It's late in the evening. They are all on the train to Qujing.
Rosamunda stares out of the window.
What's out there? she asks Sikong Shu.
Sikong Shu pays no attention, being deep in conversation with Arthur.
The Pearl River, says Margaret. Terraced hillsides. Rice fields. Store houses. Farms.
I didn't ask you, says Rosamunda. Anyway how do you know?
Research, says Margaret. What you should have done.
Rosamunda decides to move seats. She sits down next to Gaius, who is shuffling his notes, with Lavender still perched on his knee.
Don't you wonder what's out there? says Rosamunda.
Yes, I do, says Gaius. What a pity it's dark. Shall we ask Sikong Shu what we're missing?
Actually, says Rosamunda, I know. It's the Pearl River, and on the far bank there are terraced hillsides, rice fields, store houses and farms.
How picturesque and delightful, says Gaius. What an asset you are, Rosamunda. If only Margaret could be relied upon to do as much research...
Rosamunda smiles, pats his leg.
Gaius is not used to such intimacy. He stiffens. Lavender falls off his knee.
Ow! I knew that would happen, says Lavender. Someone pick me up!
Rosamunda picks her up. Walks across to where the two poets are sitting.
Sikong Shu: I pay little attention to the woes of the people. I prefer beautiful landscapes, and the joys of deep friendship.
Arthur: And you're obsessed with white hair for some reason.
Sikong Shu: White hair is a signifier of wisdom and regret. I admire your hair. A young man's hair. Springy.
He touches Arthur's hair gently. It springs back.
Ouvert: What's a signifier?......Oooof! Arthur get off!
Rosamunda: Arthur, are you sitting on Ouvert?
Arthur: Yes. I am. Poetry requires suffering and pain.
Sikong Shu: That's how you work?
Arthur: Yes, sometimes.
Sikong Shu: I feel I must warn you of something.
Arthur: What is it?
But before he can issue the warning, the train pulls in to Qujing.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
At Any Moment Life May Become Difficult
At last they arrive in Kunming. It is early evening. They have been met by a guide, Sikong Shu.
The name is familiar.
Are you named after the poet? says Arthur.
No, says Sikong Shu. That would be very bad form. I am in fact he.
I read your poem on the plane, says Arthur. The one where you visit your cousin. Yellow light on white head...
My white head, says Ouvert, from Arthur's pocket. Hello, I'm fish mouth. Weee! Pop!
Sikong Shu looks surprised. Who's in charge?
Margaret decides to take over.
Good evening, says Margaret. I understand you speak English. I am Margaret, I'm a geologist, this is Gaius, the well known natural historian, and this is Rosamunda Secunda, our junior ...er...assistant, and this young man in the orange shorts is Arthur Rimbaud, the poet. We have with us two small pebbles, Ouvert and Lavender, who may or may not make some contribution, but you need not bother about them.
Sikong Shu is delighted to meet Arthur Rimbaud, fellow poet. And so handsome.
He wonders if that was Ouvert in his pocket, the fish mouth, who said Weee! Pop! so amusingly. He would like to find out.
Then, he remembers his manners.
We'll have dinner, he says. Then catch the late train to Qujing. Doctor Zhu Min will be waiting.
He takes them to a restaurant, where they are served cucumber and lotus blossoms, shredded eggplant in chilli oil, rice noodles, pork and spring onions with ginger, sticky rice with coriander. Snow beer.
A wonderful dinner, says Gaius. If a trifle over-indulgent.
Sikong Shu looks stern.
It could easily have been less so, says Sikong Shu. Enjoy while you can. At any moment life may become difficult.
I am not here to be lectured, says Gaius.
Of course not, agrees Sikong Shu.
How old are you? says Rosamunda Secunda. If you wrote that poem, I'm guessing.... Tang Dynasty?
Amazing! says Sikong Shu. And correct.
Sikong Shu is chuffed.
What interesting people he has been chosen to guide to Qujing.
And he has not at this point met Lavender.
The name is familiar.
Are you named after the poet? says Arthur.
No, says Sikong Shu. That would be very bad form. I am in fact he.
I read your poem on the plane, says Arthur. The one where you visit your cousin. Yellow light on white head...
My white head, says Ouvert, from Arthur's pocket. Hello, I'm fish mouth. Weee! Pop!
Sikong Shu looks surprised. Who's in charge?
