Chapter 11 - Dinner Talk

   Instead of dinner in the usual places, we went to a private room. There's two main dining rooms, well actually three. Going up, there's where the staff at or below a certain level eats. After all, this is a big cruise ship. The whole idea is that you feel special. You've saved up and are able to afford a cruise like this. You get to see what its like to walk around and everyone waits on you hand and foot. You so much as set your drink down, its in danger... of getting snatched and refilled and the next time you grab it, its magically full again. Like the mythological pitcher that the gods rewarded a pious couple with for their generosity to two traveling gods disguised as poor travelers.

   The bar? The joke onboard, is to say "top shelf" when asked what kind of vodka. Its funny, because there is no rotgut. And your money is no good here, everything is comped. The point is that you purchased a limited time ticket to being the high roller. Nothing is too good for you.

   So lower end staff has a place to eat, because you don't feel very special after all that, if there's some grease monkey in coveralls munching on hot wings right at the next table. Supervisors and other not easily replaced and experienced staff, are allowed to eat with the regular guests. Mainly those who wear nice uniforms, and their job doesn't require them to get sweaty and dirty.

   There's also a first class, well... everything. Not that the casual passenger would know. Everything is so high roller, there's no upgrades to try to weasel into. Take a cruise, to celebrate a marriage or that big promotion? You'll go home and predictably tell everyone how wonderful it was, to finally get to see how the other half lives.

   Or, did you really? Reminded me of one of Panic's little magic tricks he does. I know all his tricks, and one of his golden rules? Its right out in the open, you just don't see it. One example? There's an "emergency bathroom". If you ask? Oh, see if there were to be a problem with the main system? We can open that, and everyone can take turns having a bathroom running, while we diagnose and fix the problem.

   Reminds me of the mysteriously locked and never used since remodeled bathrooms in my high school. Only certain teachers and administrators got that key. The emergency bathroom? Only staff uses it. If you get nosy? A smiling staff member will let you use it when they go in. Its just a smaller restroom, and its staff level. Not nearly as nice as your public restroom. Where there's someone handing you a towel after you wash your hands.

   Me being friendly with The Devil in a suit? He invited me and Panic to the private VIP bar. Which is nowhere to be found. Its not on any ship map, its not in any brochure. Its not labeled. So, where is it. He took us into the smallest emergency restroom on that deck floor. The staff has things like linen closets and janitor's closets, and naturally so. They can punch a key code and get access.

   And, sure enough? Its got toilet paper, toilet brushes. Urinal mints, soap, plungers. The works. There's a door at the end of the closet, and its a key code, too. Really thin door, and its labeled as if its access to the water and sewage system. You almost have to turn sideways, and me and Panic have to duck to get through. And, you do squeeze almost sideways down a thin hallway, with actual pipes and conduits snaking around.

   But at the end, around a blind corner? Another code bopped in on the numbers panel, and... a soundproof door opens. Its a small private VIP bar. You can't pay to get in. You're not jealous because you don't even know it exists. This, is where the actual upper crust gets invited to. If you have to ask? You clearly don't belong. And if you belong here? You're already shown in.

   A dumb waiter that services the captain's working deck? Can pause here. Your cell phones automatically don't work. Because what millionaire that knows and blows the proper elite above himself, wants to be interrupted with texts from work. Its a haven. Gourmet food, with a menu that doesn't exist. All brass, polished wood, and real crystal.

   Top shelf booze? Is for the plebes. Here, its all expensive custom stuff. The waiter will have a scintillating conversation with you. You describe what top shelf you want? He's got something as good or better. He knows which crystal decanter its in, too. He can sniff your drink? And settle "who's drink is this" friendly arguments. He knows you asked for scotch, not bourbon.

   The bartender will easily talk about how any booze is made. What is tequila. What's the diff between bourbon and whiskey. Why does scotch taste like burned rubber. I was actually amazed to learn what the difference between whiskey and scotch even in. Its regular whiskey, but the grains are sprouted in a room with screens for a floor, and there's peat smoking on coals under it, going up through it. The longer the grain is smoked, the more burned rubber taste, and the cost goes up.

   He's a wine expert, too. A pleasant word placed into the walking encyclopedia bartender's ear by The Devil in a nice suit? He asked me if I wanted to know about real wine tasting. Heck, sure. He smiled and shrugged. Other than knowing one wine from another at a sniff and a taste? You just say what you think you taste. Anything is fine.

