In Richter's Absence, an Emphasis on Dice

Wind at Twilight (Kaze) bows to Sky Masterson. And waits expectantly.

Sky bends over to see what is on the ground that is so interesting that Kaze is looking at it.

It could almost pass for a bow.

"I believe Mr. Richter designated you as his lieutenant. How shall we proceed?"

Sky looks at her, dumbfounded. "Mister Richter did WHAT?! I had been unfortunatively uninformated during the recent meeting and jaw sessions, wherein I did sleep very slumberly, so I have not the least inkling of a scintilla of an idea what is going on, or who these Jap goons are, or what the tattooed man has gots him too many extra type powers, if you asks me. So the uh firs things we does is -- uh -- helps the wounded and, uh, buy more guns, and, lemme see, organize a crap game with some yoiks I know, in case we needs the cash to buy guns."

Kaze says: "The 'goons' are the Iron Guard. My former classmates at the Academy. They did what they are trained to do. Their objectives are to capture Christine Taine and, incidentally, myself. They will work to complete that mission, but you have given them unacceptable casualties among their prime operatives so they are regrouping. 

"I do not recognize 'the tattooed man' but he must be very strong-spirited to have gained so many kanji."

She is beginning to tend the wounded while she says this. "Mr. Richter's Grimnoir contacts will have guns and money. They were due to meet up with us, I believe, and should be arriving presently."

When he hears Kaze say the Grimnoir will be here soon, Voinovich stops grinning and looks around for a weapon.

Belle finishes her work:

SONNY-BOY's leg hurts, but he can walk with a crutch. There isn't anything broken.

VOINOVICH has a wound through his lower leg. He froze it, but his leg is stiff.

JANET is scorched all over her front. She can move, but it's stiff and painful.

SKY is burned on his back and shoulders. Swinging his arms is difficult.

MICHAEL, BELLE, KAZE and CHRISTINE are fine.

Kaze: "I can relieve pain, as I did for Mr. Voinovich, if someone wishes it."

Sky says, "Miss Tane is first in line, cause woman and children first, and then Voinovich, Sonnyboy and me can cut cards for who gets healed next, best two cuts out of three with an unopened deck, aces high and jokers wild." He pulls an unopened pack of cards out of his pocket, grinning, and notices that it is now a wetted lump of paper that was partly burned. 

Sky frowns.

"Coin toss it is... And, uh, then we can shoot craps to see who should be in charge while I am drunk and inebriated, on account of I do not have such a good memory for where we was planning to go next. Were we going to rob a bank, or is we the good guys at the moment? When can we mug more japs?" 

He raises his voice, "Hey! Did any of youse mugs or dames hear Mr Richter saying I was in charge when he was outta the picture? I am kinda hoping Miss Case, or Miss Cassy, or Miss Craze -- how do you say your name again, doll? I got too many teeth in the way to enunciate distinguishedly -- Miss Kazz says he said it was my gig, but I am thinking that I should doublecheck a second time around, because of maybe she was nooked on the noggin and is rememberating the comment sidewards or something, right?"

Kaze: A small smile at the lingo.

"Surprisingly, I do not believe Miss Taine was injured in that last fight. As to when you received your promotion, it was back in our first hide-out."

She looks at him curiously. "You were a little tired, but you did acknowledge it."

"By the by, my name may be pronounced Kah-zay."

She turns to Voinovich. "Would you like assistance?"

"I've got it frozen," he says. "So no pain and no bleeding. Of course, I'll need stitches, and there may be an artery that needs mending -- I've never been hit in an artery before, but it feels as though I imagine it would. I do not need help at present"

 

"You are actually much more badly hurt," Kaze says to Janet. "If you wish, I can try to lessen your pain."