La ciega grande queda en mil.
The dealer is speaking at Pranav who understands perfectly as we have seen. How much time has he spent in Mexico? Panama? Elsewhere? A 1,000 pesos for the big blind and the pot is 25,000 pesos. He´s just moved into the chip lead. At least I think so. I´m back behind the rope about twenty feet from the table. For some reason I balked at paying the registration fee so I have to watch from here. I think it´s the cost of insurance on our used Corolla that was the final straw. Within short order Pranav had found another 10 kilos of cocaine. We had had to drive to Buenos Aires to collect it and Sergio, with I suspect Sargento Vanni´s help, had found us a 2006 Corolla in good shape for 10,000 US$. So after the drugs were ¨colocado¨ on a ship they had grossed close to US$ 300,000. But Isa and I recieved only another 10 grand on top of our 15 grand. We have less than 10 thousand left now. So, I hope to hell Pranav continues to deliver.
I try to count his stack of chips but I´m confused by the colors and not exactly sure which chips are worth what. His stack does look slightly bigger than the guy two places to his left.The game is really between the two of them. The kid is younger than Pranav with several days worth of stubble and a long sleeved cream tshirt. I think he´s a pro, and I recall his storming out of a game at the Pokerstars tourney a year or so back. Pranav suckered him early and seems to be rolling over everyone else. And when the bald man at the far end called, Pranav had a flush. At least that´s what someone standng next to me murmured. So Pranav´s getting dealt good cards and he´s good at bluffing. He´s got the table terrified of him. Save for the hothead.
I turn and look longingly at the bar, an elegant but unassuming projection that divides the poker and roulette tables from the slot machines. The ceilings are high and coffered and the carpets a respectable green. It´s a large room, NeoClassical style, and was once impressively elegant and now feels comfortable and barely expansive. I´d love a fernet and coke but I´m curious to see how Pranav does. How good a player he is. It was a tense ride to Baires and back but I had to do it. Beyond the opportunity to let Pranav bring down more of his merchandise, I had to see how angry he was with me and how dangerous he might be. And to show Cagnazzo, Sergio and Vanni that I was up to the task. I let him drive part of the way back and we had stopped at a YPF at General Guido. A small town in the middle of the pampa and on the highway to Mar del Plata. The train also goes through here. If you care to ride it. It´s dark with a cold wind and the traffic rushes past in occasional bursts. I fill the tank and Pranav stretches his legs. He goes into the station to buy something. I don´t think he smokes. Might be candy. And he returns. I had to let him go in Buenos Aires and trust that he´d return. And he did. I pull out the nozzle and head inside and pay. The keys are in the car. When I return Pranav asks me,
How much will they let you keep?
20 grand, maybe a little more.
Who the fuck is Cagnazzo?
You´ll meet him.
He runs things?
Yes, he does.
What does he do?
Everything. He´s a lawyer. And a Peronista.
Oh ...
So our working relationship was basically sketched out on that ride. Good. The hothead calls and Pranav lays down two aces against his pocket kings. Deadly. Is he out? He slumps in his chair for a moment and then springs angrily to his feet. A little operatic in his anguish. He leaves the table without shaking Pranav´s hand. But Pranav collects his chips and counts them without a smile, looking bored and alert at the same time? Does that make sense? Must be a gamer´s thing. I catch his eye and grin. He returns my glance with a neutral look, betraying little. I turn and head to the bar. Isa let me have a couple of hundred pesos for my outing. This whole operation has her terrified. Her voice still trembles with a sweet fear dripping from her lips. It breaks my heart, if I let it. So I had to appeal to her tougher, pragmatic side. I think she´s getting used to the idea that we may be making up to 10 thousand US a month and now have a car. But she´s worried and Vanni scares her more than Pranav.
An elderly couple occupy two stools but I have three to choose from. I take the one furthest from the entrance. It´s not cheap to drink fernet here but I suspect I´ll soon be celebrating with Pranav so why not start now? By the time the drink comes I hear scattered applause and see him up and stretching and shaking hands. It must be over. He heads to the window and then drifts over towards the bar and slides onto a stool next to me.
What you want?
Quilmes - he says to the bartender and he means the 3/4 litre bottle.
Thankfully, he´s not a smoker. I decide not to clink glasses. Too cozy.
So what do you think of the casino?
A bit stale. It´s ok ...
Yeah ...
You don´t play.
Uh, no. I´m no good at cards.
Too bad.
The hothead approaches. He´s now got on a black sweatop with a hood and I feel a touch aprehensive. But he shakes Pranav´s hand and congratulates him.
Che, vos si jugas bien. Fucking awesome it was.
Thanks man. The cards were sweet tonight.
Seeeep ... you play again?
I think so, yeah.
He kisses Pranav on the cheek and leaves. Someone calls out ´Piceno´ and he waves back as he heads for the exit.
You´ll have to get used to the kissing.
I noticed. Lots of Italians huh?
Careful, they´re proud Argentinos.
Whatever, let´s grab some food and party.
We finish our drinks and I pay. Did they pay him in dollars? Or pesos? As we head down the marble steps towards the front entrance doors I call Isa. Maybe she´ll join us. Although she shouldn´t drink ... I just want to head back home and make some soup and read a little but I´m curious about who Pranav exactly is. Outside we hail a cab and head towards Guemes and the tony part of town. In the cab my cellphone beeps. A message from Isa.
