Chapter 10
01
into his fake leather chair.
for a large number of staff—it was for this man alone.
“Look at this,” said the man in the chair. “It’s like he’s being toyed with. You’re the floor manager—if
“W-well, Chief, it seems to me that maybe it might be Marlowe?”
going to have to be fired today?”
nothing as chilling as a runaway dealer.
graphical search for any images we have of these guests.”
“No, we can’t tell just from these screens. All I need to have is an excuse ready for the boss, if it
and Marlowe, all three of us will get to be real swell pals, just three more dupes on the next bus to the
“R-right. So, how many people do you want on this?”
like a few dozen others worked on it. Got it?”
“Once you’ve done what I’ve said, I’ll have my excuse, if it comes down to it. You, on the other
He made an exaggerated gesture of slashing his finger across his neck.
took a misstep and froze in place.
important business?”
egg.
All of those titles belonged to the man seated in the fake leather chair—the question seemed to ask,
Not responding to the rapid-fire bluster, the chief turned to Shell-Septinos, slowly pushed two palms
“Y-yes. Th-that’s what the regulations say to do.”
regulations.”
were shrinking into himself.
like crazy, and that’s got your spines all bent out of shape?”
What I’mtrying to say is, he’s a show-off prick. Word fromthe floor is they’re uncle and niece.”
Shrugging his shoulders as if it were nothing, the chief answered, “A little more than sixty percent.”
“Sixty percent? Over how many games?”
“What’s their method?”
anything more than a couple of amateurs throwing their chips around.”
seven.”
“I suppose. I’ve seen it myself. But what are the chances someone can randomly throw chips around
The chief, as if the motion were more of a bother than it was worth, made a circle with his right
his silent message.
“But not zero, either.”
The floor manager trembled, but the chief, like a scolded child unrepentant, simply scratched his
“Take care of them,” Shell continued. “As if they were pros who came with clear plans. That’s an
“Pros, you say… They don’t look like pros to me.”
Shell leaned forward, looking over the chief ’s shoulder at the screens on the wall. With a shocked
hustler. You’re right, a pro coming in here looking as stupid as that, that would be…”
For a moment, the low buzz of running electronics was the only sound in the room.
But just then, Shell exploded, “What the fuck is this?!”
Shell was staring at the screen with a dumbstruck expression, his face pale.
“What, you know them?” the chief deadpanned.
down at the chief and said, “Ashley, kill them. Chop themup with your cards. Give themyour usual.”
The chief formed a gun with his fingers. He aimed his index finger at the screen and mimed the pulling
Shell shook his head condescendingly. “That isn’t your job. I’mtalking legally. With cards. There’s no
His voice dropped to a whisper. “They came here to completely waste my time. Time is vital. And
that’s passed affects the time that’s left.”
“Don’t you understand?” Shell continued. “I’m running from time’s curse. That’s how I’ve been able
supposed to have forgotten flash back. Flashbacks—this world’s foulest curse. And I hire men like you to
“Yes, well, sort of,” the chief muttered. Then, remembering something, he said, “By the way, Boss,
“You mean the mechanic in the poker room?”
was fired.”
“For a casino around these parts to fire Bell Wing? That’s unbelievable.”
“Couldn’t you let her stay? I’masking as a representative for the employees here.”
“One who’s loyal to his boss, of course.”
in my important business deal. Understand? While I’m gone, do your job. To the fullest of your abilities.
“Understood, Boss.”
“That’s an order, Ashley. Don’t let themany closer to me.”
closed, he would have kicked it right down.
turned to the still-cowering floor manager. “Hey, you. I’mchanging the plan.”
“Split the files into two thousand pieces and mobilize all the dealers currently on break. Track all of
ears.”
“I’ll be with you. Don’t let themleave here alive.”
a battle where victory is assured.
He swiftly did an about-face and left at full speed, not stopping to look over his shoulder.
wagging its dog. How insipid.”
picture, he touched his finger to the screen. The ConsoleView, responding to his touch, froze the image.
“Ah, that’s too far back.”
The chief stared at the screen. On the other displays were playbacks fromother, randompoints in time.
“So she’s left-handed.”
most valuable chips in the casino—in all of Mardock City, even.
“I don’t know what your trick is…” he muttered with indifference, “but those gloves are well made.”
control room.
