deathworld-µÚ1½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡1
¡¡ With¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡sigh¡¡the¡¡service¡¡tube¡¡dropped¡¡a¡¡message¡¡capsule¡¡into¡¡the¡¡receiving¡¡cup¡£¡¡The¡¡attention¡¡bell¡¡chimed¡¡once¡¡and¡¡was¡¡silent¡£¡¡Jason¡¡dinAlt¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡harmless¡¡capsule¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡ticking¡¡bomb¡£
¡¡ Something¡¡was¡¡going¡¡wrong¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡knot¡¡of¡¡tension¡¡form¡¡inside¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡no¡¡routine¡¡service¡¡memo¡¡or¡¡hotel¡¡munication£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡sealed¡¡personal¡¡message¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡no¡¡one¡¡on¡¡this¡¡planet£»¡¡having¡¡arrived¡¡by¡¡spacer¡¡less¡¡than¡¡eight¡¡hours¡¡earlier¡£¡¡Since¡¡even¡¡his¡¡name¡¡was¡¡new¡dating¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡ships¡¡¡there¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡personal¡¡messages¡£¡¡Yet¡¡here¡¡one¡¡was¡£
¡¡ Stripping¡¡the¡¡seal¡¡with¡¡his¡¡thumbnail£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡top¡¡off¡£¡¡The¡¡recorder¡¡in¡¡the¡¡pencil¡sized¡¡capsule¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡taped¡¡voice¡¡a¡¡tinny¡¡sound£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡clues¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡speaker¡£
¡¡ ¡¨Kerk¡¡Pyrrus¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Jason¡¡dinAlt¡£¡¡I'm¡¡waiting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lobby¡£¡¨
¡¡ It¡¡was¡¡wrong£»¡¡yet¡¡it¡¡couldn't¡¡be¡¡avoided¡£¡¡Chances¡¡were¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡harmless¡£¡¡A¡¡salesman¡¡perhaps£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡case¡¡of¡¡mistaken¡¡identity¡£¡¡Nevertheless¡¡Jason¡¡carefully¡¡positioned¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡pillow¡¡on¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡safety¡¡off¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡way¡¡to¡¡predict¡¡how¡¡these¡¡things¡¡would¡¡turn¡¡out¡£¡¡He¡¡signaled¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡to¡¡send¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡up¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡door¡¡opened£»¡¡Jason¡¡was¡¡slumped¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡couch£»¡¡sipping¡¡from¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡glass¡£
¡¡ A¡¡retired¡¡wrestler¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡Jason's¡¡first¡¡thought¡¡when¡¡the¡¡man¡¡came¡¡through¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡Kerk¡¡Pyrrus¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grey¡haired¡¡rock¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man£»¡¡his¡¡body¡¡apparently¡¡chiseled¡¡out¡¡of¡¡flat¡¡slabs¡¡of¡¡muscle¡£¡¡His¡¡grey¡¡clothes¡¡were¡¡so¡¡conservative¡¡they¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡uniform¡£¡¡Strapped¡¡to¡¡his¡¡forearm¡¡was¡¡a¡¡rugged¡¡and¡¡much¡worn¡¡holster£»¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡muzzle¡¡peering¡¡blankly¡¡from¡¡it¡£
¡¡ ¡¨You're¡¡dinAh¡¡the¡¡gambler£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡said¡¡bluntly¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡proposition¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡ Jason¡¡looked¡¡across¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡glass£»¡¡letting¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡play¡¡with¡¡the¡¡probabilities¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡either¡¡the¡¡police¡¡or¡¡the¡¡petition¡and
¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡either¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡know¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡more¡¡before¡¡he¡¡became¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡any¡¡deals¡£
¡¡ ¡¨Sorry£»¡¡friend£»¡¨¡¡Jason¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡wrong¡¡party¡£¡¡Like¡¡to¡¡oblige£»¡¡but¡¡my¡¡gambling¡¡always¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡help¡¡the¡¡casinos¡¡more¡¡than¡¡myself¡£¡¡So¡¡you¡¡see¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨Let's¡¡not¡¡play¡¡games¡¡with¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¨¡¡Kerk¡¡broke¡¡in¡¡with¡¡a¡¡chesty¡¡rumble¡£¡¡¡¨You're¡¡dinAh¡¡and¡¡you're¡¡Bohel¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡want¡¡more¡¡names£»¡¡I'll¡¡mention¡¡Mahaut's¡¡Planet£»¡¡the¡¡Nebula¡¡Casino¡¡and¡¡plenty¡¡more¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡proposition¡¡that¡¡will¡¡benefit¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¨
