"Certainly. Doubleton in hearts and diamonds in my hand. If you get in,
I'm down one. As it was, I made an overtrick. The only penalty for a
renege is two tricks. The rule book does not differentiate between
deliberate and accidental reneges. Sorry."
I stared at his florid throat, at his jugular. I could feel my mouth
twitching.
On the next hand I was dummy. I excused myself and went into the lab. I
found a scalpel. I came up quietly behind Armitage and Bishop saw what I
was going to do and shouted and I was not nearly fast enough. Armitage
ducked and Bishop tackled me.
"Thanks, dear," Max said thoughtfully, looking at the cards scattered on
the floor. "We would have been set one trick. Club finesse fails."
"She's crazy!" Armitage's mouth worked. "The strain's too much for her!"
I cried. I apologized hysterically. After a while, I convinced them I
was all right. Max gave me a sedative. We did not play any more bridge.
Over supper I kept staring at Armitage's throat.
After eating, I went for a long walk. When I got back to the ship,
everyone was sleeping.
* * * * *
_March 1_
Bishop found Armitage this morning, in his cabin. He came out, very
pale, staring at me.
"You bitch," he said. "Ear to ear. Now what'll I do for a partner?"
"You can't prove it," I said.
"We'll have to confine her to quarters," Max said wearily. "I'll tell
Farragut."
"And let him know the expedition is failing?"