Shell dashed into his office and, like the fleeing heroine of a horror movie hiding herself in a room,
With one hand he snatched a microphone and into it shouted orders to his staff to take over his hosting
Finally the line connected, and a low voice came over the phone—the steadfast voice of a man
–It’s me. Weren’t you supposed to be in the middle of a deal, Mr. Shell?
–I’m investigating them. What’s wrong?
Boiled was silent.
–I see. I thought so, Boiled said under his breath.
–I’ve been searching for them in your casinos. Of the four, I just finished up at the second. You’re
“Y-you knew? That they would come to one of my casinos?”
With a trembling hand, Shell removed his sunglasses. His eyes were wide with the dawning
–Are you there? Boiled asked, and Shell jolted back to attention. Please answer me this. Whatever is
Shell’s mouth worked open and closed and open again, and finally, he took a deep breath and said,
here.”
usefulness will prove that you’ve made the best decision.
For a time, Shell remained still. Then he muttered a single word.
A bold smile spread fromcheek to cheek.
that filthy rotten egg.”
≡
Just as Bell Wing had finished packing up her things in the anteroom, Ashley called out to stop her. He
stern face.
“I didn’t know Ashley Harvest was the kind of man to waste time on someone who just got canned.”
made an embarrassed shrug. “But you’re a renowned croupier in the industry. You attract customers, and
successor?”
not particularly unhappy with my dismissal.”
“Well, it’s true. This is by my will. And nobody has the right to criticize it. Who said I was going to
“I’m not saying it. But the rookie croupiers, they say you’ve chosen your own successor, and they’re
“Ah. Yes, it’s true. That girl…” Bell gave a heartfelt nod. “The rookies here are considered first
with my own eyes.”
to nurture that girl?”
might throw to the right, that’s all. Thinking the whole time…maybe she’ll come…”
Bell shook her head coldly.
favor?”
you to run your own place?” Bell asked.
the monetary value of every single one of my words. You’re the epitome of a gambler.”
know the true nature of our opponent. She’s going by a pattern we’ve never seen before. She’s using some
marathon of the graphical search, she may already have passed the finish.”
“She’s playing blackjack, and she’s called for a million-dollar chip.”
“And she’s asked themto leave the eleven remaining chips at the table.”
casino floor.
Glaring at him from the corner of her eye, Bell said, “I’ll decide when I see her. If I don’t find her
She started down the corridor.
As they walked, she said, “So this opponent is so good you think someone will be needed to check for
“Yeah, basically. If whatever she’s got is good enough to get a million-dollar chip, copycats may
“If you devise any countermeasures against her system, who will you tell it to? The boss?”
connection at the top of the Society. If my countermeasures get used by all the casinos in the Society, it’ll
“Don’t you like it here?”
longer. Our boss had a fifteen-year-old girl living with him—and not as her proper guardian, if you
me, I can’t understand why the Society still lets himhave a job.”
left in my life without getting involved in all this,” Bell said. “Anyway, if this opponent of yours isn’t
in this place is just to lend some meaning to an old hag’s prolonged existence.”
Bell froze.
“Her?” Ashley tilted his head.
Bell nodded. She stared at the girl. She stared at the girl seated at the VIP table, who was intently
“Her? She’s the one you decided would be your successor? Oh, she’s trouble.” He snapped his fingers
But Bell’s solemn expression remained unchanged, intently focused on something. She didn’t even
home?”
purpose. When you stand in her way, to her, it’s like a test bestowed upon her by the Holy Ghost. And
Ashley, somewhat taken aback, gazed into Bell Wing’s face. “Have you had some revelation? You
“I wish you had a little more faith, Ashley. But I should thank you. You brought me here. But I’m just
“That’s fine. As long as you’ll be my witness, the Society will understand. But Bell…what do you
“Nothing. Nothing at all. Just the girl’s name.”
“Rune-Balot,” Bell stated with a solemn face. “That’s her name. It’s a sorrowful name; a fitting
02
At the sound of the harsh, chiding voice, the dealer’s hands froze, and his face went cold. The dealer,
completely motionless, in the middle of his shuffle. Marlowe turned to look at the speaker and found a
“Here’s a reference letter,” Ashley continued. “Maybe you can use it to find work someplace else.”