¡¡ None¡¡of¡¡the¡¡names¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡change¡¡in¡¡Jason's¡¡half¡smile¡£¡¡But¡¡his¡¡body¡¡was¡¡tensely¡¡alert¡£¡¡This¡¡musciebound¡¡stranger¡¡knew¡¡things¡¡he¡¡had¡¡no¡¡right¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡time¡¡to¡¡change¡¡the¡¡subject¡£
¡¡ ¡¨That's¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡gun¡¡you¡¡have¡¡there£»¡¨¡¡Jason¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡guns¡¡make¡¡me¡¡nervous¡£¡¡I'd¡¡appreciate¡¡it¡¡if¡¡you¡¡took¡¡it¡¡off¡£¡¨
¡¡ Kerk¡¡scowled¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gun£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡seeing¡¡it¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¨No£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡take¡¡it¡¡off¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡mildly¡¡annoyed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡£
¡¡ The¡¡testing¡¡period¡¡was¡¡over¡£¡¡Jason¡¡needed¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡hand¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡this¡¡one¡¡alive¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡put¡¡his¡¡drink¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡his¡¡other¡¡hand¡¡fell¡¡naturally¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡pillow¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡touching¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡butt¡¡when¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡afraid¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡to¡¡insist¡£¡¡I¡¡always¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡little¡¡unfortable¡¡around¡¡people¡¡who¡¡are¡¡armed¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡kept¡¡talldng¡¡to¡¡distract¡¡attention¡¡while¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡out¡¡his¡¡gun¡£¡¡Fast¡¡and¡¡smooth¡£
¡¡ He¡¡could¡¡have¡¡been¡¡moving¡¡in¡¡slow¡¡motion¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡difference¡¡it¡¡made¡£¡¡Kerk¡¡Pyrrus¡¡stood¡¡dead¡¡still¡¡while¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡came¡¡out£»¡¡while¡¡it¡¡swung¡¡in¡¡his¡¡direction¡£¡¡Not¡¡until¡¡the¡¡very¡¡last¡¡instant¡¡did¡¡he¡¡act¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡did£»¡¡the¡¡motion¡¡wasn't¡¡visible¡£¡¡First¡¡his¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡armholster¡then¡¡it¡¡was¡¡aimed¡¡between¡¡Jason's¡¡eyes¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡an¡¡ugly£»¡¡heavy¡¡weapon¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pitted¡¡front¡¡orifice¡¡that¡¡showed¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡use¡£
¡¡ Jason¡¡knew¡¡if¡¡he¡¡swung¡¡his¡¡own¡¡weapon¡¡up¡¡a¡¡fraction¡¡of¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡more¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡dead¡£¡¡He¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡carefully£»¡¡angry¡¡at¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡substitute¡¡violence¡¡for¡¡thought¡£¡¡Kerk¡¡flipped¡¡his¡¡own¡¡gun¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡holster¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡ease¡¡he¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡it¡£
¡¡ ¡¨Enough¡¡of¡¡that¡¡now£»¡¨¡¡Kerk¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨Let's¡¡get¡¡down¡¡to¡¡business¡£¡¨
¡¡ Jason¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡and¡¡downed¡¡a¡¡large¡¡mouthful¡¡from¡¡his¡¡glass£»¡¡bridling¡¡his¡¡temper¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡fast¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gun¡his¡¡life¡¡had¡¡depended¡¡on¡¡it¡¡more¡¡than¡¡once¡and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡been¡¡outdrawn¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡offhand£»¡¡unimportant¡¡manner¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡done¡¡that¡¡irritated¡¡him¡£
¡¡ ¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡do¡¡business£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡¡acidly¡£¡¡¡¨I've¡¡e¡¡to¡¡Cassylia¡¡for¡¡a¡¡vacation£»¡¡get¡¡away¡¡from¡¡work¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨Let's¡¡not¡¡fool¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡dinAh£»¡¨¡¡Kerk¡¡said¡¡impatiently¡£¡¡¡¨You've¡¡never¡¡worked¡¡at¡¡an¡¡honest¡¡job¡¡in¡¡your¡¡entire¡¡life¡£¡¡You're¡¡a¡¡professional¡¡gambler¡¡and¡¡that's¡¡why¡¡I'm¡¡here¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡ Jason¡¡forced¡¡down¡¡his¡¡anger¡¡and¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡couch¡¡so¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡be¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡mit¡¡suicide¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡knew¡¡him¡¡on¡¡Cassylia¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡a¡¡big¡¡kill¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Casino¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡worry¡¡about¡¡that¡¡later¡£¡¡This¡¡wrestler¡¡type¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡know¡¡all¡¡the¡¡answers¡£¡¡Let¡¡him¡¡plot¡¡the¡¡course¡¡for¡¡awhile¡¡and¡¡see¡¡where¡¡it¡¡led¡£
