In an Adventure with Communists by Gideon Defoe

Author:Gideon Defoe [Defoe, Gideon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: cookie429
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2012-01-10T13:00:00+00:00

‘It goes on in the same vein. Just last week we were accused of stealing nine bears from the Paris zoo. What would we do with nine bears?’ said the communist, sounding a little exasperated.

‘You could get them to form one of those human pyramid things, except with bears, instead of humans,’ suggested the Pirate Captain. ‘Actually, you’d only need six bears to make a pyramid, but the other three could be spares.’

‘We didn’t steal any bears.’

‘That’s a pity. I’d have liked to have seen a bear pyramid.’

‘This is bleak,’ said Marx, shaking his bushy beard. ‘My reputation back in England is in tatters, and now I find out that our troubles seem to have followed us here to France.’

‘Would you like to hear my considered philosophical opinion, Marx?’ said the Pirate Captain, trying to lighten the mood.

‘By all means, Captain.’

‘I think of it like this – there are only two certainties in life. One is the inevitability of death, and the other is uncertainty itself. So when everything seems to be going badly, it’s probably meant to be. Or perhaps it’s fate. Either way, it’s something we’ll never really know, and it doesn’t pay to waste too much time thinking about it. Eat a chop instead.’

‘Dr Marx,’ said Jennifer. ‘it’s obvious you and your communists have a lot to discuss, and we were thinking that it might be nice for us pirates to see a few sights.’

‘Yes, good idea,’ said the Pirate Captain. ‘A lot of people follow our adventures with a view to getting travel tips and ideas, because we go to so many exotic climes. So I think it’s only right that whilst we’re here in Paris we check out the local attractions.’

‘While your pirates do that, perhaps you would accompany me to the salon?’ said Marx to the Pirate Captain.

The Pirate Captain looked a bit dubious at this suggestion. ‘Is that a salon like we have in England, where you go to get a fancy new haircut? It’s just that I never let anybody but the pirate with a scarf cut my hair. Between you, me and the gatepost, I have a slightly funny-shaped head, and if I’m not careful I end up looking like that Nefertiti bust. He does these clever feathery bits, hides it very well.’

‘Yes, I see. But you needn’t worry. It’s not like one of those salons, but rather a place where the Parisian élite go to discuss intellectual matters of the day. It will be a fantastic introduction of your philosophies to the wider world.’ Marx clapped the Captain on the back. ‘And I must confess to a selfish interest, because I have a feeling that by bringing you along, I may be able to restore my popularity.’

‘Oh, well, that’s different. It sounds right up my street,’ said the Pirate Captain. ‘I love intellectual matters of the day.’

The pirate with a scarf held up his hand, looking a little anxious. ‘Pirate Captain, do you think sitting about in a Paris salon

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.