Lion, Tiger, Bear | 371 was delicious. Four Jacks, exclaimed Bea, laying down her poker cards in front of Stew. Funny story. Had a similar winning hand whilst skiing at Gstaad in 36. Imperial loser Price Bernhard handed me the keys to his bespoke blue Talbot-Lago with leopard seats. Took him a week to win it back from me. Fun with snow chains, Peachy and I entered it into a local winter rally. Dented the shite out of it hitting an ice wall but came in fourth overall. He was no happier than you, Stew.Tish-tosh. Folded, Gwafa laughed, the 9 mm bullet pile of chips enormous. So glad we are not waging real money. Lets change that, said Bea. Play for real stakes. She pinched Gwafas thigh to let him know she was scheming. Agreed, this is boring. Lew poured the last ounces of a hidden half-bottle of apricot brandy he had saved. Shes cheated you again fair and square, brother. Her mind is a blank. Texas Hold em my pink pearly ass, grumbled Stew, patting his chest. Wait I.. .1 need a loan. He picked up a bullet. If only these were real gold… Speaking of, you already owe me 700 gold sovereigns, said Lew. It was that solid week of Pi^/with Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna, the palace garden, mmm, spring of 1747,1 think. She won, but owed me plenty from months earlier. A wild cheetah in a Jacquard daybed. You still hold that chit? Insolent dog of a brother. Bea tossed back a shot and burped. Pardon moi. Lovely Nelsons tot that is. Anyhoo, thats going to cost you beaucoup interest, your royal lowness. She pushed a small pile of bullets his way. Fifty. Stew fumed. Only fifty? Lascivious vamp. Double or nothing next hand. Shafer and Geer could not sleep, their four-man berth donated for the private moment of love. They attended to their finds in the cargo bay and recorded drawings in their notebooks. After writing letters destined for home someday, they fell asleep against crates. Bernie stood watch in the cockpit, lights off, the expansive view of lush treetops glowing in the scant amber light. He thought fondly of his family. Like a southbound Laplander wishing for snow and reindeer, he wondered if they would ever see the surface again. He mumbled a pathetic: An entire world at war and here I am, an unlucky sailor being slowly digested in the bowels of the Earth.