Puss in Boots: 8 Original Ways to Die

Chapter 3: The Ace in the Hands

When I left the hospital having lost my first life I was very bitter. Not Santiago, who took my money without a word and ran away. After all, there was a bet between us and, to my misfortune, he must have won it, but more so that I lost. It seemed to me that I was so fast that the bulls chasing us were long behind and that there was no way they could have caught up with me in such a short time! I was bitter about this and partly angry with myself for losing the bet in such a stupid way. If I had thought more about the idea of how to find the right girl, or if I had run a bit more it would have been all right...

In any case, Santiago must not have checked, or at least not checked the other shoe more carefully, because in the other shoe I had just kept a pannier for a rainy day... such as this situation, which forced me to spend my most secret savings, which I found extremely useful at that moment. I knew that with what I had left I wouldn't be able to feed myself with it for long, let alone find accommodation! I needed to get a cash injection...something that would give me a lot of money immediately that would allow me to stay overnight and feed myself for a time in which I would manage to find a job with which I could earn money. I immediately thought of Las Vegas..."

"Gosh, Puss. Have you really been to Las Vegas! It's supposedly a city for rich people only! How did you get there?" Said Perrito in fascination, gazing admiringly at Puss, who laughed briefly but with a full-blown pride that filled him seeing the dog's admiration.

"He hasn't been to any Las Vegas...less than 100 kilometres from Pamplona is San Sebastian - a city full of casinos and gamblers who, like Puss, think they will become millionaires in no time and lead a quiet life," interrupted Kitty of Perrito's admiration. Puss muttered something grimly under his breath while correcting his hat while staring at Kitty, who smiled slightly - now she was filled with pride, knowing that she had spoiled the cat's plan.

"Never mind!

Anyway, I knew that I wouldn't survive more than three days with what money I had left. I didn't think long about it. I needed that money badly to be able to go on with my adventures and without money I didn't even have a way to eat! Before I left the hospital, however, I asked the doctor who was looking after me out of curiosity if he had seen Santiago. He replied that I had been brought to the ward by a woman I wanted to ask out on a date. There was no sign of Santiago. Apparently he must have taken immediate advantage of the situation while I was lying unconscious. When I left the hospital in the afternoon I ate a really basic breakfast to have any strength. As far as I remember it was a plain wheat roll with some Leche. Immediately after eating breakfast...if I can call it that, I hired a horse to go to San Sebastian.

The city of the gamblers was, as Kitty had already managed to mention, less than 100 kilometres from where the bull race took place, so I didn't have much distance to cover. The weather was more in my favour this time - there was a light overcast in the sky which blocked the hot rays of the sun causing a gentle cool breeze and the sun wasn't heating me up during the journey, making it really pleasant to ride. The temperature was just right and the gentle breeze refreshed me, making me feel really great on this journey, during which I tried to remember the rules of poker..."

"Well all of you! Without remembering the rules of poker you went to a city that is famous for the best poker players? Really, no matter how this story ends I won't be surprised!" She parried Kitty's laughter. She had expected that the decisions Puss had made during his previous lives were not very sensible, but this was even sillier than a bet during a bull race!

"Actually, it seems like not the best idea," seconded Perrito's cat's words.

"Not that I didn't know! I remembered something from years ago when I used to play it regularly at the orphanage for candy. We played by the same rules as the pros, so I remembered some things, but when I was riding my mount I knew I didn't remember some of the rules...something told me I didn't remember something, but I couldn't remember what.