Dead Man Zand: Zand news

This is the story of Zand. Not that Zand was his birthname, but is far from matter. What matters indeed is that Zand was a very cunning little boy that became a crafty business man. He never met his parents and stumbled from orphanage into orphanage until he turned eighteen.

By that time he was awarded a scholarship in a most prestigious business school, due to his very high testing scores in junior high. At the age of twenty four he started his first company, a trash recycling factory, that grew into an empire. Zand had everything money could buy and soon that became his greatest sin. Buying things was no longer enough for him and sought comfort in gambling. His icy nerves and complete disregard for any psychological influence their opponents tried to force on him, made Zand a fierce player.

At first he started with little things, like cars or generous amounts of money. Later came properties and even a few businesses of his own. But his fortunes only seem to grow richer and once more he sulked on his own possessions. One day he met Erik Tomossahra, a billionaire from the East with a fortune as big as his own and a unstopable hunger for gambling.

Zand, looking for the thrill of his life set a meeting with Mr. Tomossahra. The deed was signed. They were to play a game of poker. The winner would took everything the other had. Zand thought he had struck the deal of a lifetime. Either he won or lost, it would be a tremendous victory for him – he would start over or have more lose in another game. The thrill was assured.

The decisive hand came at last, and in spite of Mr. Tomossahra pair of Aces, Zand found himself with a two pair – Aces and Eights, all black. He grinned for a while... then, as the thought of having won the hand with the legendary Dead Man's Hand started to settle, he grew uneasy. That's when Mr. Tomossahra pulled his Joker – a .45 calibre automatic handgun. Zand gasped in shock and murmured his last words – "The Dead Man's Hand!" – as the unforgiving lead turned his body lifeless.