Gerald had been in the city of Las Vegas for almost three hours, after the various flights that had brought him from the site he had been visiting in Azerbaijan, in the foothills of the Caucus Mountains. Even now he could still smell the smoke of the fires that were heating the camp, and hear the calling of the faithful to evening prayers. Being berated by the one opposite was not doing much toward encouraging him to continue the conversation at that point.

"And the point I would like to make, in return, is not all of us have visited this culturally questionable corner of this country," he told her, returning the stare with eyes that did not flinch, nor waver. "Nor would I assume what others might know, especially on first meeting," he told her. "So unless you have something I don't know, or of interest to tell me I will bid you good day and take my leave."