[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
ability to detect sleight of hand maneuvers. I turned to Boston. "I'd like to
see a little of this so-called science."
Boston motioned with his hand and we both stood and went over to the couches
facing the slumbering Jack Jack. We sat down, Boston next to the window and I
directly across from the obese card mechanic. Boston leaned forward and said
quietly, "Jack Jack, I have a seeker of wisdom for you."
Jack Jack animated one arm and pushed the straw hat back on his head with a
single finger. The tiny, dull eyes looked at me for an instant. "So, my boy, you
have come to learn, eh?"
I sneered and raised my brows. "I'd like to see a little of this Three Card
Monte. It doesn't sound too difficult."
Jack Jack's face remained impassive as he reached into his coat. "Ah, yes. A
lesson of great value hovers above your bumpy head, and when that lesson settles
about your shoulders, you shall understand science."
Boston Beau pulled the folding table out from the-bulkhead and locked it in
place. "Jack Jack, it is part of my arrangement with the Governor that we do not
trim the other members of the company."
Jack Jack shrugged. "Scientific research must be funded, Boston Beau. If this
fellow-what's his name?"
"This is Warts Tho, from Pendiia. He works the route book, and Mr. John has him
doing a little history of us."
Jack Jack nodded as he pulled a deck of cards from his pocket. The deck was
sealed. "A Pendiian, eh?"
I nodded. "That's right."
"Pendiians are quick with their eyes, aren't they?"
I smiled, detecting a crack in Jack Jack's facade of confidence. "Very quick."
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
Jack Jack broke the seal on the deck, opened the box, and pulled out the cards.
He spread them on the table, face up, and
pulled two jacks out. He looked up at me. "You have a favorite card?"
I shrugged, then reached forward and pulled out the ace of hearts. "That one."
Jack Jack gathered up the remaining cards, placed them in the box, and returned
the box to his pocket. As he placed the three cards face up in a row, he talked
to Boston Beau. "As I was saying, scientific research must be funded. I have
expenses to meet, equipment to keep up. Why, have you seen the price of cards
lately? This fellow will be learning something that will always be of use to
him, and surely that is worth a small investment."
Boston Beau looked at me and I turned to Jack Jack. "What kind of investment are
you talking about?"
The corners of Jack Jack's mouth turned down. "Oh, my boy, just enough to
satisfy custom. A friendly sum-say, one credit?"
Boston Beau poked me in the arm as I nodded at Jack Jack. "Please remember to
tell Mr. John that I tried to discourage this transaction. Agreed?"
"Agreed." I pulled a credit note from my pocket, placed it on the table, and it
was soon joined with a note Jack Jack peeled from an enormous wad of bills. He
returned the wad to his pocket, then arranged the cards, ace in the middle.
"Now, my boy, what I will do is to turn these cards over, rearrange them, and
then you must find the ace."
"I understand."
I watched closely as Jack Jack flipped over each card with a snap, then
straightened out the row. I could see a small bend in the corner of the center
card, a bend that only a Pendiian could see. Jack Jack moved the cards around
slowly, and it was easy to follow the ace. He stopped, looked at me, and smiled.
"And now, seeker of truth, can you find the ace?"
I turned over the card to my right and placed it face up. It was the ace.
"There."
Jack Jack's eyebrows went up. "Well, my boy, you do have fast eyes. Would you
care to try another game?" He pulled the wad from his pocket.
I pointed at the two credit notes on the table. "Very well. I'll bet two."
Jack Jack peeled off two credits, added them to mine, then arranged the cards
again, ace in the middle. He turned them over with a snap each time, then moved
them around. But, this time
the cards moved with such speed and complexity of motion that I lost track. He
stopped the cards, arranged them in a row, then grinned. "And, now, my boy, the
ace."
I looked at the cards, feeling a little foolish, when I saw that the card on the
left had the slight bend in it that I recognized. I pointed at it. "That one?"
Jack Jack reached out his hand. "Let's see-ah! The ace! My, but don't you have
fast eyes?" He frowned. "You wouldn't consider trying it one more time, would
you?"
The space between my ears was filled with visions of Jack Jack's roll of
credits. I reached into my pocket, pulled out the forty-three credits that
remained from my week's pay, and added them to the four credits already on the
table. Jack Jack pursed his lips, frowned, then pulled out his roll. "Warts, my
boy, you appear pretty sure of yourself."
I nodded, and he peeled off forty-seven credits and added them to the pile. He
arranged the cards, ace in the middle, then flipped them over, each one with a
snap. "And now, my boy, the lesson."
The cards moved so fast that I couldn't follow the ace, but I didn't try. I
waited for the cards to stop, then looked for the card with the bend. All three
cards had identical bends. "Ah..."
"Pick out the ace, my quick-eyed friend."
I reached out my hand, hovered it over the left card, then moved it and picked
up the middle card. It was a Jack. As Jack Jack gathered up the credit notes he
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
made a disgusting slurping sound with his mouth. Boston Beau folded up the
table, then stood, pulling me to my feet. "Thank you, Jack Jack. I'm certain
that Warts found the demonstration very enlightening."
I was feeling pretty hot. "But..."
Boston Beau steered me back to our couches, then plunked me down in mine and
resumed sitting in his own. "As I said, Warts, a science." He turned toward me
and flashed his dental bullion. "Notice how he got you to rely upon that bend in
the card?"
I frowned. "You could see it?"
Boston Beau shook his head. "No, but I knew it was there. You're a Pendiian, and
Jack Jack bent the card accordingly. Since you thought you had won twice on the
basis of an unfair edge, a bend you could see and that the dealer could not, you
could hardly protest when all three cards came up with the same bend."
I glowered at the back of the couch in front of me. "What was that sound he
made?"
Boston Beau frowned, then smiled. "Oh, that. Didn't you ever
wonder where the term 'sucker' comes from?" He frowned and rubbed his chin.
"Come to think of it, though. Considering the direction in which the money went,
I guess that would make Jack Jack the sucker." He smiled at me. "That would make
you the suckee."
I looked back at Jack Jack. He was again slouched in his couch, hands clasped
over his belly, hat over his eyes.
TWENTY-THREE
June 12th, 2144
After a few days with the slick gentlemen, I was convinced that the population
of Chyteew would be plucked naked by the time the show moved on to Vistunya.
"Science" is such a poor word to describe the method of these fast-fingered
fellows. Boston Beau Dancer began his career back on Earth as a "dip"-a
pickpocket. When I expressed disbelief that anyone could put hands into my
pockets without me being aware of the event, Boston Beau handed me back my
billfold, pocket knife, small change, and then explained the difference between
a street scene and a show scene when dipping for leathers.
"Warts, a street dip works with at least one pther person, sometimes two. The
ideal in such circumstances is to have number one attract the touch's attention,
while number two-the dip- lifts the leather, then palms it off to number three
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]