“It’s not addressed to anyone. It just has my signature. Make as many copies as you’d like. Just take it
still try somewhere else.”
it was the same face that had been so passionate when he had been shuffling the cards. Heartbroken, his
so fitting.
sure if I believe you actually signed that.”
just dismissed him. Her gaze was fixed on the cold figure of the old woman.
man is having quite the tantrum. He wanted to keep on playing with you, but we have rules here. Now, if
Not to be topped, the Doctor graciously replied that it wouldn’t be an issue. Ashley nodded and tossed
seals, and displayed the cards. The Doctor nodded his approval, and Ashley began carefully shuffling the
Balot looked at Bell. Since Bell had been staring at her the whole time, their eyes naturally met. The
“Good evening, Rune-Balot. We meet again.”
Without realizing it, Balot had broken into a grin. More than wondering why Bell had come, she was
A curious sense of security came over her—and a feeling of relief at seeing the old woman out of her
Strangely, Balot felt no remorse. The girl knew that the battle between her and Bell was already in the
“So you really were after something big, weren’t you?” Bell spoke in a tone clear of any clouds of
–I’m just having some fun. I thought I might learn something.
Bell turned her eyes to the shuffle, as if to tell Balot, You should be watching too. But it didn’t matter
dealer’s shuffle. He shuffled carefully and with no wasted movement. Calling his motions smooth
off his smooth technique, Ashley was simply doing his job.
Bell, keeping her attention on the shuffle, answered, “No, this man just persuaded me to come watch.”
“His name is Ashley Harvest. He’s something of a bodyguard for this kind of business. For him to
Ashley glanced at Balot. “She’s here to make sure we have a fair match. So please don’t be
Even if he didn’t exude the same fighting spirit as the previous dealer had, he seemed even more
“This man’s luck doesn’t spin counterclockwise like mine. He has no weaknesses. Remember that.”
“I’ll be watching over you. Over the whole game. You don’t have a problem, do you, Ashley?”
spoke softly, but his voice carried.
appreciation for retiring that mechanic in the poker room, Bell Wing right here, and the fine young dealer
He might as well have just come out and said, I know what you’ve been up to. After that near
–We anticipated this would happen. Don’t take his bait. Let the Doctor handle him.
private table! Why, that is quite the luxury!”
easier for you to win, right?”
to be effective.
“Is that a table rule?” The Doctor crossed his arms and, as calmly as if he were haggling over
Ashley replied without hesitation. “Fine, we’ll go with a ten-dollar minimum bet.” He pointed at
“Then we’re agreed,” said the Doctor. “Ten dollars it is.”
place it in the deck.
you deliver on what you seemto promise.”
Ashley shrugged and effortlessly cut the deck. He then inserted the cards into the shoe and placed his
Balot and the Doctor placed their chips. Ashley drew the first card. The game had begun. Their last
≡
The cards disappeared. With just a wave of his hand, the dealer had returned all the cards on the table
Nothing else moved. Not their chips. Not their determination. Not their tactics.
The Doctor blinked twice and placed his chips on the table.
The cards were distributed. Ashley’s upcard was a 7.
Balot had a 7 and a 3—hit. A 9 card came, and with nineteen, she stayed. A decent hand. But Balot
The dealer revealed his hole card—9. That made sixteen. Following the rules, he drew another card—
“We have a push.”
Since the first card Ashley drew, this was the sixteenth hand.
They hadn’t lost a single chip.
Sixteen tied hands, with only the value of the count changing.
There’s not even the slightest movement.”
an even match for this casino. It’s incredible. You’re a tough opponent. I’mriveted.”
–I can’t read him.
–I don’t understand. What’s he after? Is he enjoying this? Is he angry? Is he sad when you draw a
Oeufcoque was nearly shrieking, but then, as if realizing he was only making her more afraid, he
–For now, we analyze. We’ll hold him of with our best tactics. It’s not like we can’t keep on
Balot pulled herself together and signaled that she understood. She lightly squeezed her left hand over
There was a strange tension in the air. The seventeenth hand was also a tie.
Blackjack demands you endlessly walk a long, long path.
through a barren desert. There was no path to be seen; the scenery shifted from moment to moment, but in
At the twenty-second hand, something different happened. The Doctor had an ace and a queen. Balot
Ashley’s upcard was a 2. For the first time in the match, Ashley spoke.
either. You both play with precise tactics. That way, I don’t even have to think about anything.”
It was a 4. The 2 and 4 made six. He drew a card: 4. Another: 5.
