Empire of the Sun

Once in the hidden cabin Jim meets another, older American sailor named Basie and learns that the one he first met is Frank. Basie is more friendly toward Jim than Frank but asks him lots of questions and examines his teeth. Following this, Basie gives Jim some of the rice and fish stew he has been making. Asked about his parents, Jim lies and says that they are on the Idzumo. Frank is shocked by this, but Basie realises that Jim is lying. After falling asleep and waking up, Frank tells Jim that Basie is continually looking for gold teeth to sell on the local Chinese markets. Despite his misgivings, Jim decides that staying with the sailors offers his best chance of being reunited with his parents.

Each of the following afternoons, Jim goes with Frank and Basie in their truck to the Chinese markets in the nearby area of Hongkew to haggle for food in exchange for cigarettes. Jim also realizes that Basie is trying to sell Jim to the Chinese street vendors, “like one of the chickens which the Chinese women carried beside them on the seats of trams” (80).