As the sun sank just above the water, John found Migs and Ehma laughing to themselves as they walked down the road to the tavern.
"What has you lot in such a good mood?" Asked John
"Oh you're gonna love to hear this one Johno" Replied Migs, "we managed to scab 8000 gold from the butcher's."
"He's never seen giant lizard meat that fresh before." Commented Ehma, still laughing with Migs, "Where's the rest of us by the way?"
"We're meeting up at the Tavern. I think Hugo, Kaze and Suki are already there." Explained John.
As they walked along the streets of Dog Town, a street peddler called to the three.
"You all look like a bunch of lucky travelers. Care to take a chance to win a little cash?" Rasped the peddler as he revealed two dice from under a cup.
John was unconcerned with the offer.
"I don't think we'll…"
"I bet you 500 gold!" Interrupted Ehma as she slammed a bag full of gold onto the paddlers table."
John, Migs and the peddler stood with mouths agape at the ridiculous stake.
The peddler's face then contorted to an almost maniacal smile. His hands rubbing together in anticipation.
"Oh dear girl. Play to win big do you?" He cackled. "Very well."
He placed the cup over the dice and shook it generously. Lifting it back up, the dice showed a three and a two.
"The sum of this together is five. Now will the next sum result in a number higher or lower than this one?" Said the peddler.
"Ehma?"
"Yeah Migs?"
"You better not fucking lose."
She smiled and faced back to the peddler.
"Higher." She said confidently.
The peddler gave a fake, innocent smile while trying to hide the deviousness he was feeling. He shook the cup vigorously and the dice came to a stop. As he was about to lift the cup, Ehma interrupted.
"Actually I change my mind, lower feels more right to me."
The peddler's gaze then widened. He began to sweat cold bullets.
"Wa-wait. Bu…" he stammered. Before he could finish his words, Ehma lifted the cup up to see for herself. Migs and John looked over her shoulders to see too. The dice showed a one and a one.
The peddler now had a terrified look on his face.
"I have a family." he begged.
As Ehma, John and Migs arrive at the tavern, they quickly spot Kaze, Suki and Hugo at the far end of the place. Sitting down and getting themselves comfortable, Migs and Ehma dumped the gold they got onto the table. Clacks and chinks braised the surface as the coins rolled out.
"Take some for yourselves, we're a crew after all." Said Migs as he pocketed a few for himself.
They split the gold amongst themselves and ordered their dinner. John and Suki got fish and chips with tea to accompany. Migs ordered a steak with seafood stew. Ehma got stew and a couple slices of apple pie. Hugo ordered his usual, fried stingray with a salad side. Kaze decided on some fried rice with prawns. A few rounds of liquor also went round with Migs being the most brazen for it.
While enjoying their supper, John explained the move for tomorrow. They and the tank would be carried to Oz Town via ferry. Ehma then asked a really good question.
"So what's the name of the tank guys?"
The last tank they used had been destroyed just before they arrived in the Cat Country. The Ferret, restored and named by Ehma when she was younger. They thought longingly while they drank from tankards.