¡¡ ¡¨All¡¡right£»¡¡what¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want¡£¡¨
¡¡ Kerk¡¡dropped¡¡into¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡that¡¡creaked¡¡ominously¡¡under¡¡his¡¡weight£»¡¡and¡¡dug¡¡an¡¡envelope¡¡out¡¡of¡¡one¡¡pocket¡£¡¡He¡¡flipped¡¡through¡¡it¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡dropped¡¡a¡¡handful¡¡of¡¡gleaming¡¡Galactic¡¡Exchange¡¡Notes¡¡onto¡¡the¡¡table¡£¡¡Jason¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡them¡then¡¡sat¡¡up¡¡suddenly¡£
¡¡ ¡¨What¡¡are¡¡they¡forgeries£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡holding¡¡one¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡light¡£
¡¡ ¡¨They're¡¡real¡¡enough£»¡¨¡¡Kerk¡¡told¡¡him£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡picked¡¡them¡¡up¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bank¡£¡¡Exactly¡¡twenty¡seven¡¡bills¡or¡¡twenty¡seven¡¡million¡¡credits¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡use¡¡them¡¡as¡¡a¡¡bankroll¡¡when¡¡you¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Casino¡¡tonight¡£¡¡Gamble¡¡with¡¡them¡¡and¡¡win¡£¡¨
¡¡ They¡¡looked¡¡real¡¡enough¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡be¡¡checked¡£¡¡Jason¡¡fingered¡¡them¡¡thoughtfully¡¡while¡¡he¡¡examined¡¡the¡¡other¡¡man¡£
¡¡ ¡¨I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡in¡¡mind£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨But¡¡you¡¡realize¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡make¡¡any¡¡guarantees¡£¡¡I¡¡gamble¡but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡always¡¡win¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨You¡¡gamble¡and¡¡you¡¡win¡¡when¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to£»¡¨¡¡Kerk¡¡said¡¡grimly¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡that¡¡quite¡¡carefully¡¡before¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨If¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡I¡¡cheat¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¨¡¡Carefully£»¡¡Jason¡¡grabbed¡¡his¡¡temper¡¡again¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡down¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡future¡¡in¡¡getting¡¡annoyed¡£
¡¡ Kerk¡¡continued¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡level¡¡voice£»¡¡ignoring¡¡Jason's¡¡growing¡¡anger¡£¡¡¡¨Maybe¡¡you¡¡don't¡¡call¡¡it¡¡cheating£»¡¡frankly¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡care¡£¡¡As¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I'm¡¡concerned£»¡¡you¡¡could¡¡have¡¡your¡¡sleeves¡¡lined¡¡with¡¡aces¡¡and¡¡electromagnets¡¡in¡¡your¡¡toes¡£¡¡As¡¡long¡¡as¡¡you¡¡win¡£¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡here¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡moral¡¡points¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡said¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡proposition¡£
¡¡ ¡¨We¡¡have¡¡worked¡¡hard¡¡for¡¡that¡¡money¡but¡¡it¡¡still¡¡isn't¡¡enough¡£¡¡To¡¡be¡¡precise£»¡¡we¡¡need¡¡three¡¡billion¡¡credits¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡way¡¡to¡¡get¡¡that¡¡sum¡¡is¡¡by¡¡gambling¡£¡¡With¡¡these¡¡twenty¡seven¡¡million¡¡as¡¡bankroll¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨And¡¡what¡¡do¡¡I¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it£¿¡¨¡¡Jason¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡question¡¡coolly£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡any¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fantastic¡¡proposition¡¡made¡¡sense¡£
¡¡ ¡¨Everything¡¡above¡¡the¡¡three¡¡billion¡¡you¡¡can¡¡keep£»¡¡that¡¡should¡¡be¡¡fair¡¡enough¡£¡¡You're¡¡not¡¡risking¡¡your¡¡own¡¡money£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡stand¡¡to¡¡make¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡you¡¡for¡¡life¡¡if¡¡you¡¡win¡£¡¨
¡¡ ¡¨And¡¡if¡¡I¡¡lose£¿¡¨
¡¡ Kerk¡¡thought¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡not¡¡liking¡¡the¡¡taste¡¡of¡¡the¡¡idea¡£¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡you¡¡might¡¡lose¡£¡¡I¡¡hadn't¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡ 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¡¡