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Chapter 5
"Sureis.Thereweregiantsontheearthinthosedays."
"IwishtIlivedthen.Pirateships.Ohboy!Bang-bang!Strikeyourcolors!Potsofgoldandladiesinsilkdressesandjewels.IsurewishtIlivedthen.Someofourfolksdone—didit.Yousaidsoyourself."
"Kindofgenteelpiracy—theycalledthemprivateers.Iguessitwasn’tassweetasitsoundsfromadistance.Saltbeefandbiscuit.Therewasscurvyontheearthinthosedaystoo."
"Iwouldn’tmindthat.I’dgetthegoldandbringithome.Iguesstheywon’tletyoudoitanymore."
"No—it’sbiggerandbetterorganizednow.Theycallitdiplomacy."
"There’saboyinourschoolthatwontwotelevisionprizes—fiftydollarsandtwohundreddollars.How’sthat?"
"Hemustbesmart."
"Him?Coursenot.It’satrick,hesays.Yougottolearnthetrickandthenyougetagimmick."
"Gimmick?"
"Sure—likeyou’reacrippleoryousupportyouroldmotherraisingfrogs.Thatgivesyouaudienceinterestsotheychooseyou.He’sgotamagazinewitheverycontestinthewholecountryinit.CanIgetoneofthosemagazines,Pop?"
"Well,piracyisout,butIguesstheimpulselingers."
"Howdoyoumean?"
"Somethingfornothing.Wealthwithouteffort."
"CanIgetthatmagazine?"
"Ithoughtsuchthingswereindisreputesincethepayolascandals."
"Hell,no.Imeanno,sir.Theyjustchangeditaroundalittle.I’dsureliketocutinonsomeofthatloot."
