Jars of brilliant fireflies on roof tops illuminated the village. Imprisoned in the transparent containers, the fluttering insects cast an eerie, pulsating glow on the dismal buildings.
Farrell paused before a thick wooden door and kicked it with his right foot. "The first time I came here," he explained, "I almost broke my knuckles before they heard me."
A few minutes later, the door opened.
"Come in," a bony, wizened Martian invited.
Tharp remained a few paces behind Farrell as they entered the room.
The stench of the place made their stomachs churn sickly.
A group of listless Martians sat in the center of the floor and watched a large cube-shaped object. Two Martians on opposite sides of the cube sat before small control panels.
The Earthmen watched as one Martian touched a button on his control panel. A green ball inside the cube rose a few inches.
The other Martian pushed a button and a brown ball at the top of the hollow cube dropped a few inches.
A thin Martian with grey hair and watery eyes asked, "You vish gamble?"