‘Charvaka, if I were to retire now, since I’m out of turn, it’s exactly as though you’d killed me, isn’t it? So I would have to give you my single bet and an extra three to make up the value of your line.’
‘Exactly. But at least you lose a little now rather than a lot later!’
‘Well, it’s not my property I’m playing with... I think I’ll stay in there.’
‘You’re right, Sanjaya, we should be playing for real stakes. Shall we say a single piece is worth one jar of clarified butter?’
‘No, Charvaka, if you don’t mind — I don’t gamble.’
‘Are you sure, Sanjaya? You know that a game is not worth playing unless it’s more than just a game.’
‘Sire, please remember I am not here to play any sort of game — I have to be able to make sense of it to King Dhrita.’
‘My apologies. That is quite another
