George O. Smith The Cosmic Jackpot ZINTAL, THE MARTIAN PHYSICIST, TURNED FROM HIS MARTIAN companions and crossed the room toward a large, ornate machine. From his pocket Zintal took a couple of shiny Martian coins and dropped them in the slot and pressed a number of buttons in sequence.
He waited. The machine clicked faintly and made a noise similar to a Compur shutter set to one second. Then a small door became illuminated below the keyboard.
Zintal opened the door in a semi-absent-minded way and reached in for his purchase. His absent-mindedness disappeared. It would have remained, of course, had he received what he paid for. But instead of the desired purchase, he held in his large greenish hand a small red cylinder.
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