Mardock Scramble полностью

–But I don’t think I can win on my own!

–You won’t have to. One of our chief tasks is to be here to support you. And it’s your free will, your choice, that determines exactly how, and if, you want to use us. Whether you want to use the plan that we suggest.

–Are you trying to influence me right now? Manipulate me into acting the way you want me to?

–Yes, I am. I want you to use me. To let me prove my usefulness.

Oeufcoque answered without a moment’s hesitation. He continued, –I’m a Living Unit. A tool.

Balot’s eyes narrowed.

–My pride is not that different from the sort of pride that old man had. I can define my own sense of self-worth—my usefulness—only in terms of how my actions affect other people. I may have my own values, but I need to constantly put them to the test, to see if they have any value in relation to other people, the real world.

–But I do want to use you. Because…because you make me feel like I could do things for myself, even without you.

As far as Balot was concerned, this was the ultimate usefulness that Oeufcoque could provide for her. Oeufcoque never tried to dominate people in body or in mind. He always did his utmost to treat them as equals.

–I want to use you properly. I never want to betray you again.

–Thanks, Balot.

Oeufcoque’s words rose once more in her hand.

–Looks like I’ve ended up with a good partner.

04

The dealer finished shuffling and the Doctor placed the red marker into the cards.

–I’m going to display a running point tally.

Oeufcoque’s instructions couldn’t have been more decisive.

–We’re ramping the plan up to the next stage. We need to let the Doctor know.

Balot placed her chips down and casually tapped the table with her fingertips.

The Doctor picked up on this immediately. As would anyone steeped in his current adopted persona of the aging playboy.

“Can’t wait for the next set of cards, eh?”

–Yes, Uncle. It’s starting to get really interesting. I’m going to try super hard from now on.

The Doctor’s expression was that of a man thoroughly intoxicated by his surroundings. You had to look very closely indeed to notice that his eyes were still steely and clear.

“That’s quite a statement, young lady! Your uncle’s most proud of you.”

The Doctor’s act was as convincing as ever—the indulgent uncle watching benevolently over his promising young charge.

Everyone could now see that Balot was concentrating terribly hard on the game. As if she were trying her damnedest to win. Nothing unusual about that, of course. Most people who sat down at this table felt the same way. The only difference was that most people weren’t working toward a plan that would help them win with absolute certainty. Even Balot didn’t understand the full implications of what it meant to have such a plan in place.

The players had all placed their chips on the table, and just as the hand was about to commence, a whole new set of figures floated up on Balot’s hand.

–Do you know how to read this point system?

Balot sensed that her whole left hand was now wrapped in a list of numbers. The current point tally and the breakdown of the cards. Each point total had a corresponding minimum and maximum bet.

–No problem. I can work it out.

Balot absorbed the data in the table deftly. Basically, the higher the point tally the more chips you bet on a particular hand, and the lower the points the less you bet. A rudimentary card-counting system called the ace-five count.