The Geographer's Library

Jon Fasman
father makes in five years, or in thirty minutes you can meet your first of
thousands of husbands. Which would you prefer?”
The girl suddenly scratched Voskresenyov’s face and yowled. “Russian
pig! Kazakh cunt! I know your voices—” Voskresenyov backhanded her hard
enough to knock her to the ground. She inhaled sharply but did not bawl.
Timur grabbed both of her wrists in one hand and yanked her standing.
“All we want you to do is to deal a simple hand of cards,” said Voskresenyov
softly. He stroked her hair, and she recoiled as if burned. “Deal fairly.
Straight. If you do that, we will pay you handsomely and send you on your
way. Understood? But if you act out, or struggle, or scream, or lay a hand on
any of us, your life will suddenly become quite short and painful. Now, do
you love your parents?” The girl didn’t move. “Well, fine. The money will be
yours. Give it to them; hide it from them. Whatever you wish. Now, if you
agree, my associate will release you. If he releases you and you do anything
other than what we agreed, we will not have a second conversation like this.
Clear?” The girl nodded.
Timur released her, and Voskresenyov handed her a deck of cards.
“Shuffle and deal these cards, please. No, wait!” Voskresenyov took the deck
back, laid four cards on the table, and turned to Hewley. “The suits, as I said,
differ. Swords, stars, cups, and cudgels, in that order. Now, are you ready?
One hand. What game?”
“I’m a hold-’em man, myself,” said Hewley, his confidence much shaken
and his voice therefore much louder since the incident with the girl. “Texas
hold-’em.”
“Agreed. Nothing wild.” He turned to the girl. “Deal, please. Two cards
facedown to each of us—that is, just put them down on the table, one at a time,
the same way they are in your hand. Good. Now put one over to the side, your
right, and put three faceup—turned over, that is—right in front of you. Now
one more to the side and one more faceup. Now the same again. Good. Now
step back from the table. Mr. Hewley, does that deal seem fair to you?”
Hewley nodded, swallowed hard.
“Good. Now, girl, here is more money than you have ever seen before in
your life. Timur will show you out and remove the blindfold, and you will
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