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"There are two political groups in Lilliput," began Reldresal, "the High-Heels and the Low-Heels.

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The groups are named after the style of shoes their members wear.

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"Once, the High-Heels were the most popular group," Reldresal went on.

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"Our king and his officials, however, are Low-Heels."

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"Do the two groups get along?" I asked.

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"Oh no! The two groups hate each other," said Reldresal.

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"The king is afraid that the High-Heels may try to take his power."

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"And could they?"

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"Perhaps. We think that there are more High-Heels than Low-Heels in Lilliput," said Reldresal.

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"What's worse, the king is very upset with his son, the prince of Lilliput.

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The prince wears one shoe with a high heel.

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His other shoe has a low heel.

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That's why the prince moves up and down as he walks.

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The king also has enemies in other places," Reldresal continued.

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"Lilliput and a nearby island, Blefuscu, have been at war for three years."

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"That island to the east?"

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Reldresal nodded.

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"How did this war start?" I asked.

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"The war began over how people cut open boiled eggs," Reldresal explained.

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"I beg your pardon?"

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I thought that I had misunderstood his words.

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I was still learning Lilliputian.

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"Boiled eggs," he repeated.

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"People in Lilliput like to eat boiled eggs.

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An egg has a big end and a small, pointed end.

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Almost everyone in Lilliput used to cut open their boiled eggs at the big end.

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The problem started when our king's grandfather was a little boy.

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He was then the prince of Lilliput, and his father was the king.

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One day, the prince cut open his egg at the big end.

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He got careless and cut his finger.

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The king got very angry because the prince was hurt.

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That day, the king made a new law.

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From then on, everyone in Lilliput had to cut open their boiled eggs at the small end.

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Small-Enders are people who obey the law.

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Big-Enders refuse to obey the law."

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"I suppose," I said, "that these two groups also hate each other?"

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"Correct. Over the years, they have had many fights," said Reldresal.

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"Our current king is a Small-Ender.

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Some Big-Enders have gone to live in Blefuscu.

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The king of Blefuscu would like to take over Lilliput, and the Big-Enders support him.

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We have heard rumors that the Blefuscan king plans to attack Lilliput with many ships.

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Can you find a way to help us?"

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"Reldresal," I said, "I'm sure I can."

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He told me that more than fifty ships were in the harbor at Blefuscu.

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Only about a kilometer of sea separates the two islands.

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The water between them is quite shallow.

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For the next few days, I kept away from the shore of Lilliput that is opposite Blefescu.

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I did not want the Blefuscans to see me.

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I had figured out a plan for helping the king of Lilliput.

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But if the Blefuscans knew about me, my plan would fail.

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A few days later, I spoke to the king.

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"I have a secret plan," I said, "to steal many of the Blefuscan ships.

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Then your enemies will not be able to invade Lilliput."

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"I would appreciate your help, Enormous One," replied the king.

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After I explained my plan, he said,

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"Tell me what you need to make your plan work."

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"Have your workmen make fifty very large metal hooks," I told him.

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"I need lots of strong rope as well."

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"Those things will be ready in two days," promised the king.

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The look on his face was very serious.