The sharp sounds of music from the band Setzer had hired for
atmosphere wafted toward him.  Taking a quick glance at the others sitting
at his table, he rearranged the structure of his cards, then leaned back
with a sly smile.
	Beads of sweat and a nervous air hung over the table as Setzer
dealt out the final card to each person.  There were four others at the
hard oaken construct they sat at, and with a final toss of a chip, Setzer
smiled tightly.  "Since I'm the dealer, I call the order."  He pointed at
the man to his left with a casual gesture. "High." he mumbled hoarsely,
placing his cards before him on the table.
	The next was an odd looking sort, with some kind of metal
doo-hickey crossing his scalp... almost as if it were a crown of sorts.
"Not much to worry about from this fellow," Setzer thought to himself as
the man declared his hand.  "Low."
	The third man folded rather than sacrifice more of his rapidly
dwindling chip supply to the enormous pot, and the last person, a dashing
young woman with a nervous bite about her lower lip called out, "High."
	Which left Setzer.  With a flashy grin and a sweep of his hand
toward the pot, he spoke.  "High-Low."

			************************

	"I lost?!" exclaimed Setzer in disbelief, looking over his cards
in frustration.  "How could I have lost?"
	Uttering short curses, he folded his arms before him, glowering
at the pot which by all rights should have been his... had not that odd
man revealed his hand to be but a few cards lower than his.  Finally, he
pushed himself away from the table, tossing back the drink which had
stood at his elbow untouched the whole night.  "I'm out for a while." he
said to the table, racking up his chips and depositing them in a pocket
inside his jacket.

			************************

	Steps behind him.  Someone waiting.
	"Take a seat, my dear.." he said with a faint grin, gesturing to
the figure who stood behind him... not bothering to turn around and
confirm his suspicions.

			************************

	"What!" exclaimed the figure, eyes glowing a dark green beneath
the shroud it wore.  "Setzer and Tucker have made contact?!  Fool." With a
gesture of its arm, the wraithlike creature evaporated in a burst of flame.
	The figure turned to another form. "Make certain that whatever
camaraderie they form does not last.  Or I will be forced to take things
into my own hands."
	The wraith nodded frantically, its color changing slightly in its
fear of its master. Without a word, it scampered out, intent on its task.