Don't believe in no-win scenarios

Van Wall kicks back at his own chair. The pilot likes the way this stranger talks, and hey, he's on board for a bit of fun. Out of all his crew, he's probably the one who most enjoys this sort of thing. Gambling wasn't uncommon in Antarctica, one of the ways the team entertained themselves in the harsh polar nights, but Van was the biggest gambling man of the bunch.

"A wager, eh?" He rummages in a bag by his side, drawing out a portion of last week's pay back at Big Magnet. There's a devil-may-care smile under that beard. "Don't mind if I take you up on that offer. My name's Eric Van Wall."