So many reasons to gamble, and so many reasons not to.

Davlo looked out the port again, and spotted two tiny, space-suited figures moving some huge and unidentifiable piece of machinery about on the surface of the comet. Another maid. The medallion of desert gold turned over and over in her long fingers, a wink and a shadow.

During each picking season, at least one worker would fall victim to some gruesome injury inside the cotton gin.