I was re-reading the book recently and I found a passage that is still confusing me, so I thought I would throw its interpretation open to the net.

Story: Would it help to say I'm Sorry (pg 194 in my copy)

The Johnson has offer 20k in corp script for a job, 10k upfront.

There is a bit of banter then the following section:

----
Iron Mike threw him a nod. "You'll see a report in the newsfax. Net Thirty, with six in ten"
The corporator's head cam up. "Ten in five and two for cash?"
"Major corporate script or Elven, yes. Otherwise no deal"
----

Now my confusion is, I can see Iron Mike is asking for 30k, but the rest makes no sense to me as no reference to the total amount for the run was discussed in the rest of the story.

For my sanity can anyone offer any reasonable interpretation ?

Khadajico

ten in five and two for cash: taking 10 000 yen in form of 5 major corporate scripts (my guess, Ares,Fuchi,MCT,Saeder-krupp,Aztectecnology?) and 20 000 in yen
Net thirty, with 6 in ten: "if only 10k cash upfront, why dont u hire some bums on the street if u want that hit so bad??" (and that run would be in news..)
(saying : we are professionals, and professionals want be payed decently,)
there is a buyers for corporate scripts in the shadows (10k in corp scripts =6k yen cash)
major corporate script or elven ( telestrian corporation)

in other words Mr. j: first offer is 10 000 cash + 12k (changing scripts to cash): 22 00 yen worth
mike counterffers is 20k cash and 6k (changing scripts to cash)26 000 yen worth

Net thirty = 30,000 total
Six in ten = 60%, or 18,000

Translation: "I want 30,000 and 18,000 in advance."


Ten in five = 2/3
Two for cash = 20%, or 6,000 cash

Translation: "I'll give you 10,000 upfront; 6,000 in cash."


At the time, Tir Tairngire had hardcopy nuyen bills made from a plastic weave.

Translation: "Don't try to pay me in some AA corporate scrip or UCAS dollars."

Why? O_o'

10 + 5 = 15, 10/15 = 2/3.

Look, I'm guessing here.

My mind is going. I can feel it.

Clearly they were having a math battle.

Shhh don't say that, it'll draw in the math-letes.

Neat little bit of dialog, even if no one can really work out the etymology of the phrase "ten in five."

Reading it (out of context of the novel, I don't own it, so all I have is the above...) It seems like offer/counter offer.

Six in ten? how about Ten in Five and Two, but for cash. I'm reading that as 6.0 in 10.0, no, but how about 5.2 in 10.0, just oddly reversed. A standard back and forth type thing.

Wouldn't the second translation (if 2/3) be 20,000 not 10,000 ?

Nah, because the ten is what he keeps - because it comes first. Besides, it makes more sense in context: he offered 10k up front to begin with.

Cheers guys, makes more sense now ... I cannot figure out why I didn't think of fractions/percentages with the script.

Thanks

Khadajico