"Did you think I was stupid?"
Freddy rubbed his hands together, happily. "He used to be world
champion, and you flattened him. It was in every gossip column in the
country, every news reporter, played it up. And hell all it cost us
was five shares of your Vacuum Tube Transport stock."
"Five shares!"
"Why not? He used to be champ. Now, he's so broke he's got to live on
stock he isn't allowed to sell. His basic government issue at birth.
He was willing to take a dive cheap, if you ask me."
Joe growled at him unhappily. "I've got news for you, Freddy. Your
hired brawler started off as per instructions, evidently, but after a
couple of blows had been exchanged his slap-happy brain lost the
message and he tried to take me. We're lucky he didn't splatter me all
over the dance floor of the Exclusive Club. He didn't take a dive. I
had to scuttle him."