   It was ongoing. He had me sit at his end of the bar. Where it says don't sit here, its for waiting staff to pick up and drop off. He smiled and had me wet my lips with a splash of various wines. Then? I got to hear the upper crust talking about what I had just sampled. I wouldn't have said "leather", but after hearing it? Yeah.

   "Ma'am? Step one. Look at the bottle. You just need to know what Merlot is. Which you do. The main difference of opinion? Will be exactly where it lies, on the sweet-neutral scale. He winked, and all but whispered.

   "Just say something you think describes some taste in it. The weirder it is? The better you're doing. Back in the old days... saying leather used to be the insider's trick. That got out, though. My suggestion? Say there's a... hint of a Popsicle stick taste. It reminds you of licking a Popsicle stick, after the ice cream is gone. Every kid knows, there's something weird about the empty stick. Someone will agree with you."

   The Devil likes me. And anyone he shows the slightest favor towards? Instantly gets treated extra special. We walked past the sun deck once? Next time I was there, I started getting extra towels. When he put his arm around me on the sun deck and pool area, to make small talk and introduce me to someone? A whole different batch of rich women after that.

   No more getting felt out by my betters. Giving me sly sideways references, that could pass for banter. Where was I from, what were me and Panic into. Had we ever been to Bermuda? We had to try it, it was gorgeous. If you try to drop his name and worm it into conversation? Girls do this. The others roll their eyes behind her back. She's trying too hard.

   After one walk past them? With The Devil's arm on my shoulders, of course. It was like being on a whole different boat, with passengers that just looked like the ones I had met and experienced. I didn't quite have a little fan club entourage when I took sun? But close.

   Of course there's a private sun deck, with the biggest hot tub I've ever seen. You can lay out naked, and no one says a thing. Why? Simple. You're so high up, no one can see you. There's no signs, you get no special key card. Once The Devil introduced me and Panic to the Captain when dining, and invited us to sit and talk a bit? I got invited to the "Captain's private sundeck".

   Its supposed to be for only him, and his top officers. Their perk. Once you've been seen there once? You simply belong now. The second time I went there, some rich cunt discreetly said something to a staff member waiting on her. The staff went and stood next to the Captain, you could see her through the window he looks out of while piloting.

   The staff girl didn't say a word. She just appeared a short time later, with a glass of wine. Courtesy of the Captain, he said he was sure I might enjoy it. It was from his private stock. The lady that had tattled on me? Was embarrassed. The other wives and girlfriends giggled after she left a short while later.

   You can only access the nude sunbathing deck, if you have access to the bridge. Panic's a tech geek, he loved his bridge tour. After being polite and sociable? He homed in on the navigation and communication officer. Who was happy to have someone to talk tech gadgets with.

   In reality? Panic is getting intelligence. If he disappears on me? He's hanging out with his navigation communications buddy. A walk through the engine deck? With the right companion for the first walk, he now has an engine room buddy. And an electrician buddy. The Devil thinks its amusing, that he's bright and inquisitive. He professes to like smart people, as much as he professes to like people that keep to the basics of the big picture.

   The Devil, likes to surround himself even temporarily with all kinds of people. From all walks of life and all expert disciplines. He's the consummate manager. A bigger version of Little Robbie. If Rob wants to know specifics of expertise? He can ask Skykid, or Panic things. As long as a member of the team knows it, they all know it now.

   One night, Panic showed me a coup of his. He wiggled his eyebrows, to indicate he was showing off. This, is the guy that palms your smokes and lighter right in front of you. Takes some? Then returns it before you even know you've been hit. He explained to me what he got.

   Back in the day, everything was all blueprints and schematics. And for a large boat? There's definitely engineering diagrams, schematics for electrical and water and heat and every damn thing else. Blueprints, for things like engines. Operating manuals for everything possible for the people that use them for their job, and technical reference manuals for diagnosing issues and preventative maintenance and re-certification schedules.

   This was once, all paper. How many old movies, had the intrepid secret agent or cat burglar crawling through the air vents. They always had to steal or have access to the blueprints. His face lit up when he realized it was all electronic now. Even the blue collar workers have computers in every room. Never asking once, he just eyeballed everything and everyone.

   He said his original plan had been to "wow, this looks cool!" and get to look at reference material. None to be found. Sooner or later, one of the workers asked something of another. The guy chastised him, and pointed at the computer. Get moving, asshole. You need to be able to look that up without asking for help if we ever have an emergency.

   He said they had a jar of USB thumb drives. He stood politely while his buddy was showing the young guy once again, how to find what he needed. He simply palmed one when it was out. He said he just laid his coffee mug over one, to point and talk. Then? To retrieve his mug, he slid it over and cupped the bottom.

