He　dropped　the　base　against　his　hand。
　As　he　lifted　the　ashtray；　there　was　a　concerted　gasp　from　all　sides。　The　dice　were　sticking　there；　upside　down；　boxcars　showing。
　 〃Are　these　what　you　call　honest　dice？〃　he　asked。
　 The　man　who　had　thrown　out　the　dice　reached　quickly　for　his　hip　pocket。　Jason　was　the　only　one　who　saw　what　happened　next。　He　was　watching　that　hand　closely；　his　own　fingers　near　his　gun　butt。　As　the　man　dived　into　his　pocket；　a　hand　reached　out　of　the　crowd　behind　him。　From　its　square…cut　size；　it　could　have　belonged　to　only　one　person。　The　thick　thumb　and　index　finger　clamped　swiftly　around　the　houseman's　wrist；　then　they　were　gone。　The　man　screamed　shrilly　and　held　up　his　arm；　his　hand　dangling　limp　as　a　glove　from　the　broken　wrist　bones。
　 With　his　flank　well　protected；　Jason　could　go　on　with　the　game。　〃The　old　dice；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　he　said　quietly。
　 Dazedly　the　stickman　pushed　them　over。　Jason　shook　quickly　and　rolled。　Before　they　hit　the　table；　he　realized　he　couldn't　control　them…　the　transient　psi　power　had　gone。
　 End　over　end　they　turned。　And　faced　up　seven。
　 Counting　the　chips　as　they　were　pushed　over　to　him；　he　added　up　a　bit　under　two　billion　credits。　They　would　be　winning　that　much　if　he　left　the　game　now…but　it　wasn't　the　three　billion　that　Kerk　needed。　Well；　it　would　have　to　be　enough。　As　he　reached　for　the　chips　he　caught　Kerk's　eye　across　the　table　and　the　other　man　shook　his　head　in　a　steady　no。
　 〃Let　it　ride；〃　Jason　said　wearily；　〃one　more　roll。〃
　 He　breathed　on　the　dice；　polished　them　on　his　cuff；　and　wondered　how　he　had　ever　gotten　into　this　spot。　Billions　riding　on　a　pair　of　dice。　That　was　as　much　as　the　annual　ine　of　some　planets。　The　only　thing　that　made　it　possible　to　have　stakes　like　that　was　the　fact　that　the　planetary　government　had　a　controlling　interest　in　the　Casino。　He　shook　as　long　as　he　could；　reaching　for　the　control　that　wasn't　there…then　let　fly。
　 Everything　else　had　stopped　in　the　Casino　and　people　were　standing　on　tables　and　chairs　to　watch。　There　wasn't　a　sound　from　that　large
　crowd。　The　dice　bounced　back　from　the　board　with　a　clatter　loud　in　the　silence　and　tumbled　over　the　cloth。
　 A　five　and　a　one。　Six。　He　still　had　to　make　his　point。　Scooping　up　the　dice；　Jason　talked　to　them；　mumbled　the　ancient　oaths　that　brought　luck　and　threw　again。
　 It　took　five　throws　before　he　made　the　six。
　 The　crowd　echoed　his　sigh　and　their　voices　rose　quickly。　He　wanted　to　stop；　take　a　deep　breath；　but　he　knew　he　couldn't。　Winning　the　money　was　only　part　of　the　job…they　now　had　to　get　away　with　it。　It　had　to　look　casual。　A　waiter　was　passing　with　a　tray　of　drinks。　Jason　stopped　him　and　tucked　a　one　hundred　credit　note　in　his　pocket。
　 〃Drinks　are　on　me；〃　he　shouted　while　he　pried　the　tray　out　of　the　waiter's　hands。　Well…wishers　cleared　the　filled　glasses　away　quickly　and　Jason　piled　the　chips　onto　the　tray。　They　more　than　loaded　it；　but　Kerk　appeared　that　moment　with　a　second　tray。
　 〃I'll　be　glad　to　help　you　sir；　if　you　will　permit　me；〃　he　said。
