Deus Ex Machina alert!
I’m glad that in your last post that you mentioned Ben Gunn’s yearning to be reunited…with cheese. Because when Jim shares that very information with his allies back at their hideout we learn that Dr. Livesey just happens to have been secreting a snuff box full of Parmesan!
Is it me or is that fromage a little too fortuitous? That queso a bit of a coincidence?
And just listen to the self-satisfied way that Dr. L presents this information:
“Well Jim,” says he, “just see the good that comes of being dainty in your food. You’ve seen my snuff-box, haven’t you? And you never saw me take snuff; the reason being that in my snuff-box I carry a piece of Parmesan cheese–a cheese made in Italy, very nutritious.
One — secretly hoarding food is not what I’d consider “dainty”. And two, I know where they make Parmesan you supercilious son of a…rum puncheon.
Now we’re left to wonder how the cheese factor will play out. Will that Parmesan soothe Ben’s crazy and make him a willing cheese-drugged minion for whatever anti-pirate action that the good doctor has in mind. (Remember Dr. L…first do no harm). Or will Ben be so disgusted at this continental cheese that he will (perhaps horrifically) turn against the “good” guys. (“I said I wanted cheddar Jim! Cheddar!! Why couldn’t you listen? [blackout to mayhem…all we hear is Captain Smollet’s cry of “Heaven help us!”).
On that sour note…adieu,
Jon
