The cards were dealt.
I glanced at my card—it was a King.
Varg’s card seemed to be a 10.
Varg took a drag on his cigarette, glanced at his hole card, and then suddenly looked up at me.
"Tell me, what’s your hole card?"
I flipped my hole card to reveal a heart 7.
Just as I was about to speak, a chorus of shouts came from behind me.
"Lupan, don’t tell him!"
"You mustn’t say it!"
The voices were filled with anxiety.
They sounded familiar, yet I couldn’t place who they belonged to.
The noise grew louder, and I even heard angry curses.
I looked up at Varg.
Varg still had that calm, smiling expression.
"Remember what I said. They’re all petty people, trying to drive a wedge between us. Do you remember?"
I had to listen to Varg.
I nodded woodenly at him.
"Tell me, what’s your hole card?"
"I can’t say!"
The shouts from behind came again.
But I wouldn’t listen to these petty people.
"Heart 7!"
Varg nodded with satisfaction.
"You can bet now."