　 Jason　looked　at　him　and　laughed　permission。　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　a　clear　look　at　Kerk　in　the　Casino。　He　was　wearing　loose；　purple　evening　pajamas　over　what　must　have　been　a　false　stomach。　The　sleeves　were　long　and　baggy　so　he　looked　fat　rather　than　muscular。　It　was　a　simple　but　effective　disguise。
　 Carefully　carrying　the　loaded　trays；　surrounded　by　a　crowd　of　excited　patrons；　they　made　their　way　to　the　cashier's　window。　The　manager　himself　was　there；　wearing　a　forced　grin。　Even　the　grin　faded　when　he　counted　the　chips。
　 〃Could　you　e　back　in　the　morning；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　afraid　we　don't　have　that　kind　of　money　on　hand。〃
　 'What's　the　matter；〃　Kerk　shouted；　〃trying　to　get　out　of　paying　him？　You　took　my　money　easy　enough　when　I　lost…it　works　both　ways！〃
　 The　onlookers；　always　happy　to　see　the　house　lose；　growled　their　disagreement。　Jason　finished　the　matter　in　a　loud　voice。
　 〃I'll　be　reasonable。　Give　me　what　cash　you　have　and　I'll　take　a　check　for　the　balance。〃
　 There　was　no　way　out。　Under　the　watchful　eye　of　the　gleeful　crowd；　the　manager　packed　an　envelope　with　bills　and　wrote　a　check。　Jason　took　a　quick　glimpse　at　it；　then　stuffed　it　into　an　inside　pocket。　With　the　envelope　under　one　arm；　he　followed　Kerk　toward　the　door。
　 Because　of　the　onlookers；　there　was　no　trouble　in　the　main　room；　but　just　as　they　reached　the　side　entrance　two　men　moved　in；　blocking　their　way。
　 〃Just　a　moment；〃　one　said。　He　never　finished　the　sentence。　Kerk
　walked　into　them　without　slowing　and　they　bounced　away　like　tenpins。　Then　Kerk　and　Jason　were　out　of　the　building　and　walking　fast。
　 〃Into　the　parking　lot；〃　Kerk　said。　〃I　have　a　car　there。〃
　 When　they　rounded　the　corner；　there　was　a　car　bearing　down　on　them。　Before　Jason　could　get　his　gun　clear　of　the　holster；　Kerk　was　in　front　of　him。　His　arm　came　up　and　his　big　ugly　gun　burst　through　the　cloth　of　his　sleeve　and　jumped　into　his　hand。　A　single　shot　killed　the　driver　and　the　car　swerved　and　crashed。　The　other　two　men　in　the　car　died　ing　out　of　the　door；　their　guns　dropping　from　their　hands。
　 After　that　they　had　no　trouble。　Kerk　drove　at　top　speed　away　from　the　Casino；　the　torn　sleeve　of　his　pajamas　whipping　in　the　breeze；　giving　glimpses　of　the　big　gun　back　in　the　holster。
　 〃When　you　get　the　chance；〃　Jason　said；　〃you'll　have　to　show　me　how　that　trick　holster　works。〃
　 'When　we　get　the　chance；〃　Kerk　answered　as　he　dived　the　car　into　the　city　access　tube。
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　 The　building　they　stopped　at　was　one　of　the　finer　residences　in　Cassylia。　As　they　had　driven；　Jason　counted　the　money　and　separated　his　share。　Almost　sixteen　million　credits。　It　still　didn't　seem　quite　real。　When　they　got　out　in　front　of　the　building；　he　gave　Kerk　the　rest。
　〃Here's　your　three　billion。　Don't　think　it　was　easy；〃　he　said。　〃It　could　have　been　worse；〃　was　his　only　answer。
　The　recorded　voice　scratched　in　the　speaker　over　the　door。
　 〃Sire　Ellus　has　retired　for　the　night；　would　you　please　call　again　in　the　morning。　All　appointments　are　made　in　advan…〃
　 The　voice　broke　off　as　Kerk　pushed　the　door　open。　He　did　it　al