[ WP ] So here I am , in the middle of nowhere with my customer . I turn around , and there 's three rattlesnakes ...

`` Rattlesnake Monte! Rattlesnake Monte! Place your bets and prep your anti venom! Two are harmless, one is poisonous! Which is which, nobody knows! The ultimate game of life or death! You'd be safer playing Russian Roulette! Care to take your chances, good sir?'' 
 
 
 `` …How do you even make money off this game?'' 
 
 
 `` We're in the middle of nowhere, good sir. Seriously, you try finding something better to do. There are some rocks over there. Have at it.'' 
 
 
 `` …Maybe I will.'' 
 
 
 `` Actually you probably should n't. That's where I found the rattlesnakes.'' 
 
 
 `` …And then you caught them?'' 
 
 
 `` I know it might not *seem* like the brightest idea, but I'd rather know exactly where they are as opposed to accidentally stepping on one later.'' 
 
 
 `` …Fair enough. So, uh… How does this game of yours work?'' 
 
 
 `` Three containers, three rattlesnakes. Two have been milked, one has n't. Open one and take your chances. Costs $ 100 per play, but the payout is 500 to 1 if you choose correctly, with the chance for double or nothing if you want to guess again.'' 
 
 
 `` Holy shit, really?'' 
 
 
 `` Well yeah. Got ta make the incentives worthwhile.'' 
 
 
 `` But how can you afford that kind of payout?'' 
 
 
 `` …Full disclosure, people do n't win very often.'' 
 
 
 `` But they have won?'' 
 
 
 `` A few times. Most people just back out before actually guessing and take a refund.'' 
 
 
 `` …I'll try it.'' 
 
 
 `` Really? You sure?'' 
 
 
 `` Yeah. I have some serious student loans to pay back.'' 
 
 
 `` Well alrighty then. Take your pick. Seriously, good luck, kid.'' 
 
 
 `` …Thanks.'' 
 
 
 I forked over the cash and approached the containers. If this seriously worked… 
 
 
 `` Whichever one you pick, you got ta let it bite you. That's the only way to know for sure.'' 
 
 
 `` …Let it bite me. Right.'' 
 
 
 My heart pounded. Right? Left? Middle? Go with your gut, it's usually right. Right it is. Fearfully I lifted the lid. 
 
 
 In a flash the snake leapt up and lodged it's teeth in my nose, angrier than a rabid bear on LSD. I dropped to the ground, flailing wildly with pain. The last thing I heard was the hustler chuckling. 
 
 
 `` …Sorry kid. The truth is, the only one who ever wins is me.''