   He's now got the blueprints for the structure of the boat, in sections. The electrical, the piping, the heating and air conditioning. This, gave him the idea he should be able to do the same thing up with his navigation and communications tech buddy. He jokingly calls him his "temporary JG", because he gets his daily dose of "tech" when they sit and gab.

   Gone are the days of old, so you can forget about the image of the sea captain wiggling that boat wheel to steer. Everything's automatic, electronic, computer controlled. So when his navigation and communications buddy had a night watch? Great time to both talk tech and get curiosity questions answered, and... he now knows to look for a jar of USB thumb drives.

   Instead of getting the guy drunk, he went with food. He showed up unexpectedly on his skeleton crew night watch shift, with a tray full of the good shit. When he finally asked a question the guy needed to reference it? He knew where the stuff was. It was supposed to be locked up, but... keys dangling in the open access door.

   He might not need it, but he wanted to know how the ship communicates, how its navigated. What GPS bands and frequencies are in use. How many points of triangulation from shore transponders are typically hitting the receivers at any one point in time.

   He explained navigation by stationary transponders to me. It looks complicated, but really isn't. You need at least two fixed transponders communicating. Each gives you a precise distance. Distance on a map? Is a line, and its exactly so long.

   Draw a circle exactly that long to precise scale. Make a circle from the correct transponder location using that length line. Now, do the same for the other transponder's distance. Where those two circles touch, will be two places. One of them is your location. That's just a rough location. The more transponders are feeding you, the more accurate your position is. In an emergency, if you can only get one transponder signal for whatever reason? You can still draw that circle, and you know you're on that circle, somewhere.

   GPS is belt and suspenders above that, and way more convenient. The ship actually monitors the GPS map, and as you drift off course for wind or water moving, it corrects. The military would have all this super encoded. Civilian? No. They no longer have sonar, the tech said that's old war movies now. No civilian ship needs to hear whales farting. Like submarines are going to be chasing them. And even if they would? Like a cruise ship can escape anything, anyways.

   With The Devil's usual security guy on another boat by misdirection, Panic thinks his replacement guy he picked up? Isn't all that and a bag of chips. He was actually wondering about that. He was figuring a guy like this, with this much money and power and especially now with playing bad economic guy in the news to placate the people bitching in the streets with finger pointing until it all blows over... would likely have, in his own words?

   "Someone like me, or Rob."

   The last minute replacement? He said he's more of an average bodyguard, not a true professional like he would have expected. Just some big muscular guy, not particularly bright. Probably a boxer if anything. If that time comes? He says there's an excellent chance the guy will be overconfident. Plus? He wants to set the situation up if it comes to that? To make the guy think he has it in the bag.

   Elise calls him "big guy", and he thinks its a compliment to his swagger and prowess. I know the truth. Her and Panic laugh at guys that think being big and overweight, gives them an advantage over any real professional. No, The Devil is comfortable and relaxed once on open water, and even more so in international waters.

   Panic thinks the ship is literally, too damn big. From the perspective of The Devil's security. Way too many decks, way too wide and long. Far too many alleys, access corridors, air heating and cooling ducts. The employees actually play hide and seek on days off, and its actually challenging.

   Yeah. Panic joined the game. It gets him learning all kinds of weird places you would never dream existed aboard this behemoth.

   The private dinner? Ended up being in the "bathroom bar" as we nicknamed it. After first eating and after dinner drinks started, The Devil with his unassuming charm, began. He clapped his hands, and raised his drink up.

   "I toast you. All of you. The world? Needs people like you. People that not only want to make a difference? But many people would like to help. Yet, not so many can. The people in this room? You all. Have not only the desire, to change the world. But, you have the ability, to do it."

   He's actually a great speaker for this. He has the kind grandfather act down pat. He has great timing, too. He's mastered the dramatic pause. Too short or no pauses? You come off like a coke sniffing used car salesman, or a revved up spaz. Too long of a pause? People think you're fumbling for your next bit of speech.

   "Desire, with no ability? Is nothing. Ability, with no desire? Again, is as nothing. It takes desire and ability. And only one thing more. The opportunity. I can only give you these opportunities. Your ability? Is on you. Your desire? I can not give you that, either. But... these are people, that have the... raw materiel, that the world is so desperate for."

   He glanced around.