Margaret decides to take over.
Good evening, says Margaret. I understand you speak English. I am Margaret, I'm a geologist, this is Gaius, the well known natural historian, and this is Rosamunda Secunda, our junior ...er...assistant, and this young man in the orange shorts is Arthur Rimbaud, the poet. We have with us two small pebbles, Ouvert and Lavender, who may or may not make some contribution, but you need not bother about them.
Sikong Shu is delighted to meet Arthur Rimbaud, fellow poet. And so handsome.
He wonders if that was Ouvert in his pocket, the fish mouth, who said Weee! Pop! so amusingly. He would like to find out.
Then, he remembers his manners.
We'll have dinner, he says. Then catch the late train to Qujing. Doctor Zhu Min will be waiting.
He takes them to a restaurant, where they are served cucumber and lotus blossoms, shredded eggplant in chilli oil, rice noodles, pork and spring onions with ginger, sticky rice with coriander. Snow beer.
A wonderful dinner, says Gaius. If a trifle over-indulgent.
Sikong Shu looks stern.
It could easily have been less so, says Sikong Shu. Enjoy while you can. At any moment life may become difficult.
I am not here to be lectured, says Gaius.
Of course not, agrees Sikong Shu.
How old are you? says Rosamunda Secunda. If you wrote that poem, I'm guessing.... Tang Dynasty?
Amazing! says Sikong Shu. And correct.
Sikong Shu is chuffed.
What interesting people he has been chosen to guide to Qujing.
And he has not at this point met Lavender.
How Seductive Is China
It is the following morning. They are all on the plane.
Gaius is sitting next to Margaret, Lavender balanced on his knee.
Lavender is sulking, because Ouvert is included.
Gaius is reading his notes on the Kuanti Formation.
Margaret is dreaming of The Nine Dragon Waterfall, the Colourful Sands Forest and Rapeflowers.
Behind them, Rosamunda and Arthur, with Ouvert clenched in his fist.
Muh-uh-uh-uh, says Ouvert which is all he can manage.
Tell me again why he's here, says Rosamunda.
Ask Gaius, says Arthur.
No, says Rosamunda. He's reading. I wonder how this trip will go. Why are the Chinese so generous? I know Gaius is famous but....
You know what I think? says Arthur.
What? says Rosamunda.
You ask too many questions, says Arthur.
Jealous, says Rosamunda. That's you.
Arthur takes a book out of his pocket. Opens it. Starts reading.
What's the book? says Rosamunda. Looks like Chinese poetry.
It is, says Arthur. When Lu Lun my cousin comes for the night.....
Read it to me, says Rosamunda.
Arthur reads:
With no other neighbour but the quiet night
Here I live in the same old cottage
And as raindrops brighten yellow leaves
The lamp illumines my white head.
Oo-oh, my white head! Ouvert squeaks.
Shut up, Ouvert, says Arthur. It's not finished.
Out of the world these many years
I am ashamed to receive you here
But you cannot come too often
More than brother, lifelong friend.
Everyone on the plane within earshot who is not Chinese falls into a reverie.
How seductive is China.
Gaius is sitting next to Margaret, Lavender balanced on his knee.
Lavender is sulking, because Ouvert is included.
Gaius is reading his notes on the Kuanti Formation.
Margaret is dreaming of The Nine Dragon Waterfall, the Colourful Sands Forest and Rapeflowers.
Behind them, Rosamunda and Arthur, with Ouvert clenched in his fist.
Muh-uh-uh-uh, says Ouvert which is all he can manage.
Tell me again why he's here, says Rosamunda.
Ask Gaius, says Arthur.
No, says Rosamunda. He's reading. I wonder how this trip will go. Why are the Chinese so generous? I know Gaius is famous but....
You know what I think? says Arthur.
What? says Rosamunda.
You ask too many questions, says Arthur.
Jealous, says Rosamunda. That's you.
Arthur takes a book out of his pocket. Opens it. Starts reading.
What's the book? says Rosamunda. Looks like Chinese poetry.
It is, says Arthur. When Lu Lun my cousin comes for the night.....
Read it to me, says Rosamunda.
Arthur reads:
With no other neighbour but the quiet night
Here I live in the same old cottage
And as raindrops brighten yellow leaves
The lamp illumines my white head.
Oo-oh, my white head! Ouvert squeaks.
Shut up, Ouvert, says Arthur. It's not finished.
