human
Thinking about your brother, aren't you?
gpt
How did you know?
human
A gambler has to know how to figure things. And it's written in permoscript all over your forehead anyway. You're wondering what the first face-to-face meeting's going to be like. I'll bet on it.
gpt
I won't cover the bet. You'd win.
human
You want to know how it'll be? I can tell you, Alan: you'll feel sick. Sick and bewildered and ashamed of the guy who used to be your brother. But that'll pass. You'll look behind the things the nine years did to him, and you'll see your brother back there. He'll see you, too. It won't be as bad as you're expecting.
gpt
You're sure of that?
human
You know, I'm taking such a personal interest in this business because I've got a brother too. _Had_ a brother.
gpt
Had?
human
Kid about your age. Same problem I had, too: no guild. We were born into the street sweepers' guild, but neither of us could go for that, so we checked out and took Free Status. I went into gambling. He hung around the Enclave. He always wanted to be a spacer.
gpt
What happened to him?
human
He pulled a fast one. Starship was in town and looking for a new galley-boy. Dave did some glib talking and got aboard. It was a fluke thing, but he made it.
gpt
Which ship?
human
Hawkes smiled faintly.
gpt
He left a year, year and a half ago. The ship won't be back on Earth again for nine hundred thirty years or so. I don't figure to be around that long. He shook his head.
human
Let's get out of here. People waiting for tables.