Dead on Mars

Chapter 201 - Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Five, First There Was Newton and Then There Was Heaven; The Immensity of Graham’s Number
Chapter 201: Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-Five, First There Was Newton and Then There Was Heaven; The Immensity of Graham’s Number

Tang Yue’s hand hung in midair. He was amazed.

He knew that certain card game newbies could be indecisive, tending to hold onto their stronger cards to the end; thus, missing an opportunity and eventually losing the match.

“Four 5s? How is that possible? You had four 5s?”

“That’s right.”

“You held a Bomb… for so long?”

“Yup.”

Mai Dong didn’t play cards often. She was hesitant when it came to throwing her cards and there was no pattern to her actions. From his point of view, a newbie like Mai Dong didn’t pose a threat; therefore, Tang Yue had been watching Tomcat the entire match; thus, failing to realize that not a single 5 had appeared from start to end. For three people to play a deck of cards, it was amazing that Mai Dong was able to obtain a four of a kind.

This was akin to three people having a tournament at Mount Hua, like in the Louis Cha novel. Tang Yue would play the role of Northern Beggar, Hong Qigong, and Tomcat would play the role of Western Venom, Ouyang Feng. Mai Dong would be a young little Guo Xiang. Hong had mastered his Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, so he naturally thought nothing of the young lady. His only opponent was the equally famous Ouyang.

Who knew that while they were embroiled in an intense match, the young lady would smile, pulling out an American-made MK3 grenade.

Tang Yue recalled the point when Mai Dong still had five cards left in hand. Back then, the latter had victory in the bag. The reason she didn’t throw the bomb was to watch Tang Yue make a fool out of himself, giving him hope that he could win. Then, he began his antics as a clown, only to be ruthlessly crushed to death.

Tomcat had already noticed this and knew that there was no hope of victory. Hence, it decided to get in on the act.

Tang Yue was the only idiot who was reeling in glee.

“You schemed against me!” Tang Yue was exasperated and furious, but all he could do was to admit defeat. “You both schemed against me.”

“How did I? I was on your side. We are peasants. Miss Mai Dong had a bomb in her hand, and I wasn’t her match. It was an indomitable force.” Tomcat shook its head. “Unless I grabbed a Bomb as well, the probability of winning was just too low.”

“I didn’t scheme against you either. Tang Yue, you lost because…”

“He’s just too green,” Tomcat interjected.

“No, no, no. You should be more euphemistic. You should say…” Mai Dong deliberated over her choice of words. “A vegetable.”

…

“You’re the vegetable. Lass, if you have what it takes, come on down. I’ll let you bear the wrath of a vegetable.”

“If you have what it takes, come on up. I’ll be welcoming you.”

“Come on down if you have it takes!”

“Come on up if you have it takes.”

“Come on down!”

“Come on up.”

“Come down!”

“Come up.”

“Come on down if you have it takes!”

“Kekeke.”

“You!”

…

“Mai Dong’s skills are lower than mine. She won purely on good luck. Do you know how low the probability of drawing a Bomb is when there are three players?” Tang Yue sighed. “Why don’t I ever have such good luck.”

“Good luck? Forget it.” Tomcat curled its lips. “You are just a schmuck.”

“I’m telling you that I have quite a temper.”

“Yes, yes, yes. You have a temper. Not only do you have a temper, but you are also a puncher.” Tomcat quipped. “If you’re that awesome, why don’t you fly into the sky and be beside Miss Mai Dong?”

…

The trio played cards the entire night with Kunlun Station remaining lit until late into the night as the stars rose in the sky. Along the way, the United Space Station entered the no-signal zone a few times, pausing the game a few times. They continued once the signal was re-established. They chatted as they played, but none of the topics of conversation was anything important.

For example: “Can there be a strong enough rope to tie the Earth to the moon?”

“Would having enough water extinguish the Sun?”

“How much information must a hard disk store before it can shrink into a black hole?”

Tomcat could answer most of the questions, but there were a few that stumped it. For instance, Tang Yue had raised an unexpected question. “Can cats be used as a perpetual machine with buttered cat to the end of the world?”