“Spike played the floating card game circuit back around ’57. Took on those Chivas-gulping sharpies who sold out and took the Hollywood bait. Guys like Gondorff and the Cincinnati Kid — even that dame Lady Lee. Spike was a shameless cheat. Hell, they all were. But my old pal knew tricks they never dreamed of. I told him once, I said, ‘Spike, you’re gonna cross the wrong mug some day, and he’s gonna slice off part of yer hoof.’ And damned if I wasn’t right. It ruined his livelihood, I tell ya. He ended up having to swallow his pride. Now he swallows knotweed for a goatscape conglomerate. And lies about his daily quota. Some things never change.”