[pshrynk]

Vera was beginning to think that she was not in immediate danger. Immediate as defined by, "not in the next ten seconds." She decided that she was willing to hear Dr. Montsnmags out, even if she did want to fill in the blanks for him at times.

"Slick and I have a good... arrangement. But we really need a third... player to make it happen the way we would... like. You have showed some... skills in cards and certainly a... grasp of the situation. How would you like to go to... Havana?"

"Havana? As in Cuba? What's there?" Vivaldi started emitting a distressing odor.

"The biggest poker... tournament in history starts there... next week. We have... purchased three seats."

"Wait a minute! There are two of you! How did you know you were going to need a third?"

"We had made... arrangements to have a third player join our little... enterprise when we got there. However, we just learned that he is... not availabe at the moment. Let's call it... providence that you came along when you did."

Vera thought for a moment. What could go wrong? She immediately thought of at least twelve things. But, she'd never been to Cuba, and the riverboat scene was starting to get stale. And dangerous, if those men from the Julia Belle Swain ever got their memories back... "Okay! I'm in!"

"Ex... cellent!" Dr Montsnmags could work a pause into a one word exclamation. "When we get to... New Orleans, we will board a steamer for Havana and... arrive just in time for the tournament.

"In the meantime, might I suggest that you give your dog a... bath?"

Vivaldi started to growl.