Gates went back to the hotel. He laid in the swimming pool for several hours. The water soothed his nerves and eased the pain.

His mind drifted to how he'd tamed the gift. His trials and tribulations, had taken him far and wide, all the way out Navajo country where he met a medicine man.

The man nodded and came down a path to the main road. Gates said he was lost and the man simply stared at his Cadillac for a long while.

"Yup, you're lost all right," said the man intelligently. "Sometimes it's only when a man gets lost can he find his way?"

"Clever, you should write greeting cards," said Gates. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"I'm Gold Eagle Feather. I'm Navajo. A medicine man," said the man.

"You mean like one of those mystical guys," said Gates.

"Something like that," said Eagle Feather. "I'm also an accountant over in Scottsdale, but I come out here from time to time; when I get the calling. Nice car. A 1959 Pink Cadillac Eldorado convertible, you don't see many of them anymore. Elvis had one just like it."

"Yeah, I've heard," said Gates.

"I see that you have traveled far and wide," said Eagle Feather.

"Is that some mystical Indian magic?" said Gates.

"No," said Eagle Feather. "I can see the beads of sweat on your forehead. Your face is as red as a lobster from baking in the hot sun all day, and your car is covered in dark red sand, which tells me you've been all the way to Red Rocks. Sometimes logic is better than magic."

Eagle father closed his eyes for a moment then said, "But, I do see you are a troubled man. You have seen much more of this world that any man should see. I see that you have a gift, but its power is beyond your control," said Eagle Feather. "If want to control it, you must tame it like a wild stallion. But it can't be done here, it must be done in the spirit world. I can take you there, but my healing services must be paid for."

Gates looked around; unsure. He looked up the path at the woman. There was something very trusting about her face.She nodded at him.

"How much?" said Gates.

"Ten bucks," said Eagle Feather.

Gates handed him the money.

"Let's smoke," said Eagle Feather.

***

Eagle Feather led Gates to the hogan. Inside, the Hogans warm with a damp earthy smell. The floor was dirt, and the walls were clay. In the center was a pit of hot-red coals.

Eagle Feather lead Gates to the center of the room and took a seat on the dusty ground with his legs crossed; Gates, unsure, followed suit.

Eagle Feather's wife rolled a corn husk cigar and handed it to Eagle Feather, and he lit it.

"When we smoke, we look into the fire, and it will look into our souls," said Eagle Feather. He took a long puff then handed it to Gates.

Gates looked at the burning husk cigar oddly and took several long, deep puffs.

"What is this?" said Gates.

"Peyote," said Eagle Feather. "some call it mescaline."

At first, Gates felt nothing. Then his heart raced, and his body got so hot he felt he was going to catch fire. He began to sweat profusely, and the hot coals and the humid air in the hogan did their best to suck the water out of him.

Gates then began to burp. He felt sick to his stomach, and he ran out of the hogan and purged.

When he had nothing left to excrete, a chill came over him, and he began to shiver. He couldn't walk, and he stumbled to the ground. Laying on his back, he looked up into the night sky and saw the stars shining bright.

He went somewhere. Where too? Another world. He saw things he could not explain.

He saw himself, a young version, from another time when he was happy; when he was blind; before suffering had come to him; it all seemed a lifetime ago.

Young Office Gates in his police uniform called to him as if he could take him to a better world. Gates turned away.

Then a ghostly white horse appeared. Gates tried to touch it, but the horse backed away; hissing and spitting. He grabbed it by the mane and punched it in the head.

The horse shuddered, shaking its head. Gates quickly climbed on its back and it bronco'd. Gates held on. Then the glowing beast shot off like a comet, with Gates hanging on for his life. After his journey in the spirit world, the gift began to cooperate and Gates started to win hands.

***

After soaking in the pool for several hours. Gates went back to his room. He realized he was a ground zero and needed to raise cash. He needed a hundred grand and his plans to use the winning from the Singrin failed.

He had ways of making fast money. He broke into the hotel vending machines. The hotel had ten floors, and he knew he would be able to get something. Then take that to the Casinos and start playing.

After cleaning out the second soda machine. He heard someone standing behind him. He looked back and saw a young police officer with a gun.

"Okay, put your hands where I can see them."

When Gates saw the younger officer's face, he smiled and went back to taking the money out of the vending machine. A smirk continued on his face and he showed no concern or respect for the image of authority.

"I smoke a little peyote with a medicine-man and now there's no getting rid of you," said Gates. "I almost thought you were a real cop."

"I am a real cop," said Young Officer Gates.

"You're a conscience hallucination of my younger self. That doesn't sound very real to me, Jiminy Cricket," said Gates.

"You're stealing," said Officer Gates.

"That's what I do," said Gates. "Besides, you think the Red and White Soda Company can't afford it. A can of this shit cost two-cents to make, and they sell it for a buck seventy-five." Gates guzzled down the rest of the soda.

"I don't even recognize you anymore. What the hell happened?" said Officer Gates.

"I woke up.

"You've become heartless. Is money the only thing you think about?" said Officer Gates.

"We played the good guy and look where it got us. Now we play the bad guy and we look out for ourselves. I'm having alot more fun now."

"I can't let you do this. I can't let you take over," said officer Gates.

"Too bad, cause I'm in-charge now. You want this body, you're going to have to kill me for it, and you can't ... cause you're all in my head," said Gates.

Officer Gates charged Gates and slammed him against the wall.

"Whoa....since when can hallucinations do that?" said Gates, and he shook off the jolt. For a brief second, the world around him shimmered like a mirage.

The young officer landed several blows to Gates's face and body, dazing him, and then began to choke him.

The older Gates broke free and pushed him back. Gates grabbed the young officer by the arm and flung him hard against the Red & White soda machine.

Gates then kicked by the young officer, and they both went down for the count. Gates managed to get up and began choking the young officer.

"I've had enough of you, Officer Gates. it's time for you to disappear ... permanently," said Gates. His face flushed red, and he looked like a demon possessed.

Young Officer Gates' face also went red as he tried to pull Gates' hands off.

Young Gates gasped for air and Gates fell to the ground beside him. Both gasped for air in unison and holding their necks.

"you kill me, you kill yourself" said officer Gates.

"Fucking hallucinations," said Gates,

***

He'd made a score, and he didn't feel guilty about it ... anymore. He used to be a cop, followed the letter of the law. Now another side of him was in control and he was having fun.

Gates went down to the Vegas Sushi restaurant. He hadn't eaten in days. The food was great there. When he got there Gushi greeted him and poured him Sake.. Gushi served him a plate of sushi and it was incredible. The vegas sushi restaurant was the best n Vegas.

Manny was a limo drive in town. He picked up fair at the Lieusre hotel. He came over to visit.

"Mr. Gates...I have a client for you."

Gates was all years. A typical las Vegas case. Som out-of-town slub came looking for his cheating wife. Whatever happens in Vegas stays in vegas.

Gates saw the man. He looked miserable. He was not going to like the answer. He'd followed his wife to a motel. Now he just wasn't o proof of the divorce.

EZ five grand.