It was 1.30am, and having been sent home from the Golden Nugget for the evening some hours earlier my Master had still not returned
Had he succumbed at last to the temptations that this City had to offer? I was beginning to get a little worried.
I rang the card-room to enquire what time he had left to be met by an unexpected reply
"Wizened Australian fella? Funny accent? blonde hair? Shy Poker badge?"
"Sky Poker, you mean?" I could let other inaccuracies go, but corporate mistakes could not go uncorrected
"Yes sir, that's the one" came the drawl
"He's still here. Final table"
I let the moment sink in. At last, another final table, only 33 months since the last one.
I decided I had better hot foot it downtown in case I was required
Before doing so I carefully unwrapped the velvet lined ledger that had, so optimistically I thought, accompanied us to the desert
Inside the front cover lay the description, embossed in JCB Yellow and Black
"Anthony James "tikay" Kendall. Career Poker Cashes"
A note underneath (tikay with a small "t"), though who quite this was addressed to, I am not sure
Dusty and forlorn, the book had lain unused for far too long.
Inside, in pen and ink, each cash, lovingly recorded going back to 2002.
A momentous day at last.
I arrived at the Golden Nugget minutes too late. There, at the cashier, tikay with a small t was collecting his winnings from a triumphant display in Omaha.
"High only" said tikay, his first words to me "High only Jeeves"
I didn't know what this meant, but managed a genuine
"well done sir, much better than Low only"
tikay wrote his own name on the honours board, too.
"Home sir?" I enquired, it being now gone 3am
"No Jeeves, I am off to the 24 hour zoo with Mr Dempsey and Little David"
"Zoo sir? 24 hours sir?"
"Rhinos Jeeves, they say I have to go and see Rhinos. Magnificent horns apparently"
"Sir, I...."
I was cut off as I was about to explain
"Jeeves, its been a great day. The zoo it is. See you back at the Rio for breakfast"
"Sir, I...."
"Jeeves, you want to come? Not sure what other animals are there Jeeves"
I had a pretty good idea. I looked at the winnings on the board. $4160. I divided that by the cost per dance, entrance, drinks for Little David, plus hospital bill for Little David at 6am.
"See you at about 7am sir...."
and I left him to it
He only just stirred a moment ago, at 8.39am local
"JEEVES.....WHY DIDN'T YOU
TELL ME....." is the first cry, so loud that my blood curdled....
A difficult morning awaits...
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