un 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 arm holster--then it
was aimed between Jason's eyes. It was an ugly, heavy weapon with a
pitted front orifice that showed plenty of use.

And Jason knew if he swung his own weapon up a fraction of an inch more
he would be dead. He dropped his arm carefully and Kerk flipped his own
gun back in the holster with the same ease he had drawn it.

"Now," the stranger said, "if we're through playing, let's get down to
business. I have a proposition for you."

Jason downed a large mouthful from the mug and bridled 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 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 come to
Cassylia for a vacation, get away from work."

"Let's not fool each other, dinAlt," 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 commit suicide. He _had_ hoped no
one knew him on Cassylia and was looking forward to a big kill at the
Casino. He would worry about that later. This weight-lifter type seemed
to know all the answers. Let him plot the course for a while 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