You mean, if you lose a game… you have… these things done to you?" "Exactly. One might bet, say, the loss of a finger against aggravated male-to-apex rectal rape." Gurgeh looked levelly at the machine for a few seconds, then said slowly, nodding, "Well… that is barbaric." "Actually it's a later development in the game, and seen as a rather liberal concession by the ruling class, as in theory it allows a poor person to keep up in the bidding with a rich person. Before the introduction of the physical license option, the latter could always outbid the former.
( Iain M. Banks )
[ The Player of Games ]
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