   "I am no ordinary investor. But? This, you know. It is, I think, one reason you are here. You are curious. All who meet me? Soon learn. I love, American phrases. And here is one. The... curiosity? It kills the cat. I say, no. A cat who is curious? Finds more mice. A curious cat, finds a nice fat rabbit, while other cats are eating mice. And? This is you."

   He shrugged.

   "You are curious. Or? Perhaps you simply want to enjoy my food and drink, and my hospitality. Which is fine, I assure you. If you do not wish to join an investment opportunity? It is no large thing, to me. You will then tell, how you did not want to do this thing. Then, when the people you told, you did not think this thing would be wise? Oh, they will see it, later. They will point. Were you not given, the opportunity? To be in that. And look! That, could have been you. In that... cat and bird seat, I think is the phrase."

   He nodded.

   "And so. There is no pressure. I make no... pitch. You are useful to me, if you join in? And, you are equally useful to me, when you say no. I can tell you? Find me a person. That has followed my investment group. And has not profited from it. I would say, I will wait? Yet, we will be waiting a very, very long time."

   "Some of you? Bet, on the market. Or, on currency. Or on one of many things, that a man can bet on. Some of you? Start the business. Or, take one and make it... what is the phrase... fly straight. This? This, is proof of your ability."

   "I like people, of ability. Now, I do not hate the people, with no ability. They are like, what. The children. It is, what. Innocent. And so? I like each and every one of you. For having some ability. I do not know of your desire, for how can I know that. After, I would know. But not now."

   "But I love people, that have both ability, and desire. I can give you none of these things. But I need them. Please. Do not feel? That, you need me. I only give you opportunity. If we are to pull a large thing, from here, and to there? The more hands, the better. There is always, another seat at my table."

   "Again. I toast you."

   "Now. I promise nothing, except opportunity. Now. I am French? And so, I am rude."

   Polite giggles.

   "But is rude so bad? I say, no. I call it, a polite rude. What. Am I to lie. My wife. This dress, does my... ass look big in this dress. Eh. I risk my wife unhappy, if her ass looks big in that dress, and I say it. Did I make her ass, did I make that dress. No. Do not be mad at me. Or, would my wife prefer me to say she looks skinny ass, and let her wear it, and get pointed at."

   "Of course, I am the son of the bitch, either way. If I tell her the truth? I am the son of the bitch. And if I lie, and say it is fine? When she gets pointed at. Now? I am the son of the bitch, because I did not tell her."

   "And so? I do these things when young, but I learn. Tell the truth. Tell the truth, polite. Eh. I am now a little rude, but is that not better than the son of the bitch."

   Polite chuckles. He has them eating out of his hand now. Rapt attention.

   "I am French. But, I work with many people, in many different countries. Now. One country, may not do business, with that country. Because? Ah. The politics. They have all these reasons, why things can not be done. That? Is saying the problems. Many experts? Can tell you, of all the problems. And the politics? They are very, very good at telling you the problem. Yes?"

   Murmurs yes, and nods.

   "Ah. Other people. They, have ideas. Ideas? For solutions. But, maybe they do not know of, or maybe not understand? The problems. Just as you need ability and desire both? This is not different. The world needs both people. But, the world does not reward the person, that tells you problems. Well, not the big kind of reward. You get a... little reward, for saying the problem, when asked. Also? The person that has solutions. Now they, might get a bigger reward. But, not as much as the best thing. The person? That both sees and understands the problem. And? Can come up with a solution."

   "Now. The world, has many problems. It is not the perfect place, we all wish it would be. When someone finds, that... magic wand? Please. Wave it. I would say, that I will wait? But again, we will be waiting a very long time. There is no magic wand. Eh. But a person that sees problems. Understands the problem. And? Has solutions for it. And the ability and desire to apply the correct solution to the problem? To the little children, it can seem like the magic wand has been waved."

   "What do these people know. They wake up one day. We do not have this... thing. We want this thing. We need this thing. Where is it? Then, along comes people with ability and desire. Then, these people, they wake up the next day. Aha! There is this thing we want, this thing we need! Perhaps, to them? It is the magic wand got waved."

   "But all of us, in this room, tonight? We know there is no magic, and no magic wand. There is only action, and persistence. If you do not act? All the solutions are useless. And you must be persistent. One thing does not work? You try another thing. What is my American phrase here. You must... crack, that nut. And? It may take more than one swing with that hammer, to get that walnut you want. It may take many swings. If you never swing the hammer? No walnut. If you swing 19 times, and quit? Again. No walnut for you. What if, hammer swing 20, gives the nut to crack."

