"Alexei Panshin - New Celebrations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Panshin Alexei)

They walked arm-in-arm to the Flambeau table. Adams was much the larger, round-faced, not yet used
to his size and strength, something of the puppy he had likened himself to. Villiers was small, slight and
quick, and rather more reserved. Adams, enjoying himself hugely, placed emphatic bets, smiled widely
when he won and drew pained breaths when he lost. He lost more than he won. Villiers stood at his
elbow as the game followed its steady cycle. The game, like all its ancestors before it, allocated bets at
varying odds, and Villiers played conservatively, small bets on odd or even, white or black. If he lost
more than he won, he did not lose much. He offered Adams no advice on his play.

At last, Adams rattled three final tokens in his fist and then held them out on the tips of his fingers as he
considered.

“Poor things,” he said. “Well, one last bet. Let me see—fifteen is a round number and today’s date.”

“Today is the sixteenth,” said the operator of the table. “The date changed thirty minutes ago.”

“Ah,” said Adams, “then the ship from Morian arrives tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well. Nonetheless, I like fifteen.” He dropped the tokens on the number and touched the brown and
friendly figure in the background of the square. “And I had a pet gorf when I was a boy.”

“A good reason for making a choice on a final bet,” Villiers said. Instead of following his usual practice,
he dropped his token on the picture of the little animal too. “I believe I’ll join you.”

“The betting is closing. The betting is closing. The betting is closed.”

The fire slowly rose, showing first scarlet, then luminous sulphur yellow. The fire swirled and flames of
blue and green and purple played their own private games. On top of all the red ball bobbed, King of the
Mountain. Then suddenly the flame was gone and the king was without his mountain, The ball floated
slowly down, a ball no longer. It touched the bowl, bounced, touched again, and collapsed in a puddle.

“Sixteen, animal, black,” announced the table man. He and his assistant began raking in tokens and
paying the few winners around the wide table.

“Damnation!” said Adams. “I should have followed the date! I knew it. I’ve been so close this evening. I
hate to quit now.” He checked his pockets, pulled out a purse and began counting his money. “Yes. If
you will wait, Mr. Villiers, I will be back directly.”

Villiers said, “Luck doesn’t seem to be running our way tonight.”

“But it is!”

Villiers measured the few tokens he held between finger and thumb. “Do you say so? Perhaps it would
be best to let a final bet be a final bet and end the evening. Come, sir, I’ll buy you a drink or a smoke,
whichever you prefer.”

Adams said, “No, thank you, Mr. Villiers.”

A voice bid them good evening and they turned to discover Godwin. He, also, was a taller, more robust