Plot: The Quest
Frank opened the envelope and discovered inside a bright red wooden gaming chip, marked Maraschino Casino, Dissipation City. The accompanying bumpf explained that not only was this chip worth 500denarii, but the management would sell further chips to the bearer of the voucher at half the cost. It was a once-only offer, and had to be redeemed very soon.
‘Don’t you see, Dad? We can get out of all our financial troubles. We can buy chips with the cash we have and turn it into chips worth twice as much, then immediately cash those chips – twice the wealth! It’d be enough. We don’t have to gamble it – there’s no risk… all we have to do is take as much cash as we can get together.’
‘I won’t do it. The temptation would be too powerful.’
‘I can’t understand why you think it’d be a temptation…’
‘It’s a casino, lad. Roulette, slot machines, poker, blackjack, burlesque shows… plus all the booze and loose women and so many other ways to sin and to spend hard-earned cash.’
‘I think it would be crazy not to try.’
‘I won’t.’
‘Then, at least, let me. I will prove myself trustworthy.’ Frank explained he could take his inheritance now and double it and come home with it.
Eventually his father agreed to let him go. He took his share of the money and set off to Dissipation City.
Once he arrived, he left his bag in his motel room and went to Maraschino Casino, presented his voucher and exchanged all his money for twice face value in chips. Job done, he thought, quest completed. But he had not reckoned on the journey that lay before him.
The man at the Get Your Chips Here booth was trying to be helpful. ‘The gaming tables and bar are just through this archway, sir, to your left. We have roulette, poker…’
‘Where’s the place to cash in my chips, please?’
‘That’s right through on the other side of the complex, sir. Down these steps, round to the left where the blackjack and dice tables are, straight on past all the slot machines, right at the burlesque theatre, through the bar, and then it’ll be in front of you, beyond our poker and roulette parlour.’
‘Okay, thanks.’
Frank set off on this journey through the bright lights and exciting opportunities. He didn’t understand that his trip across Temptation Valley was going to be complicated.
He was strong-willed as he passed the blackjack and dice tables, and was hardly lured at all by the slot machines or the theatre, although the music sounded jolly.
However, he stopped for a drink at the bar, because he was thirsty. He ordered a glass of water with a slice of lemon in it, and got chatting to a very nice girl with the unusual but enticing name Sirenia. She was particularly friendly, and Frank thought she was not only especially pretty, but smelled good, too. He decided to have another drink. She played with his hair as they chatted, and didn’t seem to mind keeping her face close to his.
He was about to set off towards the cashing-up window, when Sirenia asked ‘How did you get on with your free chip? You know, the one they sent through the post for free?’
‘Oh, yes, well, I thought I would cash that in and it’d help pay for the trip.’
Sirenia giggled. ‘Oh, you are a good boy,’ she murmured mockingly. ‘Your father will be very pleased. Do you always do everything he tells you to do?’
Frank hoped (in vain) that she wasn’t aware that he was blushing. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I was just thinking… you could have a little bit of fun with that one chip and see if you can turn it into several – and if you don’t, then at least you’ve had a good time. I could show you how to stand a good chance at the games. Do you prefer blackjack or roulette?’
‘I’m not sure about blackjack…’ Frank began, and wondered if Sirenia was a True Companion to help him on his quest, or a Temptress who might lead him off-target.
‘Roulette it is, then,’ she said, picking up the 500denarii chip, hooking her finger around Frank’s lapel and leading him towards the roulette tables. He didn’t resist.
to be concluded
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