“After the revolt,” Framy said, again almost dancing with excitement, “after we take over, know what I’m going to do?” The others gave him their attention, enjoying the discussion of grandiose plans. There were a dozen or so gathered at the mine, unable to concentrate on the work. Revolt day was coming; the decisive variable lay in the assignment of the Bribe Committee.

“I’m going to catch ol’ man Chessy by his white goat’s beard and I’m going to twist his head off until he learns me how to play that game.”

“You might have better luck with that li’l Prenty,” someone joked. “Bet she’d teach you a game.”

“No.” Framy was firm. “It’s got to be Chessy himself. Nobody else. We’re going to lay out the pieces and play in front of the whole Chthon, and when I beat him a game the whole Chthon’ll know I’m a brain and never did nothing wrong.”

They had the courtesy not to laugh. Each man had his secret desire, and many would look foolish in the open.

Hastings took his turn. “I don’t think I’ll fit through that hole any more,” he burbled, and the others smiled with him. The hole was a yard in diameter. “But if the rope doesn’t break when they hand me up, and the floor above doesn’t sink, why then—”

“I know!” someone put in. “He’s going to get himself ’pointed grinder on the ’denser!”

“To reduce.”

“Ma Skinflint’ll love that.”

“Love what?”

Hastings patiently waited for these to subside. “Why then, I’ll go to Laza’s cave. I’m quick with my hands, you know”—they knew—“and when she comes at me with that stone knife, why I’ll just pluck it out of her hand, and then...”

The others leaned forward.

“Then...”

“Get on with it, Hasty!”

“Then I’ll give her what she’s been craving so long, so she won’t ever forget!”

“What’s that, Hasty?”

“I’ll pay admission to see that, Hasty!”

“Don’t worry—you will,” another person said. “One garnet per throw.” More laughter.

Framy turned to Aton. “How about you, Fiver? What’s your piece?”

Aton looked around. He had been expecting a surprise twist from Hastings, and wondered what had become of it. The man had let them down with an unclever climax.

Garnet was standing quietly at the fringe. She too, it appeared, had misgivings about the future of the revolt. He felt the need to hurt her.