   "This? Is persistence. To me, it goes with ability and desire. But, I say it. When you see the problem? Do not complain. Any person can complain. I have a cat at home, and it can complain. To complain? Not such a hard thing to do. You point, you say this and that. Yet? You do nothing. A cat, that will not stop the noise, can do that."

   "Now. The cat, that will chew at the bag of food, that the lazy owner has forgotten to open and put food down. That? Is a cat that can eat as much as it wants, any time it wants. If that cat just made noise? No food. But, it studied the problem. The food, is in that bag. I can scratch, I can chew. Aha! I get food. This cat? Did not complain about the problem. This other cat? Solves this big problem."

   "I have both of these cats, at home. My wife? She favors the cat that complains. One day, my cat? The one I prefer. I found, that it had chewed the bag. And do you know what? The other cat, the one that only complained. It, got to eat now too."

   "Now, I ask you. Which cat are you. Will you complain, and wait? Making all the noise. Or, will you try. Be persistent. And? Feed the other cats, not just yourself."

   "Now. I must say, about greed. People do not use this word right. They point. That person? Look how much they have. They have many things, and lots of them. They? Have greed. I say? No. To want, to get, to have? Is this greed? No. Also. Will you give me some of your things. If I say no? I am now not only rude, I am now full of greed. But, if you give and give, and no one gives back? I ask you, who is the one with greed."

   "But? As I said. We are here? To do a couple things. One, is to see problems. And? To provide solutions. And in the end? So you can see... opportunity."

   "Opportunity? To invest and make back more than you invest. If you invest and lose, that is bad. If you invest and only get back what you risk? Well. You could have stayed home, and enjoyed your family and friends, and did no work? And would be the same. You ran in a big circle. You are where you started. Eh. The man that runs in the circle, and the next man just stands still? Both are in the same spot, but... one is tired and one is well rested."

   "So yes. The opportunity, is made so you get back more than you put in. This is not greed. But? Also, the opportunity... to help. The opportunity? To make people that are unhappy? Happy again. And so. Lets get another drink, and after a short break... we will see what opportunity, looks like today."

   When the short break was over and drinks and little snacks had been put out, he began again. He had a remote, and a gigantic TV screen went on.

   "We need a problem, yes? Fortunately for us, the world has many problems. All the complaining, but... this is opportunity. To yes, make more money, of course. But, opportunity also? To help people, to make them happy. Here is but one problem. Energy."

   "Every big country? Needs it. They often need more of it. If they do not need more? They need it cheaper. You want the electric car? You now need more energy. Maybe, even more energy than when you had the gasoline car. One day? Maybe. Until then, though. We need the same energy, as we always have. The coal, the gas, the oil. Also? The raw materiel. To make things. The... iron ore. And other things. Other metal, other minerals. These things? Some we want, some we need."

   "People are unhappy, when there is not enough of these things. People are unhappy? When the price of these things, is too high. And so? We have our problem. Now. What is the solution. Anyone?"

   New energy source, new technological advantage to use it more efficiently. Lots of things. But, not one person said... where can we find more.

   "Good ideas. Some, advanced. But, I love the American phrases. My guilty... pleasure. They have so many. You, and I am the rude French man, so I can say this, but I say it polite, and so I will say it. You are all at the... top, of this problem. There is a... bottom, to the problem. When I say it? You will say, oh it is obvious. We simply need to find more of these things. I am polite being a little rude, but... am I wrong? We know the problem. Now? We have a possible solution."

   "The world, is big. We need a place, where there is much of these things. And? Where they have too much of it. More than they can use. Energy, and the raw materiel? Easy to find where to put it, pick any large country, no? When the price is right, because there is plenty of it? Prices are good."

   "So, the solution here? Is to simply first locate it. Then? To make the people that have too much of it, happy. That is easy. Here, is a lot of money. We buy all you have to spare. When you buy the cat food in the big bag? Each cat meal, costs less. Now, we simply take it where it needs to be. The people that have too much, become very happy. The people that had not enough? Ah, they are now happy. And we? Can now be very happy."

   "So. Where is all this energy, and raw materiel."

   He took the pause off as he did periodically, letting the next image in line with what he was talking about, show. He paused next on? A world map, and Africa was at the center.

   "Africa. It is large. There are many resources. And energy, too. They are not using a fraction of it. Now. Here is the difficulty. Africa!"

   Polite chuckles.

   "I asked, and was told. By the history expert? They can not say one, single, year... that they know of? There was not... some fight there. It is, all they know. These people, were happy at one time, perhaps. But? We do not know when that was."

   Some laughter.

