[ The analogy does its work to quickly catch him up to speed—mostly. Hickey's view of America is chaotic and wonderful, though he doesn't much care how it got to be that way. Maybe Angelo and his spacenoids ought to just appreciate what they've got.

But it seems unwise to say such a thing. He'd rather not get punched again. ]

I see. A difficult situation, to say the least. How are your people faring?

[ As for his cause... He turns his attention to the roses. ]

We were sent to complete a trade route in the polar sea. The Northwest Passage. A boon for England, no doubt, but not one worth dying for if you ask me.