"All as usual. This cursed Moon! When I get home—if ever I do get home—"
"Say your say, Wilks. But you'll spend your share of the gold-leaf and thank your constellations that you had your chance!"
"Let him alone! Come on, Wilks, take a hand here. This game is no good with three."
The man who had been outside flung his hissing helmet recklessly to the floor and unsealed his suit. "Here, get me out of this. No, I won't play. I can't play your cursed game with nothing at stake!"
"Commissioner's orders."
A laugh went up at the sharp look Johnny Grantline flung from where he sat reading in a corner of the room.
"Commander's orders. No gambling gold-leafers tolerated here."
"Play the game, Wilks." Grantline said quietly. "We all know it's infernal doing nothing."
"He's been struck by Earth-light," another man laughed. "Commander, I told you not to let that guy Wilks out at night."