Out of the world these many years
I am ashamed to receive you here
But you cannot come too often
More than brother, lifelong friend.
Everyone on the plane within earshot who is not Chinese falls into a reverie.
How seductive is China.
Friday, October 4, 2013
A Question Of Taxonomy
Arthur returns to Gaius's house, with two slices of cake in each pocket.
One by one, they come out of his pockets, wrapped in sheets of white copying paper. When completely unwrapped they are long, thin sticky slices, gently curved on the bottom, oozing black cherry jam.
Anyone would think, sniffs Margaret, that they had been served with a shoe horn.
Everyone laughs, and eats cake. Except Lavender. She is saying a triumphant goodbye to Ouvert and Baby Pierre.
What did Sweezus have to say? says Gaius, wiping cream and cherry jam from his mouth.
He's a muggins, says Arthur.
Arthur, says Rosamunda. That's Sweezus you're talking about. You forget, I'm a follower.
I'm surprised to hear that, says Margaret. A natural historian like you.
A Twitter follower, says Rosamunda.
Tch! says Margaret, crumpling her jammy cake copying paper roughly, and throwing it into the sink.
I didn't say he was a muggins, says Arthur. He said that he was a muggins. He said he has to do all the work, while we go off to China looking at tourist attractions......
Indeed! says Gaius. That may be his version. But he still has not completed that report on the Sepia Apama.
He's working on it, says Arthur. Just sorting out some details of taxonomy.....
Good, good, says Gaius. And now I suggest we all get an early night. We fly to Kunming in the morning.
Arthur, did you manage to obtain a scraper?
Yes, says Arthur, patting his pocket.
No need to show it right now. He knows what Margaret would say.
Good man, says Gaius, disappearing into the bedroom.
Margaret stares hard at the door.
........
Lavender is on the window sill talking to Ouvert and Baby Pierre.
Entelognathus is a FOSSIL, says Lavender. That's why I'm invited. You're not invited, Baby Pierre, because you're a pebble. And you too, Ouvert fish-mouth.
You're not a fossil! says Baby Pierre. You're an empty fossil-space airhead.
I didn't say I was a fossil, says Lavender. But I KNOW the fossil.
Like you KNOW the future, says Ouvert. Lavender! Did you call me fish-mouth?
I do know the future, says Lavender. And you're both not coming.
Fish-mouth.... says Ouvert. I'm coming.
One by one, they come out of his pockets, wrapped in sheets of white copying paper. When completely unwrapped they are long, thin sticky slices, gently curved on the bottom, oozing black cherry jam.
Anyone would think, sniffs Margaret, that they had been served with a shoe horn.
Everyone laughs, and eats cake. Except Lavender. She is saying a triumphant goodbye to Ouvert and Baby Pierre.
What did Sweezus have to say? says Gaius, wiping cream and cherry jam from his mouth.
He's a muggins, says Arthur.
Arthur, says Rosamunda. That's Sweezus you're talking about. You forget, I'm a follower.
I'm surprised to hear that, says Margaret. A natural historian like you.
A Twitter follower, says Rosamunda.
Tch! says Margaret, crumpling her jammy cake copying paper roughly, and throwing it into the sink.
I didn't say he was a muggins, says Arthur. He said that he was a muggins. He said he has to do all the work, while we go off to China looking at tourist attractions......
Indeed! says Gaius. That may be his version. But he still has not completed that report on the Sepia Apama.
He's working on it, says Arthur. Just sorting out some details of taxonomy.....
Good, good, says Gaius. And now I suggest we all get an early night. We fly to Kunming in the morning.
Arthur, did you manage to obtain a scraper?
Yes, says Arthur, patting his pocket.
No need to show it right now. He knows what Margaret would say.
Good man, says Gaius, disappearing into the bedroom.
Margaret stares hard at the door.
........
Lavender is on the window sill talking to Ouvert and Baby Pierre.
Entelognathus is a FOSSIL, says Lavender. That's why I'm invited. You're not invited, Baby Pierre, because you're a pebble. And you too, Ouvert fish-mouth.
You're not a fossil! says Baby Pierre. You're an empty fossil-space airhead.
I didn't say I was a fossil, says Lavender. But I KNOW the fossil.
Like you KNOW the future, says Ouvert. Lavender! Did you call me fish-mouth?
I do know the future, says Lavender. And you're both not coming.
