“All done,” he said to the waiting table.
“Well done, everybody.” Claude gave them all a one-man round of applause. “You have completed the first part of the game.”
“How have we done?” asked Joanne, casting a look at Michel’s plait.
“You’ve all done very well,” said Claude. “Now for the second round. Here we can change the rules. In the second round you are not given your strands for free. You have to buy them.”
“How much do they cost?”
“I will give each of you eighteen strands in exchange for one of your completed bracelets. This will mean you can make three more bracelets. Do you still wish to play?”
Maurice looked at Armstrong. Maurice was enjoying this.
“I do,” said Armstrong, who always wanted to win.
“We can make a bracelet each this time,” said Maurice.
“Hang on,” said Craig, “that’s not fair. That means Maurice and Armstrong are at a disadvantage.”
“Why?” asked Claude innocently.
“Because they can only make three bracelets between them. We can make three each.”
Claude nodded, and Maurice had the impression that he had been waiting for someone to point that out.
“Okay,” said Claude, “are you saying in this game we should all start equally? Well, why not?
Whoever said that any game should reflect life?”
He laughed at his own joke. This time the rest of the table did not join in.
“Now, who wishes to buy some more strands?”
The people seated around the table each handed Claude their bracelets, who handed them back eighteen strands each that he had taken from who-knew-where.
“Ah, not you, Michel. You get thirty strands, to reflect the greater amount of work that went into your bracelet.”
Michel beamed as he collected his strands.
“But that’s not fair!” called Joanne.
“Yes, it is,” said Claude. “It is harder remembering where you are when you are making two movements. Also there is some effort involved in learning the opposite pattern. Michel worked harder; therefore he deserves a greater reward.”
“So why didn’t you tell any of us what you told Michel?”
“Why should I?”
“Because it’s not fair that one of us gets extra help.”
“So you are saying that extra knowledge is unfair? It wouldn’t be right if one of you were to use an AI, say, to advise you on how to make your bracelets.”
“Yes,” said Joanne.
“Does everyone else agree?”
