Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Well, I was afraid that once Ben got that huge sum of money, he'd get robbed! Now the man offered him a thousand dollars but that's too much for those days, isn't it? So Ben just got 200? None of the crew wanted to go with him?
That dinner companion was very interesting. I wonder if he comes back. I am glad that Ben now has become a crusader to rescue people from being kidnapped!

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 24-Aug-2023

$1000 would not be too much considering the bounty of gold Ben delivered with the ship. But he would only accept $200. His compatriots went their separate ways.
Yes, we'll see/hear more from Paladin, but since he is a totally fictitious character (and a rather silly one, at that), it will be a small role.
Thank you for your kind review.

Comment from Ric Myworld

Excellent

A good, swift punch in the gut or solar plexus and all hostilities cease, at least for a while. So Ben definitely bought the guys some time to get the other man free. LOL. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 24-Aug-2023

Thank you.
You wouldn't believe the critics for me lettin' Ben punch that guy!
smiley face here

reply by Ric Myworld on 24-Aug-2023

Oh, yes, I would believe Ben's punch would probably ruffle a few feathers. :-)

Comment from Jim Wile

Excellent

Ben is almost like Forest Gump the way he often encounters famous people wherever he goes. That make a great touch to the story.

Here he is in the process of disrupting another thriving business. Way to go Ben! Another interesting chapter, Wayne. - Jim

 Comment Written 23-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Thank you. Glad you weren't put off by the Paladin scene.

Comment from BethShelby

Excellent

Ben gets a reward and ticket back to San Francisco. I didn't realize the Have Gun will travel show was based on a real person. I was surprised that Ben punched the doorman in the stomach. I guess working for place that kidnaps people makes him deserve it.

 Comment Written 23-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Paladin was fictitious. The hotel is real, but not Paladin. In the Notes I explained I just did that for fun. The tavern doorman/bouncer was a shanghai operative who would have hurt the ones trying to rescue the alcoholic.

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Excellent

Aside from thinking this was an abrupt departure from the last segment, I found this new one to be interesting. So, his new mission is clear and he has help making it happen. Is the Hotel Carlton a real place in SanFran? It sounds familiar, but I never watched the TV show you reference.

Pam

 Comment Written 23-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Yes, the hotel is a real place. The entire 'out to sea' experience was an abrupt departure from Ben's plan, but not his calling.
Thank you for your review.

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

Ah, the note explains for those of us who aren't American and have no knowledge of those tv shows. Another very readable chapter, although I confess to being a bit surprised that Ben would punch someone so hard, although I guess he needed to in order for the other guy to be rescued.
Wendy

 Comment Written 22-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Thank you for your review.
Yes, a tap might only result in another sea voyage for everybody, or danger for his friends.

Comment from Jay Squires

Excellent

I wondered who Clay Alexander was. Having Paladin on the card didn't register with me. I'm wondering, and still hoping, you'll run into Jack London who was contemporaneous with the big earthquake. He could probably have used Ben's spiritual help from what I'd read about him. He was not a very nice man.

Jay

 Comment Written 22-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

I could have worked London in, but he would have been a kid.
Richard Boone played Paladin on the show 'Have Gun, Will Travel'.
Thank you for the review.

reply by Jay Squires on 23-Aug-2023

I do remember Richard Boone and Paladin, but I wasn't fanatical about him or it. I don't know ... I just did the math and Jack London would have been 33 in 1909. Granted, to you and me he'd have been a kid.

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Ben reaches SF in about 1890. I could have fudged the dates, but I have Ben to the north later on where London had a home.

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

I enjoyed this chapter. Paladin is an interesting person for Ben to meet and even Hey Boy made an appearance. Very slick way for Ben to rescue a shanghaied drunk. It could also be a good mission as so many men were shanghaied. But I know there is an important occurrence in San Francisco on Easter Sunday.

 Comment Written 22-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Thank you for your very nice review.

Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)

Excellent

I liked the end of this chapter, dealing with recovering those who are shanghaied, but I was sad that you gave such short shrift to the end of the section on the Superbia. I would have rather seen Ben's meeting with the owner detailed out more. kay

 Comment Written 22-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 23-Aug-2023

Thank you for your review.
I admit, I was anxious for Ben to get back on his San Francisco track.

Comment from Lee, Undone

Excellent

This was a great captivating read, and very sophisticated. I love the concept of following gods will mixed with the raw brutality of the realistic world I especially like the part But please allow me to postulate: some customers are not always right. Truth and justice may lie otherwise."

 Comment Written 22-Aug-2023

---

reply by the author on 22-Aug-2023

Thank you. I really appreciate your reviewing a chapter in the middle of a book.(ch 39 of 88)