4 and 4 and 5 and 6—twenty-one.
A heavy fatigue was building up inside her, even worse than if she had been losing.
placed one hand over the other and leaned over, like a waiter who had just finished setting down their
“This is a good place to take a break.” The red card was on top of the deck, without a single card to
Balot was stunned. And the Doctor, who had placed the card himself, stared at the card shoe as if it
Ashley’s bulky hands never paused. He began to shuffle.
the young lady? Or is there someone else who brings it here?”
had won and in which games. What was remarkable about their methods. Under what circumstances did
–Don’t be sucked in by him.
Ashley finished the shuffle. This time, Balot inserted the red card into the stack of cards. His effortless
And as Bell and the large audience watched, the second round began.
Balot had a 3 and a 5. For a moment, she considered staying, but in the end, she decided to hit. A jack.
Ashley revealed his hole card—a 6, making eight. Next, he drew a queen, making eighteen.
The Doctor added more chips to his bet. Balot followed suit and raised her bet, from three thousand
She wanted to feel in control of something, if only to dispel the depressing sensation of total
“Such luck you have,” said Ashley. “Its power is affecting even me.”
pivotal moment. But Ashley’s management of the cards was undisturbed, leaving no openings for attack.
“I’ve never met a player who could rival my luck. That’s why the casinos treat me like the door to the
Ashley kept repeating that word, luck, luck, but Balot and the Doctor didn’t think—not even for an
Maybe this man had the singular ability to arrange the deck in such a way that the outcome would be
A shuffle that could manipulate the order of over three hundred cards—that would be a skill with a
There was no sign of marked cards hidden at the bottomof the card shoe.
knew the order the cards came in, he could potentially arrange the cards using his particular technique.
But the real problem was what that technique would bring. Their fatigue would build and build, and
a way to do so.
free to leave now without consequence? Balot didn’t know—and she could sense Oeufcoque wanting to
Sure, he was like an iron wall, but he’d be nothing more.
Well, that’s enough for me.
time, but at the same time, memories of one time were connected with memories of another. If Shell’s
lines. And if the memories couldn’t be reproduced, all they’d have is an album showing the growth
Their goal wasn’t that kind of analytical research—it was the details of Shell’s deeds, and without
The Doctor sighed. “We may have to change our tactics.” For the first time since starting the game, he
The cards came. Ashley’s upcard, a queen.
The Doctor hit and received an 8. His total, twenty.
crying out, “Go ahead, shoot me!”
“I said hit.”
In the face of such reckless self-destruction, Ashley swiftly turned over the next card.
“That’s a bust,” stated the dealer.
The problem was that the Doctor had exposed himself. He had called out the perfect deck. But how
Balot hit. Her card, a 6. Her total, twenty.
–Stick to the optimal tactics. Leave the attack to the Doc. Following Oeufcoque’s instructions, she
Ashley revealed his hole card: 4. With the queen, that made fourteen.
“We have a push.”
Calmly, the Doctor whispered, “I guess one card isn’t enough.”
undaunted.
Balot kept with her same bet. As Bell Wing quietly watched for any changes on the table, Ashley
His upcard was 7. The Doctor had an 8-5, making thirteen. Balot had K-3, for thirteen.
He hit again: 2. His total, nineteen.
And again he hit. For a moment, Balot thought Ashley might get angry, but he didn’t. As he coolly drew
It was an ace; 8-5-4-2-A-A: twenty-one.
suspicious?
“So you’ll be staying, then.”
–Hit.
The Doctor groaned. With his eyes, he asked Balot again, Are you sure he didn’t do anything
“Now what?” asked Ashley. For the first time, he focused his dark brown eyes right at her. As he
“That’s some technique.”
could imitate you.”
He turned over his hole card. A 9. Along with his 7, that made sixteen. He drew another card and
“We have a push.”
Then Bell said, “This has turned into a dull forced match.”
“Rune-Balot. Are you the kind of kid who lives by listening to others?”
“Chips don’t mean anything to you, right? I don’t know why you’re holding back. You shot down every
As Bell’s words drew the girl in, Oeufcoque’s rebuttal came bubbling to the lining of her gloves.
The cards came.
anyone. Especially in a big match like this. In a match, restraint is like shit. It stinks and it distracts you.”
Once more, the Doctor carelessly hit, until finally he bust.
