Jim meets Frank and Basie, American merchant seaman turned scavengers. They don't know whether Jim is "hungrier or crazier." As the two men discuss what to do with him, Jim finds out that cholera has broken out in Nantao Creek, merchants are charging $10 for a bag of rice and food is scarce everywhere. Basie examines Jim looking for a way to make money from him. He checks his teeth and recognizes he has been well cared for. He notices his Cathedral School blazer and knows it to be a school for the rich children of taipans. He starts questioning Jim about who he knows and decides he will keep Jim around. They feed Jim and in his weakened state Jim thinks they might be thinking of eating him too. Basie.....
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