The Dream Factory

Lotto

Lotto

'This is a nice Tele-K Chess set Denz. Where did you get it?' Brooker watched as Denz's Pawn slipped unaided across the board. 

'Remember that hole of a bar we used to hang out in Atmetra City?' Denz grimaced and willed his Pawn to return to its original position. 

'Too late Denz. Once you've moved it and then taken your mind off it, it won't move back.' Brooker chuckled from behind his walrus moustache. 'I remember the place. The one where you started that fight with that Varovian panhandler?' 

'Actually it was Beal that started the fight not me.' 

'It must have been something he said.' Brooker watched as his knight slid silently into the square he'd picked out for it. 

'There was a market behind the bar. I found it in one of the stalls there.' 

'I didn't know there was market there. Expensive was it?' 

'Not too bad. Boards pretty worn but the pieces are pretty smooth don't you think?' Denz picked up his cup and finding it empty returned it to the table. 

'Very easy on the mind Denz, nice clean action as well.' Brooker sat back and looked out of the transport cafe window. Through the vapid mist he could make out the space port bowsers scuttling to and fro across the platforms servicing the long line of waiting silver ships. 

Denz moved his Bishop and checked his cup again, just to be sure. 'Did you hear there was only one winner for the Inter-Planetary lotto on Saturday?'  

'Hmm I did.' Brooker watched as Denz stared out of the window and urged Denz's Bishop to move one square to the left. It wouldn't budge. 

'One hundred trillion credits. Imagine what it would feel like winning that? What would be the chance of ever getting that feeling do you think Brooker?' 

'About two hundred trillion to one I should think Denz depending on how many tickets you bought.' 

'But imagine the feeling Brooker, to sit there and see the number match up on your telereader. Just imagine the feeling, to know you could go out there and buy anything you wanted. A planet, a star ship. No wait! A fleet of star ships each captained by a fair haired Siren of the Doides Belt!' 

'You say that every week Denz, 'imagine what it would feel like to know you've won the lotto.' You sound like a broken border tax collector sometimes, one of those useless mechaniod ones that always get vandalised. It's beginning to get rather tedious.' Brooker checked his coffee cup. 'What would you give for that feeling eh?' 

Denz leant forward, his eyes glistening with the thought. 'One hell of a lot Brooker. Just think of it -  reading that number and knowing you'd won. I'd give almost anything.' 

'Something like ...' Brooker looked around the empty cafe and then looked down, his eyes settling on the board, 'this chess set?' 

'Hell yeah Brooker. Wouldn't you?' 

'It'll never happen Denz, believe me.' Brooker stood up and collected the cups. 'I'm going up to the counter to stretch my legs. More Coffee?' 

'Sure Brooker. Thanks.' 

Brooker slipped the cups back on the table in time to see Denz's Queen moving across the board.  

'Check Mate I think you'll find Brooker.' Denz sat back, slipped his hands behind his head and beamed benevolently at Brooker. 

'Are you sure Denz?' Brooker shuffled into his seat and studied the board. 'You haven't been asking your pieces to cheat while I've been away?' 

'I find that insinuation rather unsettling Brooker. Speaking of the lotto have you got my token for last Saturdays draw? You did get it last week didn't you, when I asked you?' 

'Hmmm,' Brooker studied the board. Rummaging in his pocket he slipped a red token onto the table. 'Two credits Denz. I might have helped you out but it's not a freebie. Pay up.' 

Denz tossed the credits on the table and snatched the token up and slipped it into his telereader. He blinked into the reader and then shook the machine. 'I don't believe it. It can't' be. Brooker am I losing my mind or do these numbers match?' 

Brooker looked at the screen, closed his eyes for one long moment at then looked again. 'No way Denz. No way! Good God, you've done it man!' He stood up and grabbed Denz by the shoulders. For a moment they embraced. 

'Holy Smoleys and Space Crackers!' Denz put down the reader and stared opened mouthed at Brooker. 'Do you realise what this means? It's just amazing. We must go and find Grace and Beal! ' 

'I hope you never forget this moment Denz. And who your friends are. Can I get you a cake to go with your coffee?' 

Denz picked up the machine and checked the numbers again. He leaned forward, grabbed Brooker and kissed him on the forehead. 'I forgive all the things you've ever done to me Brooker. I'll even go as far to say that your moustache is the most splendid thing I've ever seen. I'll never forget you or Grace or Beal.' 

Denz stood up. 'I've won. I've won!' he yelled out to the empty cafe. He danced across the floor and hugged the waitress. She rested her four hands on her waist and watched him in bemusement as he jigged down the length of the counter. 

'Here Denz you might want this.' Brooker started collecting up the chess pieces and putting them in the box. 

'What is it?'  

'Its last Saturdays token.' 

Denz took the token and looked at the token in his telereader. 'I don't understand Brooker this is last Saturday's token. The one you've just given me.' 

'No, its next Saturdays. I just bought it at the bar using last Saturdays winning numbers.' Brooker bent down and closed the box, slipped it under his arm and headed for the door. 

Denz looked puzzled and studied the tokens for a moment. A look of realisation crossed his face. 'But that means ... I haven't won.' He slumped into the seat. 'What are you doing Brooker? Those are mine.' 

'You said you'd give them up if you could feel what it was like to win the lotto. Well you just have.' Brooker disappeared through the doors. 

Denz looked at the two tokens in his hand and up at the flapping doors. 

'BROOKER!'