“What about the proposal I made?” Blade inquired. “We can always use another member in the Freedom Federation.”
“Thanks, but no,” Don Pucci said. “We have survived for over a century because we have scrupulously avoided all entanglements. We must uphold our neutrality.”
“I understand,” Blade commented.
Don Pucci gazed at the giant thoughtfully for several seconds. “There is some information I must pass on to you,” he said. “But I must qualify my remarks. As you can imagine, with the thousands and thousands of visitors to Vegas every year, we hear a lot of stories, a lot of rumors. Most of it is worthless hearsay. Exaggerated tales. Inebriated rambling. But we do glean important information from some of our customers. They may mention a fact to a hostess, or to a bartender, or one of the pros. And if the information is considered to be of any merit, it is passed up the chain of command to me.” He paused.
“Did you hear something about us?” Hickok asked.
“Was someone blabbin’ about Blade’s snorin’ again?”
Pucci shook his head. “This is most serious. A man passed through Vegas several weeks ago. He spent several nights with one of the pros, and he talked a lot. She didn’t think much of it at the time, because the man was a heavy drinker. But everyone in Vegas now knows we are in your debt. And when she realized you are the ones this man was talking about, she came to see me.”
“What did this man say?” Blade questioned, his curiosity aroused.
“He told her about this group living in Minnesota,” Don Pucci related.
“He said his masters—that was the word he used—were planning to eradicate this group known as the Family.”
The Warriors exchanged glances.
“Anything else?” Blade probed.
“This man mentioned the name of his masters,” Don Pucci divulged.
“They are called the Dragons.” He frowned. “I have heard of these Dragons, Blade. I don’t know a lot about them, but I do know they are based in the former state of Florida. And I know they have a reputation for viciousness unmatched by anyone else.”
“Why would these Dragons want to take on the Family?” Hickok interjected. “We’ve never tangled with them.”
“Again,” Don Pucci emphasized, “I can’t vouch for the reliability of this information. But I thought you should know.”
“Thanks,” Blade said. “We’ll report it to our Leader.”
“Is there anything you need before you depart?” Don Pucci inquired.
Blade thought of the SEAL, parked in the lot behind the Golden Crown.
Mario had driven him from the city four days before so he could reclaim the transport. “No, thanks. We’re fully provisioned and ready to go.”
The giant Warrior and the Don shook hands.
“I hope we meet again some day,” Don Pucci said.
“Take care,” Blade stated. He turned and walked to the sidewalk, bearing to the left, intending to stroll around the Golden Crown to the rear parking lot.
Hickok, Geronimo, Helen, and Mindy followed him.
“Say, pard,” Hickok said, catching up with Blade. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to my missus about me spendin’ a week gambling. She might not cotton to the idea.”
“I won’t lie for you,” Blade remarked.
“Who’s askin’ you to lie?” Hickok queried. “I just don’t want to get in trouble.”
“You don’t need to worry about Blade telling your wife,” Geronimo spoke up.
Hickok looked back. “I don’t?”
“Nope,” Geronimo said, grinning. “Because I will.”
“What did I ever do to you?” Hickok demanded.
“Do you want me to list everything?” Geronimo inquired. “There was the time when we were six years old, and you convinced me to take a bath in a mud puddle with my clothes on. Remember that? You claimed everyone did it, and my mother wouldn’t mind. She did.”
Hickok chuckled. “I’d plumb forgotten all about that.”
“And there was the time when we were ten,” Geronimo went on. “You persuaded me to stick a frog down Emily’s dress. You claimed she loved frogs. She didn’t.”
Hickok snickered.
“And how about the time when we were fifteen?” Geronimo continued.
“We went on a double date, remember? You suggested we should all go skinny-dipping in the moat. We were supposed to each get undressed separately, behind the bushes, then come out and go swimming. But when I stepped out in the open, I was the only one naked.”
“I thought the girls would bust a gut laughing,” Hickok recalled, and laughed.
“And you have the gall to ask about my reason for telling your wife?” Geronimo asked in amazement.
Hickok sighed and glanced at Blade. “It’s pitiful.”
“What is?” Blade responded.
“This mangy Injun is one of my best friends,” Hickok muttered.
“I know. So?” Blade said.
“So with friends like him, is it any wonder I’m always in hot water?” Hickok lamented his fate.
Blade smiled. “Look at it from our perspective.”
“What do you mean?” Hickok inquired.
“With a friend like you around,” Blade said, “there’s never a dull moment.”