Chapter 8
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The Ja Lama finally left, after a rambling conversation with Kohl about Buddhist doctrines, the elements of Tibetan Buddhism derived from the indigenous Bön religion, and why Tibetan people say hello by sticking their tongues out. Apparently it was originally the Mongols who forced them to do that, to prove they weren’t secretly reciting Bön enchantments against them. The Ja Lama seemed to be amused by this fact, as he kept chuckling quietly while he was talking about it. But finally, Kohl hinted that he should probably go meditate, and the monk departed for his own quarters.
We were in the suite, a luxurious apartment with every amenity a casino-town Caesar could think to ask for. Kohl was sipping a White Russian, but I was sober because I was on duty. It was time to
