Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places...
Aug 12th, The Year of the Minotaur
The Banana Boat departs. I am accompanied by 15 cronies, seven mariners and my skipper,
Coatimundi. I am determined to find Mimi.
'In The Jungle' - Aug 25th
Surrounded by Amazonian mulattas bent on propagating themselves, we are regarded as
animals to be mated with their slaves and then eliminated. Mimi's mother provides us with
clues in the nick of time.
'Animal Crackers' - Sept 10th
The Carashians welcome us with a song and dance. Before we are allowed ashore however, we
are told to shed our American clothes and don the islands khaki attire. Adims and Pooler
refuse to assimilate: they are summarily bound and plunged into the ocean.
'I Stand Accused' - Sept 27th
Fresh gales. I am told today that Mimi prolonged her stay in the Iyo Republic. We head for
the island at breakneck speed.
'Latin Music' 'Musica Americana' - Oct. 23rd
We have the good fortune of arriving in the middle of a revolution! The Nignats and the
Raecons do battle for the control of the radio station. Each hates the music of the other,
it seems. We are taken to the Raecon Embassy and questioned about Spanish and Negro music.
I guess the authorities want to know where our sympathies lie. I lost my pal Bornes - he
had the wrong sympathies.
'I Am' - Nov 12th
No sooner do we set foot on land, than we are arrested. We discover, all too late, that
years ago the Governor had banned music in his city. We are tossed into the dark hole of a
great acoustic guitar.
Moderate Breezes and fair weather. We grieve for the loss of Donible
and Coppersmith, whom we had to leave behind so we could continue.
'Schweinerei' - Dec 15th
I am as much dazzled by this futuristic city as the Finnemanians apparently are by me.
Having never seen brown skin before, these people regard me as an alien god. Perhaps I
should settle here in paradise and let sleeping dogs lie.
'Gina, Gina' - Jan 5th, The Year of the Centaur
I said goodbye to Gina this morning. Despite my pleas, she would not continue with us -
she is too much in love. We befriend an old sailor who swears he can take us to Mimi. The
old sailor turns out to be a fugitive from law. The Minskeberg police come closer every
hour. We climb higher and higher up Hannibal's mountain. I must keep the fellow alive if I
am to see Mimi again.
'With A Girl Like Mimi' - Feb 14th
The whirlpool has claimed many lives, all of my mariners and my dearest comrades Lawrence,
Tosca, Dorsee, Raes, Ratafian, Griffith... And alack - the Banana Boat - no more!
'Table Manners' - Mar 21st
I have never in my life encountered so many trllops, scoundrels, thieves and do-no-gooders
assembled in one place. Here, among all these devils, Coatimundi and I find Mimi's sister,
Solange. We make a deal and she promises to deliver Mimi.
'Dear Addy' - Aug 12th
The shock has subsided. I want to go home...badly. This afternoon I sent a telegram to my
housekeeper. She will understand.....
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