Page "Brenda Starr, Reporter" Paragraph 7

However, Basil's mysterious assistant, a handsome Kazooki code-named " Ringo ," persuaded Sage and Brenda to travel instead to Paris, France.

Sage was thrilled by the idea of traveling by an undersea tunnel.

Brenda admitted that she " could never say no to Paris.

" In the French capital, Ringo revealed two secrets to Brenda: 1 ) Basil was financing and training teachers to educate the Kazooki people ( which would put Basil on a death list if found out by the repressive government of Kazookistan ); and 2 ) Ringo was in love with Brenda.

When he says the latter, Brenda either does not hear him — or pretends not to.

But the second time, she clearly hears him — and feels as if she is drowning.

She recovers, and says: " Thanks for the gift.

" Then the two continue exploring Paris and explaining their feelings to each other.

They drink an entire bottle of champagne and Ringo recites mystic Sufi love poetry to Brenda.

When the bottle is empty, Ringo places a love poem by Hafez inside it, and casts it into the Seine, calculating that one day it will reach American shores.

They bid a sad bittersweet farewell.

Ringo returns to Kazookistan.

Brenda returns Sage to his mother Wanda in the US.