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"We can replace Quinn Get other kids out in other boats," Caine said

Albert shook his head "There’s a learning curve It took Quinn a long tiood and efficient as he is Plus he has the best boats, and he has all the nets and poles If we decided to replace hiet production back up to nonstarvation levels"

"Then we’d better get started," Caine snapped

"No," Albert said Then added, "Your Highness"

Caine sla in to Quinn! Quinn is not the king! I a for more money," Albert said

Caine jumped up from his chair "Of course not Not everyone is you, Albert Not everyone is a ht, but kept ranting "It’s power he wants He wants to bring me down He and Sam Temple are friends from ay back I should have never let hio with Sam!"

"He fishes in the ocean, and we’re on the ocean," Albert pointed out This kind of outburst irritated Albert It was a waste of ti up there with that lake stocked with fish, and his own fields, and somehow he has Nutella and Pepsi and Cup-a-Noodles, and what do you think happens if kids here start thinking we have no food?" Caine was red in the face Furious Albert reoerous He decided against answering the question

"We both knohat happens," Caine said bitterly "Kids leave town and head for the lake" He glared at Albert as if it was all Albert’s fault "This is why it’s no good having two different towns Kids can just go where they want"

Caine threw hied his knee on the desk With an angry sweep of his hand he threw the desk crashing into the wall The ih to knock the ancient pictures down, all those ego shots of the original ular dent in the wall

Caine sat chewing his thus he could be doing At last Caine used his powers to scoot the desk back into place He see to lean on in a dra his elbows on the table, forers into a steeple, an alhtfully against his forehead

"You’re my adviser, Albert," Caine said "What do you advise?"

Since when had Albert become an adviser? But he said, "Okay, since you ask, I think you should send Penny away" When Caine started to object, Albert, finally evincing his impatience, raised his hand "First, because Penny is a sick, unstable person She was bound to cause problems, and she’ll cause ainst you It’s not just Quinn: everyone thinks it’s wrong And third, if you don’t and if Quinn stands firm, this toill empty out"

And if you don’t, Albert added silently, I will suddenly learn about a cache of o to take theive in, everyone will think…" He took a shaky breath "I’ They’ll think I can be beaten"