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PRAYERS OVER THE DESCOPIES: PART I

1 WALKAWAY LOAN

Polo watched the desert floor rise beneath the great silver bird. The earth was dusty and striated and red and brown.

The plane settled down on the runway. It was a smooth landing, evoking a few rounds of applause from appreciative passengers. Their gratitude did not stop the big aisle-and-compartment-rush-and -wait. This went ahead, along with the cellphone calls, seat leans, and the exchanges about place and time and travel fatigue.

Polo stayed seated and silent until the line had moved well forward. Having systematically developed a constitutional opposition to haste, Polo let the rushers flee. He had not come for the glitter and the shows. He did not aim to spend idle hours in casinos. This was strictly business, and with business Polo was strict and parsimonious.

Thad Germail, Polo's representative in Vegas, greeted him at the arrival gate. Germail stood with weight shifted to one side and arms crossed. He was tall and tan and wore cowboy boots, blue jeans, and a lime shirt with an Indian design.

"Hello, boss," he said as Polo approached him.

"I trust the flight met your minimal expectations."

"A flight well-ended is a good flight. None of the rest really rates."

"Well, you're here. That's a good thing."

"If you say so. We need to talk."

"Sure, boss. We'll get you settled in your suite, you have your beauty sleep, and we'll go grab some dinner."

"Talk. Now.

Germail looked discomfited. He shrugged.

"I know a deli in the main concourse. Serves Reubens onNew York rye. Honest-to-goodness sauerkraut too."

"I ate on the plane. We'll go to my hotel and talk in the lobby.

"Do you have luggage, Polo?"

"One bag."

"I'll call a cab, then. Meet you curbside."
____________________ ____________

"Unauthorized loans," Polo began, "do not pass muster."

Germail thought he heard, pass the mustard' at first. There were chips and salsa on the table between them, a lemon water and a Coke; but there was no mustard none at all.

"I thought he was a good risk."

"First mistake. You were not asked to think, but to execute. We have policies; loan rates and schedules, risk assessments and more."

"He was persuasive. The guy can spin a yarn. I forgot protocol."

"You violated protocol. I have to assume such actions are willful, even if committed in the presence of persuasive yarn-spinners. Or not."

"I hear you, Polo."

"Do you? I've lost a considerable chunk of faith in you and your hearing abilities, Thad."
"What do you want me to do?"

"Find him. Find this carwash

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