So while they waited they resigned themselves to accepting one cow, and thought, instead, of their luck in getting such a good husband for Sarita. But Sam was in such a stew and so afraid there’d be some slip in this marriage chance for Sarita that they knew he wouldn’t hold out for anything. Ask for three cows, they told him, and hold out for two until you’re sure he’ll pay one. “All the way to the council tent the cousins were urging Sam to try for a good settlement. She never romped with the girls, so how could she attract the boys?” She was scared of her own shadow, frightened by her own voice. Her cheeks had no color, her eyes never opened beyond a slit and her hair was a tangled mop half over her face. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked, as if she was trying to hide behind herself. She was little and skinny with no–ah–endowments. “She must have been a beauty that takes your breath away.” Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four or five a highly satisfactory one. He spoke the last words with great solemnity and I knew enough about island customs to be thorougly impressed. Five months ago, at festival time, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. It is some kind of trick, a wild-goose chase, like sending someone for a left-handed wrench? I there no such person or is he the village idiot or what? Let me in on the joke.”
“Everybody around here tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Smiles broadened on the faces of the villagers standing nearby. The simple statement made the boy choke and almost roll off the steps. “Johnny Lingo’s the sharpest trader in this part of the Pacific.” “Be quiet,” said his father and the laughter grew silent. “Johnny Lingo.” The chubby boy on the veranda steps hooted the name, then hugged his knees and rocked with shrill laughter.
JOHNNY LINGO HOW TO
Johnny knows values and how to make a deal.” “He’ll earn his commission four times over.
“Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and then let him do the bargaining,” advised Shenkin as I sat on the veranda of his guest house and wondered whether to visit Nurabandi. Adapted and edited from it’s original appearance in