4

"You know it's all in the game. You hunt and you bag a good goose. I'm lucked out that mine has got some gold in her egg. As a fella, I got my pride up to there."

Vasko turned around and tried to find his wallet in his horde of stuff as Kai's aide, Josefa Tai, walked into the room. Tai had a memory foam lined case with him that he opened and Kai was eager to place his new acquisition into. He was sad that the hunt for him was now over. His hand hesitated, until Tai finished zipping up the case for him.

His thoughts were jumbled as he looked up to see that Vasko had handed him a beer can. Kai felt awkward as Tai opened the can and poured it into a plastic glass that he had brought with him while Vasko was sipping straight from the can. He took a deep sip before opening his own wallet to count the bills. As he was counting out the twenties he suddenly saw the reflection of the capital though the paper. He looked at the odd reflection and remembered the illuminati documentary that he had been watching that showed the eye that was staring out of the pyramid structure on the dollar was actually an ode to something sinister. His concentration stayed locked onto the strange eyeball and he couldn't help but feel a deep appreciation for the art that someone had spent hours designing this thing that was used for monetary interactions. He wanted to sit and stare at it for a while before it parted with it to give it to this unsavory character. The dollar itself had so many interesting mysteries attached to it which made him pause. He wished that he had the skills himself to make a puzzle so intricate that it would take a lifetime to solve it.

His mind was wandering like this undisturbed until Vasko's voice shattered his peace, "What is wrong with you bro? Is it really true that you're a marine alien like the news has me believe? I didn't believe it until I saw it that you're not of this world."

The paper suddenly snapped out of his hands and the bills all fluttered to the table in a sudden flurry of movement. His calculations were suddenly all arry and he felt his breathing accelerate. Tai thumped his back. "Sir, remember you are not alone. I can count it out for you today. No problem at all."

Kai felt a suddenly flush as he looked at the browned hands of his medical aide, an elderly gentleman who had spent most of his prime as a professional boxer in slums in Rio de Janeiro. Now instead of engaging in so much violence, all his movements were gently and deliberate. Kai noted the change and got up to give him more room to collect the bills. Tai was quick to collect the money and count it quickly to make sure all of it was there. He held the pile of bills vertically towards the table that he had straightened them on and counted out what he needed. After the money was split into two piles, Tai handed the correct one to Kai and put the rest back into the wallet. Kai counted the money himself slowly, he could feel that Vasko was getting impatient waiting.

"Is this going to be a regular thing in my dealing with you from now on? You've never done this before man, it's kind of freaking me out if I'm honest." Vasko asked with his eyebrows raised as Kai handed him the bill fold.

Tai's smile was reassuring as he said, "Sometimes there are pauses in life. There is nothing wrong with waiting for someone to gather their wits. He has not inconvenienced you with anything more than time. Don't worry as my master is recovering."

Kai could feel Vasko's eyes on him as he drained the beer in his glass and threw away the can. He went over to the sink to wash the glass before handing it back to Tai. He composed his face as he turned to Vasko. "I'm alight. Sometimes I need a minute. It's nothing medical, but I will catch you later at the concert."