With a 2 and a queen, she got a 7, making nineteen. She stayed, and Ashley revealed his hole card.
Ashley’s voice, announcing the tie, seemed to come fromsomewhere far away.
Balot received a 2 and a 9. She doubled down and drew an 8. Nineteen.
Again she bit her lip, hard. The next hand, the Doctor bust, Ashley revealed his hole card, and as he
Slowly, she pulled her lip from her teeth, and as she wet her lips, she felt a realization come over her.
question Why me?
cards. The change occurred when the Doctor returned to the optimal tactics.
The upcard was a 5. The hole card, 9. He drew a 3. Seventeen.
Confused, Balot checked the Doctor’s cards. Jack-3-3. Sixteen.
Dr. Easter silently placed his next chips. Balot bit her lip again.
washed over her.
If he had a gun in his hands and not cards, what would I do?
For the first time since the beginning of the game, Balot sensed the cards. The stack of cards, how they
She heard the Doctor say, “I’ll stay.”
Ashley’s upcard, an 8.
The card in front of her, Balot was silent.
her skin.
the man next to you, if you want himto tell you what will happen.”
into his fingers alone had been a part of his strategy.
–Stay.
A 4. With 8, that made twelve. He drew an ace and then a 7.
–And a push.
dealer would react. She wanted to sense his movements, his mood, everything. Ashley shrugged.
Balot grinned at him. At first, he looked taken aback, then he returned the smile. At the same time, he
The cards came. Ashley’s upcard, a jack.
Balot kept her senses upon Ashley and transmitted everything to Oeufcoque.
was a hastily compiled report of information on the dealer.
–Hit.
Balot had drawn a 2.
Following Balot’s choice, Ashley revealed his hole card.
Something was matching up, she sensed. In the following hand, the Doctor didn’t bust, but his J-8 was
“It seems like we’re starting to see whom luck favors,” Ashley said, sweeping up the cards. “Those
impossible to latch on to. No one can ridicule those whom luck has deserted, for it is just that easy for her
He spoke as if the Doctor’s loss had been his plan all along. It certainly wasn’t out of the realm of
But the Doctor knew his role. He knew what he had to do.
Balot bet the same amount again and again. The game wouldn’t end.
“I’ll double down,” stated the Doctor, stacking his chips.
A cruel defeat, but the Doctor didn’t seemto be concerned with what he had lost.
Push.
The Doctor slowly rose. He patted Balot on the shoulder and said, “I’ll leave my luck to her.”
you.”
He retired from the game as soon as he had seen the balance in the cards—if he hadn’t hit, Balot
“From this point forward,” stated the Doctor, “I’m just an innocent bystander. Well, a bystander who
my defeat is the butterfly.”
“It’s a metaphor for a theory of causality. A small occurrence, a butterfly flying on the eastern coast,
many-body problemfar more clearly than it has ever been shown before.”
“You’re always welcome to join back in.”
shield anymore. Balot looked himin the eyes and asked her most pressing question.
“Maybe not right away. But there’s one on his side and two on ours. With our combined luck, you’ll
Balot nodded. By two, he had meant Balot and Oeufcoque.
game.
The crowd around the table continued to grow in size, one by one, drawn in by the spectacle.
The cards were dealt. Ashley’s upcard, 6. Balot had Q-4.
but now that the Doctor had left his seat, she found herself faced with a tough decision.
She hit. A card came—2. Sixteen. Not enough.
–Stay.
His hole card was a 3. He drew another and scored an ace. Twenty.
Balot steadied her breath, quietly awaiting the next hand.
Balot had an 8-3. She almost pressed on with a double down, but at the last moment, she hesitated.
draw any more cards. If only she didn’t have to draw any more. If she didn’t have to make that choice,
Balot focused on her cards as if she were judging the entire world in a courthouse.
She felt she had made the right decision.
Holding in a sudden wave of relief, she announced her stay.
Balot groaned. The noise was soft, yet her vocal chords were taut, as if she had screamed.
His upcard, a jack. Balot had a queen and a king.
losing percentage and the amount her chips would change. Ashley’s pulse was there too, with not even the
The dealer had squelched her brief moment of self-victory.
Balot stayed. Ashley revealed his cards. The sharp tip of the ace pointed straight at her. Blackjack.
plunged lower. But it was forgivable.
An ace. Something inside Balot’s chest clenched tight, grating against her.
