The Samurai Guy

Sin City. Whatever your heart desires can be had in Las Vegas. I wandered through the casinos in disgust. Gambling, *pagh*! A weak vice. If a man is going to gamble, then let it be on the battlefield and serving a greater purpose. I cannot deny, however, that this is a lively and exciting place. It does not seem to sleep. Indeed, I seemed to lose all sense of time. Restaurants with the finest chefs. Stores gleaming with jewelry and riches. Marvelous shows with music, drama, action, and humor. I wonder what our great kabuki theatres could do with all these lights, sound systems, and technology.

There seemed to be three kings that ruled Las Vegas. They were known as Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis, although Elvis was the one most people called the King. He must be a most magnanimous king for I saw him everywhere, and he seemed able to alter his appearance slightly. I have heard that he even presides over some weddings. Such a benevolent king to be so accessible to his people.

I wanted to venture away from the casinos and see more of the locals. The further I traveled from the Vegas Strip, the more the glitzy veneer vanished. Despite the exorbitant display of wealth and excess not a few kilometers away, these people were leading lives of good, hard-working people. Things seemed more sparse and harsh the further I traveled. This heat! Gods! How do these people live in the middle of the desert like this?