Cutworm Festival Followed By Bombshell

Arthur and Sikong Shu emerge from the forest, bleeding in various places.

What have you two been up to? says Doctor Zhu Min. Sikong Shu, you have neglected your duty. The rest of the party are missing.

Do you have any bandages? says Sikong Shu. I'm bleeding.

No, says Doctor Zhu Min.

I have, says Arthur, drawing bandages out of his pocket.

Clang! the cake server drops out.

What is that? asks Doctor Zhu Min.

Our scraper, says Arthur. The best I could do at short notice.

Call yourselves paleontologists! says Doctor Zhu Min. That's a cake server!

Arthur shrugs. He still thinks it will do.

.......


Gaius, Margaret and Rosamunda have met another group of tourists. They are Buyi, an ethnic minority.

The Buyi wear short buttoned-up jackets, trousers, and bright coloured scarves on their heads

The Buyi are giggling at Rosamunda, who has told them her hovercraft is full of eels.

Hee hee hee, laugh the Buyi.

Doctor Zhu Min rushes over, followed by Sikong Shu and Arthur.

What's this? says Doctor Zhu Min. Subversive laughter?

Not at all, says Gaius. Rosamunda was making a joke. But Margaret has been conversing with these people.

Yes, yes, says Doctor Zhu Min. They are Buyi. No doubt they have told you about their famous Cutworm Festival.

Have they? says Arthur.

Yes, says Rosamunda. On the third day of the third lunar month they remember the cutworms by spreading fried corn in the fields. Then they sing and blow leaves to make music. They walk in the river splashing each other with water. After that they hook up with someone congenial and disappear into the forest for adventures.

Sikong Shu looks up at the sky.

We must go, says Doctor Zhu Min. Please say your farewells to the Buyi.

What's next on the itinerary? says Gaius.

I must leave you, says Doctor Zhu Min. I'm taking Lavender back to Beijing. As she won't come without Arthur, he may come too. The rest of you must remain with Sikong Shu in Yunnan Province, until ...well... until you are sent for. Don't worry. It won't be too long.

He walks off in the direction of the bus stop.

Gaius! says Margaret. You're not going to put up with that?