Anthony, Piers - Apprentice 06 - Unicorn Point by Anthony Piers

Author:Anthony, Piers
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 10 Sheen

Sheen walked beside Citizen Blue to the Game Annex. The Annex had been closed for all residents except for this single event. "I fear you are making an error," she said.

"It is a gamble we must take," he countered. "You are an excellent player, and you have a consistency that fleshy creatures lack. Our chances are best with consistency."

"But Citizen Purple is an unscrupulous man, and a veteran gamesman. You need to put up your best against him, and you are the best."

"But he knows me well. He will have traps for me. You were a surprise; he is relatively unprepared for you. Therefore you are the better match, though you may not be the better player."

The process of the selection of players had been the subject of intense negotiation and compromise.

Each side wanted the other to designate its player first, so that the best prospect against that player could be chosen. Finally they had settled on one first-designation by the Contrary Citizens, and one by Blue's side. One match would be different: each side would get to choose its opponent from the ranks of the other. Thus the selection would be for the weakest players instead of the strongest. The selection would be done for the second game, immediately before it, so that there could be no preparation.

The Citizens had put up Purple. Blue had had twelve hours to put up his champion. When the third game came, the situation would be reversed, and the Citizens would have the advantage. But perhaps, if things went well, there would be no third game.

Sheen did not worry unduly, because as a self-willed machine she could control her emotions. But she knew that victory was by no means certain, and that Purple, even caught by surprise, remained a better player than she. The odds favored her loss to him, and that would prejudice Blue's case. Yet of course he had to save himself for the final game, to bring the victory if the first two games were not sufficient.

They came to the game chamber. Here Blue kissed her and turned away; he would watch with others in an audience chamber. For the manipulation of the grid, only the two direct players would be there. There

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She stepped up to the console and stood waiting. In a moment Citizen Purple entered, like an ancient king in his elaborate purple robe. He even wore a purple diadem set with precious amethyst stones.

Huge, bearded, confident, he was a daunting presence.

But she, a robot, was not daunted. She simply recognized and catalogued the effects, in case any of them indicated any aspect of his nature that might be exploited for her advantage in the game. She cared nothing for kings or Citizens, only for the factors of the moment.

Purple stared at her over the console, his gaze commencing at her forehead, inspecting her brown

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