The festivities at Spent Peacewood's Gala dinner on the eve of the much ballyhooed ' Peace Fly Trip " have just begun. The Secret Service has been quite jittery and has just pushed the panic button asking everyone to get down and stay immobile. The room is full of dignitaries including Spent Peacewood, Lasher Snarecat, Slick Brainy our beloved way too smart Vice President, Cindy Garrison African Fly Guide, Jive Boy Alaskan fly master, the media, and various movie stars and sports personalities. Fletcher Quill has just had a minor " What's Up Dude? " with his old pal Phil, Ex US President and noted lady-killer…

" Clare, I know what your thinking while we are face down with a roomful of personalities straight out of " Hog Warts University." " Stop it Fletch, I know you're in heaven with all this Secret Service nonsense. Do you have any idea how much this dress cost?" " Listen Clare, when the all clear is sounded we gotta get next to Lasher and see if I can get him to be my VIP Host at the activity I have planned back in my old hometown of Marin California. He would be perfect, the press will go wild…" The Secret Service has given the all clear signal and decided the unopened box wrapped in plain paper really is Fletchers traveling collection of expensive rare flies and not a bomb! The head of the detail walks over to Quill and hands him his flies." Mr. Quill, we take no chances these days, these flies are yours I presume?" Quill neatly reassembles the 10 patterns he brought along just in case a sale could be made; several guests are transfixed and inquire.

The party is starting to swing and Quill spots Jive Boy explaining with animated gestures how he and his famous fly clients wrestle big fish on the remote Ecuadorian rain forest camp he hosts every year.

" FIRST ANNUAL MARIN COUNTY WILD TURKEY & COYOTE SHOOT "

Lasher Snarecat and Quill huddle for a few moments and then Quill starts tapping his Champagne glass " Ladies and gents, thank you all for joining us on the eve of this momentous occasion. The beloved leader of the free world and I have spent much time putting this trip together, that will place future peace negotiations in a more peaceful surroundings allowing fly fishing adventure of the most sublime to help set the stage in regard to the impasse we now find ourselves in. During the next several days we will wade and taste the finest California trout waters where few men have gone before us. I'm excited and have faith this new venue for peace negotiating may help save what's left of our planet." Fletcher moves near Lasher Snarecat and places his arm around the notorious leader, " I have one more rather earthshaking announcement. Lasher has agreed to become the first VIP Host of my other annual sports event that takes place in Marin County, California. In early spring of this year the first annual " Marin County Wild Turkey & Coyote Shoot " will be covered by both ESPN and international press." Clare drops her Champagne glass and utters an almost audible, " What the, Quill, you really have lost what's left of that demented brain of yours. The local Marin press boys will kill you so dead and I…" " Clare, this is not the time or place, I'm sick of those wild turkeys running all over downtown Sausalito whenever Timba and I come to visit. Now let's try and enjoy this little shindig, sweetie." Clare stands open mouthed as Quill heads for Jive Boy and Cindy over by the Cigar Bar.

" Ok, listen you guys", Cindy and I will be guiding Lasher and his jolly band and Jive, you and the VP will take care of our other friends. That will be the lineup for the week. In the morning we chopper out 30 minutes to an isolated high mountain lake no one ever gets near with a fly rod. Expect non-stop action with a hopper on top and a Gold Bead Hares Ear on an 18-inch dropper. It will not fail to make it happen on this lake. The secret Service killed 'em, two days ago. Sleep tight, see you at 4am good to go." " Sooo, Fletch, is this Lasher fellow a polite gentlemen?" " Of course, my dear, this is an up town bunch, to say the least. These guys never raise their voices above a whisper Cin, I promise…"

Quill notices out of his side vision Lasher and the Israeli security dudes are about three inches from each others face and the festivities have taken a somber tone. Fletcher grabs another Champagne glass and clears his throat.

" Excuse me! Just one more toast before we adjourn. Let's raise our spirits and glasses to Gertrude Janeway just passed, proud resident of Blaine Tenn., last living widow of a Union Soldier. In her 93 years this world continued to wage war and kill and maim countless innocents in the process. Maybe this place and this fly fishing trip will set the tone and welcome back the sweet angels of peace…"

Check back next month for the ongoing storyline of Fletcher Quill, "THE PEACE FLY TRIP BEGINS".