instead , he asked evenly , `` what do you need to do ? '' and so , i lost my first friend . `` someone had to be here running this place . '' for bond , who loved gambling , it was the most exciting spectacle in the world . before i got here , the woman had dinner conversations with a dog . he knew youd come look for her . `` dis here sun an ' hard work tires a man a'plenty . '' my eyes raced across the page . 