   "I laugh too, but... it is not funny. It is, very tragic. When you find the thing you seek, and two men are fighting over top of it? Not good for you. The thing does you no good. Now. If you wait, one man will win. Perhaps now, you can see if you can buy your thing you want, that he is standing on."

   "This is better, but not best. Why should he sell to you? Maybe, he will keep it. Or, look to sell for more, somewhere else. But, we get closer to our solution. See it? We solve the big problem, we get the big reward. And? Everybody is winning. Everyone, I suppose? But, that man that lost that fight."

   He shrugged.

   "Simple math. The winner? Gets to sell his thing he stands on. We win, we get to buy the thing we need. Where we take it? Lots of it and cheaper. All happy people. Is the loser of that fight unhappy? Yes. I am rude, but also polite. Those two men were fighting anyways. I can not help that. And, if you think you can stop Africa from all the fighting? Please, show me the magic wand you wave. It has been tried. Many, many times. Go. Ask the English. Go, ask the French. The Dutch... practically every advanced country, has at one time or another, tried. It will always end in failure."

   "What happens? Another fight. And, if your winner, now loses this new fight? Why, the new winner, takes everything you have built. It is? Sadly, a big waste of time and money."

   Everyone just looked. Waited. Looked at each other, and back again.

   "Ah. I have curious cats now, yes? What is needed. First, we need a country there. There are many, and if you wait long enough? The borders will change, the flags will change, it is normal there. So. We need a country. One that will not... disappear. There is one. Here."

   Next up? A map over the African continent.

   "I give you? Liberia. And, does anyone know, where Liberia comes from? Anyone."

   No one.

   "Eh? I thought, I had Americans here. Perhaps you will be surprised, as much as I was. Liberia? Is all but an American... state. At the end of the civil war in America, there was an idea. All these free slaves. Go, and make a country, and give it to them. Give them back. And this? Is today... Liberia. The name, Liberia? Comes from the American word... liberty."

   He smiled and shrugged.

   "I too, was very surprised. And do you know what? English. Spoken all over there. Where there is no fight? You will see some cities. Very, American looking. Towns? Again, very American. There is electricity and water, and the cell phones and the computers. They have... schools and universities. Doctors and lawyers. No, this is the only place, in all of Africa? You have a chance."

   "America? Supports them. The Liberians? Are free to come to America. Go to school, go back to help. If you meet these people in America? You will not think they are like the other people coming in from all over Africa. Educated, hard working. Most are religious. It is the closest thing, in all of Africa? To call it... civilized."

   "But. It is civilized, and advanced? For Africa. They fight their neighbors. It is not them, their neighbors? See what they have, and want it. These are good African people. They simply fight to keep, what is theirs. And, these people do not hate white people. It is the one place you can go in the world? And everyone loves America. And any friend of America, is their friend."

   "Now, we are moving closer yet, to our solution. When you can speak to them, and you recognize their dressing, and their city and town, and their values? Aha. I can do business, with these people. They understand, what other African nations? Do not understand. Things, like education. Roads and bridges. Power plants. And? Business."

   "And so, next you will ask. If this is so, why is it not been done. We would not be the first people, to try to go into Africa, and try to do business. And I will tell you. It is... warfare. African warfare? Is brutal. It is not so advanced. Yet, do not underestimate this thing. What they lack in advanced warfare? They make up for? In sheer brutality."

   "In Africa? There are no rules. In civilized war, you can not kill the women and the children, the old people. In Africa? First thing you go for. You kill the old people? You kill the wiser people. You kill the women? You stop the next generation from coming for revenge. You kill the children? You stop next year's soldiers. Go, and ask the British. The French. The Dutch."

   "The Chinese, when their economy boomed? Thought this would be easy. They should have asked the British, what they thought of this plan. It was a waste of time."

   "Now. Another American phrase. You must be... back? Of the right horse. The Chinese? Were not so wise. They backed, this country. At war with Liberia, since before we were born. America? Will not enter the fights there. But? They send weapons and ammunition, and food and medicine, and experts. And if you threaten Liberia? Well. Many people talk of fighting America, but... you do not see them showing you this thing. Or, they try to show you? And... not so good for you."

   "This? Is the key, to the solution! You help Liberia? America, is very happy. They will aid you, in many small ways. To do business, if you think you can? They encourage it! They want nothing more, than to see Liberia come out of this. America simply will not go and fight there. There is no real winning. And? As I said. This, is brutal warfare. Yet? It is how it is there. If a man wants to fight dirty, and you will not? You will not do well."

