“The authorities want to keep the foreigners from wandering around town and spreading ideas of rebellion to slaves.” Old Joe said. “As if a slave who sails the seas with the permission of his master doesn’t have eyes and ears of his own. He’s a man, is he not? He has a tongue to tell stories of what he has seen and heard, does he not? He has a pocket sewn into his jacket. He can carry the printed word from afar, with news of how men and women live elsewhere.” Old Joe shook his head slowly. “They can’t tie up the mind with a rope, but they keep trying anyhow. So
