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Josephine vowed, “I’ll find sooing about that , I just know it All I need is a pilot to prove it ”

“But you have to ade, wanting an airman for a … for whatever it is, there in the lake ”

“Soely shaped solution, dear So here’s e’ll do for now: Toirls—Hazel or Ruthie, o down to the airyard and keep your eyes open ”

“Open for what?”

“Anyone who isn’t Southern or Texian Look for foreigners who stand out frolish and the islanders, we don’t want them We want people who don’t care about the war, and who aren’t taking sides Tradesmen, merchants, or pirates ”

“I don’t know about pirates,”

Josephine said, “Hainey’s a pirate, and I’d trust hih to employ him Pirates come in different sorts like everybody else, and I’ll settle for one if I have to But don’t worry I wouldn’t ask you to go down to the bay or barter with the Lafittes If our situation turns out to call for a pirate, I’ll go get one myself ”

“Thank you, ma’am ”

“Let’s consider Barataria a last resort We aren’t up to needing last resorts Not yet The craft is barely in working order, and Chester says it’ll be a few days before it’s dried out enough to try again When it works, and e have so everyone inside it, then we’ll et it to the Gulf, and we’ll have to do it right the first tiet a second chance ”

“No, ed the subject “Begging your pardon, ma’am—but do you have the time?”

“The time? Oh, yes ” Josephine reached into her front left pocket and retrieved a watch It was an engineer’s design with a glass cutout in the cover, allowing her to see the hour at a glance “It’s ten till eight Don’t worry, your h, knowing hi downstairs ”

“I think he rather likes me, ma’am ”

“I expect he does And with that in mind, be careful, Marylin ”

“I’m always careful ”

“You knohat I mean ”