   "And? Liberia sits on top of a giant layer of coal. Some of the best. More than one, in fact. Coal, is not coal. There is coal to burn for heat, it is not the same as for the power plant. Or, for making the steel. But. All these coals? Are there. No diamonds? But, they even have Anthracite. Hard coal. Which is very expensive. Many times more, per ton? Than bituminous, or soft coal."

   "We bring back Anthracite? By the ship full? We will be heroes. We will drop the price of it, and still make more investment than is possible in other places. Also. Natural gas. No... pipe line, but... liquid natural gas. Oil, too."

   "And so. Problem. Lots of energy, is needed. Here it is. The people standing over it, fighting? Understand us. They are the only nation in Africa? That is... pro west. Other countries? All of them, actually. You build schools? They burn them down as soon as you leave. Not here. They desperately want education. And. When America, sees you building a few hospitals, a few schools. All good things will come to you. This, is their children. I ask you. Give things, do nice things, for a child. Their parents? Will be very happy."

   "The market? America. They want coal, and gas and oil. At good prices. And, the anthracite? Will be huge. Hundreds of dollars, per ton. The Anthracite? Is close to the surface. We get that first. It pays? For the soft coal, for the gas drilling. For the, plant, that make the liquid gas. And finally, the oil."

   "All that is required? Is to get the back of this correct horse. Now. You will next ask me, how is this thing done. And the answer? Is so simple. Remember. You want the thing, the two men are standing on, fighting. You say. Hey, you. I like you. Would you like help, in your fight? Any man in a big fight, will welcome you with the arms open, to come help."

   "Of course, they will next ask. Why do you help us. What will this cost us. Simple. We want the black rocks, under your feet. The more help we give them? The more we get back. Also? We bring advanced warfare. Small missile systems, very accurate. Also? The air force, is nothing. And so, Liberian enemies? Have no ground to air defenses. No... jet fighters. It is not as expensive, to be very effective. Simple, old cargo planes? You can drop regular bombs, and be very effective."

   "And so. There is a problem. There are solutions. There are difficulties? So, no one has done this thing. So, you will ask. What are we doing different. The answer? Liberia. Now, they do not have so much money. But? They have resources. Now, when you sell a man a thing, and he wants to pay you with, not money. American phrase, again. What will you pay me with? Bananas. Everyone laughs. I say? Hmm. How many bananas. How fresh can you get them to me. I will build you a... ten million dollar bridge. You do not have ten million dollars. How many bananas do you have? When you take the bananas, you maybe get more than your ten million dollars. Would you not build a ten million dollar bridge, if you get twenty million dollars worth of bananas. Then? All who laughed, will be crying."

   "I think you see. What they can not afford to buy? They will pay with rights to resources. And these rights? Will be worth more than what you would have taken, in money."

   He shrugged.

   "Now. Talk. To each other. This beautiful girl you see? She will be bringing around some papers. These are the... rough sketch, of numbers. And you will see. The deal? Has the structure, around just the hard coal. The anthracite. Close to the surface. Large veins. Easy to get. We just take, an army of the bulldozers. Easy. The diesel we need? Is cheaper in Africa. The Liberians? Want jobs. We will give it to them. Because as soon as that first shipment of that hard coal comes back? Look, at what it sells for, by a ton. See, how many tons goes on each ship. You will see. The opportunity? Is huge. Many people will be happy."

   He raised his palms up.

   "Questions?"

   "Its interesting. What's it cost to get in."

   "Ah. Numbers. The minimum? Round figures, are best. One million dollars, is the minimum investment. You can make as many one million dollar investments? As you wish. As you can see, as you look at the papers. The investment group? Will guarantee, on contract... twenty percent."

   "Can I broker these?"

   "Yes! If you pay for a contract, you are free to sell or trade it. It, is your property."

   "If this gets packaged right, I'm pretty sure I can move a lot of this paper."

   "And you see? Opportunities. Many of them. We will be of course, taking bids. To make airports and roads. Not like in the city. Just, bulldozers. Men to work the bulldozers? Are not hard to find. If you want to make even more? The Liberians, need jobs. Then? We can bring the help in they need. And? The flat trails from bulldozers, will allow that help to be transported to the border, where it will do the most."

   "Yeah, what about security. There's a war going on."

   "The war, is at and over the border, mainly to the west. You, would be on the east. Also? There are companies that will provide the... security you need."

   "And what will that cost."

