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The Big Slick

By Simon Gentleman

What do I know? What do I need to know? I'm walking around, on the cheap laboured, vacuumed carpet. I'm taking in the sights. Chrome rails, on wood. The neon spots, smirking away in the corner. Kind of designer, in today's no design time.

They are here. The barrel is full. Some of them even dress like they mean it. They look at me and they may feel the same, but I am not the same. We are not the same. I make the transaction, like I'm ordering a steak. The cashier doesn't know. Does not know about the frying pan or the fryer. I draw, and I sit. Amongst the faded cloth. I grin at the banter, and I wait. If decorum allowed, I would even slap their backs.

Feeding frenzy. The cruelty of evolution, is the quest for perfection, and then what? Respect the wise? I look into the eyes of wisdom, and I wait for a reflection. There is an aged man at my table, he is trying too hard. I want him to look in my eyes. I want him to ping, and hear the echo. We dance. In the lap of the gods. The gods play dice.

So you have to wait. How long can you wait? I take a beat, but it's cheap. Still the rhythm pounds me. I stand and head for the fountain of knowledge. The water reminds me of purity and calm, as I walk back into the dragon's lair. I feel the dragon and it is hard to wait. I wait. I'm running but I'm empty. Playing for too long. You hesitate and it's gone. In my head I can hear the drip of water drops. Everything slows down.

Latin canasta clicks go the chip tricks.

The red diamond backs spin in the fifty two available frames. Fly over the green baize sea. Over the sea and into me. The carrion greedily devour the meat, but not me, I wait. The river rages. I look down, and I bend. I shelter. All the time, I intend to register nothing. There is no more time. I wait. In my time I raise the sword, which must fight the dragon. It's all in. I look into the eyes, and I see a victory. The smile is empty. Respect the wise. I push my chair back, and I am a ghost, back into the cold night. Shuffle away. Lick my wounds to return another day.

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