Чужак в чужой стране

           "Thatpaysthreeforone,"Boonesaidbrisklyandfishedthepay-offoutofthereceptacle,"andhere’syoursouvenirtext."Hetoreapapertaboffthathadextrudedfromaslot,andhandedittoJill."Keepit,littlelady,andponderit."

           Jillsneakedaglanceatitbeforeputtingitintoherpurse:"Butthesinner’sbellyisfilledwithfilth–N.R.XXII17"

           "You’llnote,"Boonewenton,"thatthepay-offisintokens,notincoin–andthebursar’scageisclearbackpastthebar?andthereisplentyofopportunitytheretomakeloveofferingsforcharityandothergoodworks.Sothesinnerprobablyfeedsthembackin?withablessingeachtimeandanothertexttotakehome.Thecumulativeeffectistremendous,reallytremendous!Why,someofourmostdiligentandpioussheepgottheirstartrighthereinthisroom."

           "Idon’tdoubtit,"agreedJubal.

           "Especiallyiftheyhitajackpot.Youunderstand,everycombinationisacompletesentence,ablessing.Allbutthejackpot.That’sthethreeHolyEyes.Itellyou,whentheyseethoseeyesalllinedupandstarin’at’emandallthatmannafromHeavencomingdown,itreallymakes’emthink.Sometimestheyfaint.Here,Mr.Smith-"BooneofferedMikeoneoftheslugsthemachinehadjustpaid."Giveitawhirl."

           Mikehesitated.Jubalquicklytooktheprofferedtokenhimself–damnit,hedidn’twanttheboygettinghookedbyaone-armedbandit!"I’lltryit,Senator."Hefedthemachine.

           Mikereallyhadn’tintendedtodoanything.