   "To you? A gift. From the investment group. We will provide the security. With the additional help, we will send? Liberia will no longer be getting attacked, and retaliating. Waiting for the politics in America, to send the ammunition and weapons and supplies. We will put Liberia? On the offensive, for the first time. The interior? Is already fairly secure. And on the east? You will not hear a single shot fired."

   "Can I broker the construction? The bulldozer contracts."

   "Of course. If you make a serious commitment, to the group? You can get authority to sell contracts. What you do not have to do the work, to make bids? You will be able to."

   "And this is... guaranteed."

   "The investment group? Commands, in total? Somewhere in the neighbor of, 14 trillion, in total. As commodities go up and down, and exchange rates move, it varies. But, as you can see. The financial backing, is there."

   "Can I be polite rude?"

   Everyone laughed.

   "To be polite rude, is to tell the truth, or to ask of it. So yes. Be free with words."

   "What country, is this paper coming out of. I can't push Liberian contracts. Everyone in America, will hear Nigeria, because they can't read a map. They'll think, this is some... Nigerian internet scam."

   Everyone laughed.

   "A rude American phrase, now. France? I would not... piss upon it, if France was on fire. Your contracts? Will be coming out of American investment companies. Ones we already own. And, as American law is very clear... if I take your one million dollars, and I promise you 1.2 million back. I must have that 1.2 million, in an American bank."

   "But... your investment group is out of France!"

   "Ah. It was. Not any more. France? Pissed on us. After we gave them so much, so many times. So, you will not be dealing, with... French investment groups. You will be dealing, then? With... American companies. And? The coal, the gas, and last the oil? Will be shipped exclusively to America. And? We have... the phrase is, the back end, of that deal? We intend to start up steel production. In Liberia. This coal? The soft coal, is very close to the famous coal that drove the American steel industry. They have iron ore, all over in Liberia. I would say this place is a... gold mine? Just no gold."

   "If the contracts come out of American investment houses, I can push this paper till the cows come home. Is there any limit?"

   "None. And we give you, ideas. Here is one. Buy a one million dollar, 1.2 million dollar guaranteed return contract."

   He shrugged.

   "It is a contract, but you essentially? Have a note. Discount it, and sell it on. Say, fifteen percent. Do this, as many times as you wish. And, by the time the next layer comes on line? You will be prepared, to invest more. You will have more confidence. By the time you get to the steel mills, on this back end? You will own your own steel mill. For, simply pushing paper."

   "What's the PR on this. They got fucking cannibals in African warfare. We'll get eaten alive on the TV, and it'll get the politicians whining."

   "No. Liberia? Is essentially, American clay. As they say. The one man's, freedom fighter? Is the other man's... terrorist. No. We have an entire PR in motion already. These will be, brave Liberian freedom fighters. The enemy, to the west? They, will be the cannibals. The American politics? Will be greeting you, with open arms. Kissing you on both cheeks, and any other cheek you wish. We will be showing the hospitals, the schools. The prosperity, from the local jobs."

   "I admit it sounds good."

   "Try it. Buy one contract. You can use it? As collateral, to get a couple million more. In brokering the sales of these papers. You can then leverage your position? With a loan. The ground floor? Is wide open and huge."

   He shrugged.

   "We are this close..."

   He indicated with his thumb and index finger very close.

   "... to getting tax free status? To provide the help to the Liberians. The American politics? We, you... will be doing their job for them. What they should have done for Liberia? We will do. And, we will then get our reward. Imagine twenty percent profit, and tax free status."

   As his talk went on? No one else seemed to notice. I did, however. His French accent, lessened slightly. His choice of words and phrases? Became clearer. This devil, was very smooth. Every potential investor? Was going to talk to twenty others, back home. They were already going outside, to make calls. To text. His already huge international investment group? Was going to grow, that was clear.

   But I heard it loud and clear.

   Security companies.

   I knew what that meant, so I can guarantee Panic knew it. He'd been through this before, on the ground.

   Liberia might do well, but... Liberia's enemies? Were going to experience hell on earth, the likes of which they had never envisioned before.

   Liberian cannibals? You can see them, eating their enemies on camera. Its simply what you have to do, to make your point that you're serious when fighting in Africa. All of which? Whatever two sides want to escalate it into and visit upon each other, is less of the point to me.

   Much more to the point, is what was going to be visited upon the women, children, and elderly. Collateral damage, my ass. They were going to be prime targets. This isn't a fight. This isn't even warfare in my book.

   I was reminded of a quote from Nostradamus. His quatrains, perhaps. The Apocalypse.

   "And man, will become the eater of man."

   And the civilized world?

   Was going to cheer this on.