Page 28 of Tiger's Trek
“It was your fault. You laughed at me.”
“The question was funny. I laughed. If you think about it for a minute, you’d see why it’s funny too.”
“You want to humiliate me.”
“No, I don’t. People do humiliating, stupid things all the time. All of us have things to learn. All of us screw up. Why do you think I have a job cursing people? I’m about the wealthiest person here. Why? People want revenge. All. The. Time. I say, learn to laugh at the stupid stuff. Let it go. Who cares? You think you’re the only sensitive soul in the universe? Think again. You believe you’re the only one who’s ever been maligned, abused, targeted, unloved, or taken advantage of? Well, I have a client list that goes on for days that says otherwise. You assumed I wanted to humiliate you. You don’t know why I laughed, just that I did. You want to blame me, assign fault for your feelings. The truth is, the only one responsible for how you feel is you.”
“But you don’t understand. My life hasn’t been?—”
“Hasn’t been what? Fair? A bed of roses? Sunshine and buttercups? Well, cry me a river, son. That’s true of everyone. Here’s another piece of free advice: Life isn’t about the cards you’re dealt, and it isn’t even about winning. It’s about keeping your cool while seated at the table, behaving like a gentleman, leaving the game with your dignity intact. When you have done that, you’ve won. In the end, it doesn’t matter how much you collect, how much you lose, or anything else. Leave the game with a handshake and a smile for everyone at the table, even those who disrespect you, and guess what, the game is yours. You’ve won.”
“I don’t think we’re still talking about the same thing.”
“Look, kid. I like you. You saved my life. I’m going to help you out. Here.” Pasha reached into his coat. “Now, this is only on loan. I’m going to want it back, but seeing as how you believe the world is against you, I’m going to prove to you that having everything go your way isn’t necessarily the key to happiness.”
“What do you mean?” Nik said, eyeing the little man suspiciously.
Pasha pressed a deck of cards into Nik’s hand. “This is my lucky deck. Use this and you’ll never lose. It doesn’t matter what game you play or how you play it. You can’t lose. No matter what.”
“Yeah?” Nik said, taking the cards. “And what’s the catch?”
“No catch. It’s just a lesson. You think the world is out to get you, and that’s what’s making you unhappy. Well, here you go. Now you’ll beat the world at its own game every time. It can’t get you. Will that make you happy? I don’t think so. In fact, I think that sorrow on your back is going to get bigger. Tell you what—I’ll make you a deal. If you can shrink that sorrow in a week’s time, I’ll figure out a way to reunite you with your friends. If not, well, maybe you do something for me instead. What do you say?”
“I’d say my part of the obligation sounds pretty vague.”
Pasha laughed. “Not a trusting soul, are you?”
“Not really. Besides, what if I use these boots of mine and scarper off, taking your trick deck of cards with me?”
“First off, don’t forget who I am. I can find you anywhere, boy. Second, those boots of yours won’t do you any good for a bit more than a week anyway. Took near all their power to save our bacons back there. They’ll need just a bit to recharge. And third, there’s no other town within days of walking on any side. Trust me on this. Try to leave before I find you, and you’ll be wanderin’ this place for a long, long while.”
Nik grunted. “Might’ve told me all that before I decided to save you.”
The one-eyed man clapped Nik on the arm and said, “I might’ve. But I didn’t. Good luck, son. Keep on down this trail for a few more hours, and you’ll come across a little road. Follow it, and you’ll find a small village. I’ll meet up with you at the end of the week.”
“But wait. What am I supposed to do about...?”
Pasha ignored Nik’s question, side winked with his one large eye, said, “See ya around, kid,” then stepped behind a large tree and disappeared.
Chapter8
A BITTER TRUTH IS BETTER THAN SWEET LIES
Not knowing what else to do, Veru began to walk. Danik held her hand, letting her take the lead without question and didn’t mention searching for his parents’ home again, though he did frequently ask her if they were on the right path to her home. When she noticed he’d become distraught if her answer was, “I don’t know,” she began lying, assuring him that, “Yes, following the river is the right way.”
He’d settle down then for a time, until he forgot he’d already asked and plied her with the same question again. It tested her patience after she answered him the tenth time, so Veru tried distracting him with music.
“How about you sing for me?” she suggested. “It might pass the time while we walk.” Veru was proud that she managed to keep a kind smile on her face despite the pain in her feet caused by the too-thin slippers, and not for the first time, she gave silent thanks to her parents for their meticulous training not only in leadership and weapons but in how to remain calm and collected in tedious diplomatic affairs. Such drilling served her in times like the present, when her nerves were raw, and her patience was waning.
She remembered how Stacia always seemed to excel at the smiling and shaking hands and the endless lines of people wanting to pet and talk to them. Veru detested every moment and just knew that nearly every man looked at her lustfully and every woman’s eyes gleamed with jealousy. When she couldn’t threaten them with her knives, she’d cut them with her sharp tongue instead. As a cat, though, she’d learned that there were those who could appreciate her beauty without lust. It was something entirely new for her. So instead of attacking immediately, she was trying to wait and see what the person’s intentions were first.
“I can, if you like,” he said. “But wouldn’t you prefer to rest for a while? You’re limping,” Danik added.
Veru half laughed, half hissed. “Noticed that, did you? I was trying to hide it.”
“But why?” Danik asked with a confused expression.
She sighed, wondering how many times he was going to ask her about it and decided it might be better to just go ahead and sit down.