The dealer is speaking at Pranav who understands perfectly as we have seen. How much time has he spent in Mexico? Panama? Elsewhere? A 1,000 pesos for the big blind and the pot is 25,000 pesos. He´s just moved into the chip lead. At least I think so. I´m back behind the rope about twenty feet from the table. For some reason I balked at paying the registration fee so I have to watch from here. I think it´s the cost of insurance on our used Corolla that was the final straw. Within short order Pranav had found another 10 kilos of cocaine. We had had to drive to Buenos Aires to collect it and Sergio, with I suspect Sargento Vanni´s help, had found us a 2006 Corolla in good shape for 10,000 US$. So after the drugs were ¨colocado¨ on a ship they had grossed close to US$ 300,000. But Isa and I recieved only another 10 grand on top of our 15 grand. We have less than 10 thousand left now. So, I hope to hell Pranav continues to deliver.
I try to count his stack of chips but I´m confused by the colors and not exactly sure which chips are worth what. His stack does look slightly bigger than the guy two places to his left.The game is really between the two of them. The kid is younger than Pranav with several days worth of stubble and a long sleeved cream tshirt. I think he´s a pro, and I recall his storming out of a game at the Pokerstars tourney a year or so back. Pranav suckered him early and seems to be rolling over everyone else. And when the bald man at the far end called, Pranav had a flush. At least that´s what someone standng next to me murmured. So Pranav´s getting dealt good cards and he´s good at bluffing. He´s got the table terrified of him. Save for the hothead.
I turn and look longingly at the bar, an elegant but unassuming projection that divides the poker and roulette tables from the slot machines. The ceilings are high and coffered and the carpets a respectable green. It´s a large room, NeoClassical style, and was once impressively elegant and now feels comfortable and barely expansive. I´d love a fernet and coke but I´m curious to see how Pranav does. How good a player he is. It was a tense ride to Baires and back but I had to do it. Beyond the opportunity to let Pranav bring down more of his merchandise, I had to see how angry he was with me and how dangerous he might be. And to show Cagnazzo, Sergio and Vanni that I was up to the task. I let him drive part of the way back and we had stopped at a YPF at General Guido. A small town in the middle of the pampa and on the highway to Mar del Plata. The train also goes through here. If you care to ride it. It´s dark with a cold wind and the traffic rushes past in occasional bursts. I fill the tank and Pranav stretches his legs. He goes into the station to buy something. I don´t think he smokes. Might be candy. And he returns. I had to let him go in Buenos Aires and trust that he´d return. And he did. I pull out the nozzle and head inside and pay. The keys are in the car. When I return Pranav asks me,
How much will they let you keep?
20 grand, maybe a little more.
Who the fuck is Cagnazzo?
You´ll meet him.
He runs things?
Yes, he does.
What does he do?
Everything. He´s a lawyer. And a Peronista.
Oh ...
So our working relationship was basically sketched out on that ride. Good. The hothead calls and Pranav lays down two aces against his pocket kings. Deadly. Is he out? He slumps in his chair for a moment and then springs angrily to his feet. A little operatic in his anguish. He leaves the table without shaking Pranav´s hand. But Pranav collects his chips and counts them without a smile, looking bored and alert at the same time? Does that make sense? Must be a gamer´s thing. I catch his eye and grin. He returns my glance with a neutral look, betraying little. I turn and head to the bar. Isa let me have a couple of hundred pesos for my outing. This whole operation has her terrified. Her voice still trembles with a sweet fear dripping from her lips. It breaks my heart, if I let it. So I had to appeal to her tougher, pragmatic side. I think she´s getting used to the idea that we may be making up to 10 thousand US a month and now have a car. But she´s worried and Vanni scares her more than Pranav.
An elderly couple occupy two stools but I have three to choose from. I take the one furthest from the entrance. It´s not cheap to drink fernet here but I suspect I´ll soon be celebrating with Pranav so why not start now? By the time the drink comes I hear scattered applause and see him up and stretching and shaking hands. It must be over. He heads to the window and then drifts over towards the bar and slides onto a stool next to me.
What you want?
Quilmes - he says to the bartender and he means the 3/4 litre bottle.
Thankfully, he´s not a smoker. I decide not to clink glasses. Too cozy.
So what do you think of the casino?
A bit stale. It´s ok ...
Yeah ...
You don´t play.
Uh, no. I´m no good at cards.
Too bad.
The hothead approaches. He´s now got on a black sweatop with a hood and I feel a touch aprehensive. But he shakes Pranav´s hand and congratulates him.
Che, vos si jugas bien. Fucking awesome it was.
Thanks man. The cards were sweet tonight.
Seeeep ... you play again?
I think so, yeah.
He kisses Pranav on the cheek and leaves. Someone calls out ´Piceno´ and he waves back as he heads for the exit.
You´ll have to get used to the kissing.
I noticed. Lots of Italians huh?
Careful, they´re proud Argentinos.
Whatever, let´s grab some food and party.
We finish our drinks and I pay. Did they pay him in dollars? Or pesos? As we head down the marble steps towards the front entrance doors I call Isa. Maybe she´ll join us. Although she shouldn´t drink ... I just want to head back home and make some soup and read a little but I´m curious about who Pranav exactly is. Outside we hail a cab and head towards Guemes and the tony part of town. In the cab my cellphone beeps. A message from Isa.
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