Hey, mister! Find the black card, win 200 plat! Five plat a game!
The kid showed him the ace of spades, flipping it over, between two other cards, face down. The man, in a sharp business suit and fedora, gladly pitched in the five plat. Youre on, kid. Get the money ready.
A clink of coins onto the table, and the boy deftly started to deal the cards around, tossing card over card in a stunning display of misdirection. Three-card monte was never played this well. The kid finished his deal. Pick your card, mister!
He pointed to the middle card. The boy flipped it over: eight of hearts. Sorry, no good. Wanna try again?
The man was visibly flustered. Shouldnt you be in school? How old are you, kid, thirteen? What the hell are you doing on the street doing this? He was starting to attract attention from the people on the sidewalk. Who do you think youre trying to hustle here?
Geez, mister, at least you could lose gracefully. Not my fault your eye aint so good unless you wanna try again? The setting sun glinted off the giant skyscraper behind the crowd now gathering. Only five plat, mister
He counted his money in the alley next to the First Colony Bank building. The Spherion solar-simulator was starting to fade, but it still made the platinum coins shine like mid-day. All in all, a good day: 300 plat. 200 for the pot, and another 100 for himself. School was for chumps. This was living.
Hey, kid, you still up for another game?
Geez, man, you never quit, do you? He turned and looked, and a man stood, in a brown duster and Stetson. He couldnt quite see his face, but he looked vaguely familiar. Im sorry, do I know you?
Not really. You up for another game, Ellison?
Howd you know my name?
Just dumb luck, I guess. The man chuckled. Cmon, deal the cards.
Uh OK. Find the black card, win 200 plat. Five plat a game. The man threw down fifty. Ellisons eyes widened. You didnt need that much, sir you really prepared to lose that?
I wont lose it.
Ooookay He flipped over the ace of spades, right in the middle of the other two cards. He started his shuffle, and the man wasnt even watching. Mister you gonna watch, or you just gonna go on instinct? He didnt answer. Ellison shrugged it off, and continued, finally ending with a little flair on the last toss. OK, find the black card, mister.
The man flipped over the middle card. Ace of spades. Ellison jumped back. That thats not my card.
You sure? You should keep a good eye on these things, friend. Ill see you again, soon. And the man walked away, his duster flowing with a breeze all its own. Ellison looked at the card, ornately decorated on the backside, with a red and white starscape and solar system. The giant ace was decorated all around with little flairs and coils, a work of art unseen in these times.
Hey, mister, you forgot your--
But the man was gone. Vanished, seemingly into thin air.
*******
He started awake with a gasp. He looked around, pulling the sheets into him, as if any one of the shadows could jump out and strangle him at any moment. He coughed, his throat still an inferno of pain. His head was also throbbing, a knot having tightened right on top. He wasnt as beat up as he thought, thankfully, but goddamn did it hurt. Then it dawned on him: he had no idea where he was. He quickly jumped up from the cot in the makeshift tent, and wandered between the flaps.
Ah, youre awake. Feeling a little better? The horseman was now sitting at a table, enjoying a grand meal. The night had come, and his men were not working now. A fire was blazing, and those who toiled, carrying his body, were sitting around it, conversing about whatever they talked about.
Fantastic. Who are you? Ellison was never one to mince words.
My name is Edgar Pendragon, and I own a gladiatorial company. Actually, you see it right here in front of you. These are my best men.
Gladiatorial company?
Dont tell me youve never been to the Coliseum in Elysium, Mr. Ellison?
How do you know my name? And no, this Coliseum is news to me.
I know a great many things, your name, however, was on those dog tags around your neck. You served in the military?
For about twenty minutes.
Good, youll need that experience.
Ellison looked quite surprised. What the hell do you mean?
Well, sir, youre going to have to pay me back for saving your life.
So youre forcing me to join your little group here because you saved my life? Screw you.
Im not forcing you to do anything however, I did save your life. I figure that should weigh heavily on your conscience.
Edgar was right. A hustler he may have been, but he still had some scruples. Fine. But dont expect me to stay for long.
They all say that just ask Lucius over there hes been with me for ten years, and chooses to remain. Some of the others are not so lucky. However odds are youll become addicted to the adrenaline. Ive seen your type there before. They can become some of the greatest champions assuming they survive.
Whatever so what am I gonna have to do here?
Pendragon smiled. Well, thats easy, Ellison. You fight for your life.
