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’Yeah yeah, squirt -- no probleot the touch-’

’You’d better,’ the sapper warned He caressed the tabletop again ’Two layers, you see, with the fixed Deck in between ’em Lay a card down and there’s a tension formed, and it tells ya which one the face-down one is Never fails Dealer knows every hand he plays out Fiddler-’

’Ain’t here,’ Trotts growled, his arms crossed He bared his teeth at Spindle

The e! Watch me!’

’Shut up,’ Picker snapped ’They’re co’

It was near dahen the other squads began filing back out of the tent, laughing and back-slapping as they jingled bulging purses When the last of the away, Picker slu froroaned and dropped his head, thu up behind hie raised a hand

’At ease, soldier,’ Picker warned ’Obviously, the whole da’s been corrupted -- probably never worked to start with-’

’It did! Me and Fid made damned sure-’

’But it was stolen before you could try it out for real, wasn’t it?’

’That doesn’t matter -- I tell you-’

’Everybody shut up,’ Spindle said, slowly raising his head, his narrow forehead wrinkled in a frown as he scanned the tabletop ’Corrupted Youthere, Picker’ He sniffed the air as if seeking a scent, then crouched down ’Yeah Give me a hand, someone, with these here cots’

No-one e,’ Picker ordered

’Help him crawl under the table? It’s too late to hide-’

’That’s an order, soldier’

Gruether, the two ed beneath the table A faint glow of sorcerous light slowly blossoht!’

’Brilliant observation, Spindle Bet there’s legs, too’

’No, you fool There’s an i card, it looks like -- only I don’t recognize it’

Scowling, Hedge joined theabout? We didn’t paint no i moccasins, what is that?’

’Red ochre, is hast would paint-’

’Or a Rhivi,’ Hedge ure in the -head on his chest?’