Living with Danger

Empires have been forged by ruthless people who ignore danger and take chances. Heavily-armed warriors have swept all before them. Nations have been brought to ruin and vast areas laid waste. But, it's not all bad news. Young people, throughout history, have flirted with danger. It's a part of growing up. Danger adds spice to life … sometimes with amusing consequences.In Part 2 of Living with Danger, Mike takes a look at these two extremes. On the light-hearted side. he recalls the peace marches of his younger days and notes that some had more to do with cuddling up to members of the opposite sex than banning bombs and other noble causes. More recently., a toy boy, in his backpacker hostel, had an anxious mum who phoned and wanted to know what her teenage son was doing in the company of an older woman. Mike did his best to reassure her. On other occasions, he gave advice to older guys who had been victims of honey traps on visits to the city's night clubs.Young people respond to hormones. In northern France, canny girls flocked to the camps of the invading Norwegian Vikings when they arrived a thousand years ago. The guys had multiple partners and sired a new nation that went on to conquer England and Sicily. At roughly the same time, Mongolian horsemen were seizing vast tracks of India and China. DNA studies show that over twenty million people can trace their ancestry back to a single man, Genghis Kahn. Many proudly carry the family name Kahn.Get ready for Part 3. It will take a look at Spy Masters and Spy Mistresses.