The kid showed him the ace of spades, flipping it over, between two other cards, face down. The man, in a sharp business suit and fedora, gladly pitched in the five plat. Youre on, kid. Get the money ready.
A clink of coins onto the table, and the boy deftly started to deal the cards around, tossing card over card in a stunning display of misdirection. Three-card monte was never played this well. The kid finished his deal. Pick your card, mister!
He pointed to the middle card. The boy flipped it over: eight of hearts. Sorry, no good. Wanna try again?
The man was visibly flustered. Shouldnt you be in school? How old are you, kid, thirteen? What the hell are you doing on the street doing this? He was starting to attract attention from the people on the sidewalk. Who do you think youre trying to hustle here?
Geez, mister, at least you could lose gracefully. Not my fault your eye aint so good unless you wanna try again? The setting sun glinted off the giant skyscraper behind the crowd now gathering. Only five plat, mister
He counted his money in the alley next to the First Colony Bank building. The Spherion solar-simulator was starting to fade, but it still made the platinum coins shine like mid-day. All in all, a good day: 300 plat. 200 for the pot, and another 100 for himself. School was for chumps. This was living.
Hey, kid, you still up for another game?
Geez, man, you never quit, do you? He turned and looked, and a man stood, in a brown duster and Stetson. He couldnt quite see his face, but he looked vaguely familiar. Im sorry, do I know you?
Not really. You up for another game, Ellison?
Howd you know my name?
Just dumb luck, I guess. The man chuckled. Cmon, deal the cards.
Uh OK. Find the black card, win 200 plat. Five plat a game. The man threw down fifty. Ellisons eyes widened. You didnt need that much, sir you really prepared to lose that?
I wont lose it.
Ooookay He flipped over the ace of spades, right in the middle of the other two cards. He started his shuffle, and the man wasnt even watching. Mister you gonna watch, or you just gonna go on instinct? He didnt answer. Ellison shrugged it off, and continued, finally ending with a little flair on the last toss. OK, find the black card, mister.
The man flipped over the middle card. Ace of spades. Ellison jumped back. That thats not my card.
You sure? You should keep a good eye on these things, friend. Ill see you again, soon. And the man walked away, his duster flowing with a breeze all its own. Ellison looked at the card, ornately decorated on the backside, with a red and white starscape and solar system. The giant ace was decorated all around with little flairs and coils, a work of art unseen in these times.
Hey, mister, you forgot your--
But the man was gone. Vanished, seemingly into thin air.
*******
He started awake with a gasp. He looked around, pulling the sheets into him, as if any one of the shadows could jump out and strangle him at any moment. He coughed, his throat still an inferno of pain. His head was also throbbing, a knot having tightened right on top. He wasnt as beat up as he thought, thankfully, but goddamn did it hurt. Then it dawned on him: he had no idea where he was. He quickly jumped up from the cot in the makeshift tent, and wandered between the flaps.
Ah, youre awake. Feeling a little better? The horseman was now sitting at a table, enjoying a grand meal. The night had come, and his men were not working now. A fire was blazing, and those who toiled, carrying his body, were sitting around it, conversing about whatever they talked about.
Fantastic. Who are you? Ellison was never one to mince words.
My name is Edgar Pendragon, and I own a gladiatorial company. Actually, you see it right here in front of you. These are my best men.
Gladiatorial company?
Dont tell me youve never been to the Coliseum in Elysium, Mr. Ellison?
How do you know my name? And no, this Coliseum is news to me.
I know a great many things, your name, however, was on those dog tags around your neck. You served in the military?
For about twenty minutes.
Good, youll need that experience.
Ellison looked quite surprised. What the hell do you mean?
Well, sir, youre going to have to pay me back for saving your life.
So youre forcing me to join your little group here because you saved my life? Screw you.
Im not forcing you to do anything however, I did save your life. I figure that should weigh heavily on your conscience.
Edgar was right. A hustler he may have been, but he still had some scruples. Fine. But dont expect me to stay for long.
They all say that just ask Lucius over there hes been with me for ten years, and chooses to remain. Some of the others are not so lucky. However odds are youll become addicted to the adrenaline. Ive seen your type there before. They can become some of the greatest champions assuming they survive.
Whatever so what am I gonna have to do here?
Pendragon smiled. Well, thats easy, Ellison. You fight for your life.