Page 30 of In A Faraway Land

“But I can’t just skulk around a restaurant, watching you wait on tables like a stalker,” Dieter said.

“So you won’tskulk,”shetold him. “It’s a casino. People spend lots of time in casinos. Casinos want you to spend lots of time there. That’s why there are no windows or clocks anywhere. You can play cards. Surely Wulfram taught you how to count cards at blackjack.”

“TheWelfenlegionplays Texas Hold’em or Seven-Card Stud, not blackjack. Wulfram cheats at blackjack.”

She rolled her eyes. “Counting cards is not cheating.It’s just math. Good God, Dieter. Wulfie even taughtmehow to count cards. Get a deck, and I’ll teach you. Then you can guard me and take some money out of the Monaco Casino, too. That’ll be your job.”

“We don’t have a deck of cards,” he pointed out. They owned almost nothing, give or take a few changes of clothes, and now even his Rogue Security account was unavailable.

Flicka sighed. “Thisis Las Vegas. Surely, there’s a pack of cards in one of these drawers, somewhere. I’ll order some supper delivery,” she waved a sheaf of her waitressing money at him, “and teach you how to count cards in blackjack. It’ll take ten minutes.”

“I believe you’re enjoying this.”

She grinned at him. “You have no idea how much.”