Where did I go wrong? She couldn’t hold back her thoughts. I never made the wrong decision. But
What’s wrong is this table with this man, Ashley, standing at it. The difference of just one card was
Balot composed her feelings and hit. Her card, a 2. Sixteen.
true count.
quivered.
A 2. With the ace, thirteen. He drew another card. Again unforgivable. It was a 5. If Balot had drawn,
“So sorry,” said Ashley. It was sixteen against eighteen, and Balot’s second straight loss. With a
“No one can predict the future,” the Doctor spoke up. “But it can be approximated. That separates us
namely, the left brain, and the right.”
“Humans have cerebral hemispheres—first, because the brain’s development was too rapid for the
cerebral cortex, enabling a great increase in the size of the human brain.”
Bell Wing watched this would-be meddler, aloof—then, seeing through to the seriousness behind his
The cards came.
occurred. The left brain became digitalized, with a fluid intelligence. The right brain has crystallized
Ashley’s upcard, a queen. Balot had a 4-6.
“Since the dawn of the age of the invertebrates, nerves had been unmyelinated—that is to say,
the development of myelinated nerves—that is to say, insulated just like jacketed electric cables—
even in the analog human brain, there are digital processes, and they interact with each other to function.”
“Humans can’t divine the future. This is because, even with all the mathematical methods known to
problem. If only one card remained in the deck, its identity could be deduced by examining the discard
Ashley showed his hole card. A king. Twenty. Balot’s third straight loss.
digital neural circuits—to explain a discrete event, as well as the crystalline knowledge—that is to say,
humans have produced the ability to generate simplicial approximations and have essentially solved the
asymptotically approaching reality.”
His upcard, a 6. Balot had a J-3, thirteen.
Ashley revealed his hole card, 4. He hit, and drew an ace. Twenty-one.
content themselves with simplicial approximations. No, they might be able to solve the many-body
able to divine the future. But for any object, it could quantify its entire composition, the external and
Ashley’s upcard was 6. Balot had a Q-2.
Ashley showed no change. And his cards showed no change.
But after a moment, Balot stayed. And she asked herself why she had hesitated.
Balot’s fifth straight loss. She was drowning in a marsh of defeat.
And that someone was raising his voice desperately behind her.
series of simplicial approximations. But what if, despite having been the reason for the cerebral
developing externally? That is, what if the brain changed its form and continued developing beyond the
Ashley’s upcard was a 4. Balot had a 3-5. Hit. A 2 came. Hit. A 4 came. Hit. A 3 came. Seventeen.
Oeufcoque had chosen that as the winning move. Balot stayed.
working together, couldn’t read the flow of these cards.”
Oeufcoque—and their untapped strength.
Six losses in a row. Balot squeezed her left hand. She felt impatient. But maybe that itself was some
enveloped her arms.
Without hesitation, she hit. Ashley drew her a card. A king.
On Balot’s arm, a number changed, and she realized this was her first bust of the game.
Ashley’s next upcard was an ace. Balot’s cards, J-3.
revealed only for a moment. Balot added it to the true count on her left arm. Along with: If I hadn’t
The following upcard, a 3. Balot’s cards, A-9.
Balot stayed, and the hole card was overturned.
Another 6. Fifteen. In accordance with the rules of the game, he drew again.
luck within that scarcely conceivable draw?
But Ballot sensed something. A sign. In the dark, flat desert, she saw a single ray of light.
cards, it woud be easier to have some of the same card in a row than it would be to have everything
Had it not happened before because he had been building himself some roomto maneuver?
Balot was sure of it. Maybe three times in a round. He was shuffling the cards in a way that enabled
Was she taking the threat too lightly by thinking his perfect judgment of the cards was slowly wearing
Balot quickly reviewed her count so far. The upcards and aces were running extremely low, but the
an increase in her bet amount and her winning percentage.
Ashley’s casually stated words cut through her like a blade:
Balot took in a deep breath.
Her heart skipped a beat. It was too sudden. Before she knew it, she had raised her head and said,
As soon as the word left her mouth, she stopped herself. But it was already too late.
Balot got goose bumps on her arms.
≡
hand, not your cards.”
blunders? If she were any more afraid, her hands would have been shaking.
–Don’t let it get to you. You don’t need to tell him anything. Even if he believes it to be true, he
clothes. He has no way to separate us.
And it was peculiar, for she had n