"Hardly. Once I had penetrated his defenses, he was at my mercy." Steel rose, smiling blandly. "I took 9200 credits from him. It's thirsty work. How about a drink?"

"Sure thing," the impeccable man said. "I guess I can spare a drink for the best house operator this casino has." He took an oilcan from his jacket and inserted it at the back of Steel's neck. The robot grinned happily at the lubrication; his soft photonic eyes beamed.

"I enjoy playing poker," Steel said. "But someday you must enlarge my circuits so I can take part in planet-faro too. It looks like a very interesting game."

 Prev. P 8/8