Chapter 11. A LIFELINE FROM AFAR
When the senators convened, Greenfin told them that there was nothing more he could do: the bank was simply out of fish. Some senators suggested that they tell the truth to the islanders. Those proposals died in committee. Lindy searched for better answers.
He asked the island's brilliant economist Brent Barnacle to take over at the bank.
"No problem, sir," said Barnacle. "The citizens have lost confidence. If we spend more of our Fish Reserve Notes now, we can restore that lost faith and the people will start spending for themselves. If I have to, I'll drop the Fish Reserve Notes from palm trees."
Some of the senators were a bit confused. Although none of them had Barnacle's economic training, some had the feeling that the problems stemmed from spending too much to begin with. Buddy Goldfish tried to talk some sense, but no one would listen.
Fortunately, the tough choices were avoided by a neat twist of fate. Suddenly, the Senate door was flung open and one of the island's far-flung ambassadors, barged into the chamber with some very strange-looking people.
The ambassador had discovered an island across the eastern sea called Sinopia, where all the citizens ...
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