Fish-mouth.... says Ouvert. I'm coming.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The Five Chi Road
Sweezus is in the Velosophy office when Arthur arrives.
Arthur! says Sweezus.
Yes, me, says Arthur.
Me too, man, says Sweezus. Let me look at you. Hey. Big Ups to the shorts!
Artrhur grins. Fans out the legs of his shorts with both hands in his pockets.
We should go surfing, says Sweezus.
I'm going to China, says Arthur.
He still has his hands in his pockets. What's that down there? It's the shoe horn. It reminds him.....
Got a scraper? says Arthur.
A scraper? says Sweezus. This is an office, man. But yeah, I'll look in the drawer.
He looks in the drawer. Nup, says Sweezus. No scraper, but what about this?
He holds up a silver cake server, which Belle et Bonne uses for cakes.
Swap? says Arthur pulling out the shoe horn.
Sweezus looks doubtful.
A cake server would make a good scraper, but a shoe horn's no good to serve cakes.
Yet it's hard to deny Arthur anything. Look at him standing there. In those radical shorts.
Alright, says Sweezus. Done deal. Who says you don't live a charmed life?
Any cake left? enquires Arthur.
No, says Sweezus.
I don't live a charmed life then, says Arthur.
Yeah, but you're lucky, says Sweezus. You're going to China. I looked up where you're going. It's cool. The Pearl River, The Five Chi Road, The Nine Dragon Waterfall...... Awesome.
Why don't you come?, says Arthur.
Someone's got to stay here and work, says Sweezus. And it seems I'm the muggins. By the way, I called Gaius to give him a news flash, and he gave me a flea in my ear.
What was it? says Arthur. Something to do with the Twitcher?
Just tell him, says Sweezus, that work is ongoing as to the taxonomic status of the Sepia Apama. See what he says about that!
Alright, says Arthur. But I'll wait till we get to China. Or he might not go. I'd better head off now. Thanks for the....uh!
The door has just opened, and in has come Belle et Bonne with a glorious Black Forest Cheesecake.
All she needs is some people to eat it, a knife and a cake server...
Proving Arthur does live a charmed life.
Arthur! says Sweezus.
Yes, me, says Arthur.
Me too, man, says Sweezus. Let me look at you. Hey. Big Ups to the shorts!
Artrhur grins. Fans out the legs of his shorts with both hands in his pockets.
We should go surfing, says Sweezus.
I'm going to China, says Arthur.
He still has his hands in his pockets. What's that down there? It's the shoe horn. It reminds him.....
Got a scraper? says Arthur.
A scraper? says Sweezus. This is an office, man. But yeah, I'll look in the drawer.
He looks in the drawer. Nup, says Sweezus. No scraper, but what about this?
He holds up a silver cake server, which Belle et Bonne uses for cakes.
Swap? says Arthur pulling out the shoe horn.
Sweezus looks doubtful.
A cake server would make a good scraper, but a shoe horn's no good to serve cakes.
Yet it's hard to deny Arthur anything. Look at him standing there. In those radical shorts.
Alright, says Sweezus. Done deal. Who says you don't live a charmed life?
Any cake left? enquires Arthur.
No, says Sweezus.
I don't live a charmed life then, says Arthur.
Yeah, but you're lucky, says Sweezus. You're going to China. I looked up where you're going. It's cool. The Pearl River, The Five Chi Road, The Nine Dragon Waterfall...... Awesome.
Why don't you come?, says Arthur.
Someone's got to stay here and work, says Sweezus. And it seems I'm the muggins. By the way, I called Gaius to give him a news flash, and he gave me a flea in my ear.
What was it? says Arthur. Something to do with the Twitcher?
Just tell him, says Sweezus, that work is ongoing as to the taxonomic status of the Sepia Apama. See what he says about that!
Alright, says Arthur. But I'll wait till we get to China. Or he might not go. I'd better head off now. Thanks for the....uh!
The door has just opened, and in has come Belle et Bonne with a glorious Black Forest Cheesecake.
All she needs is some people to eat it, a knife and a cake server...
Proving Arthur does live a charmed life.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
This Gentleman Will Pay For Everything
Margaret draws Rosamunda Secunda aside.
Did I hear you correctly? says Margaret. Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan?
Yes, says Rosamunda. It's the coolest Mandarin phrase on Omniglot. Except for the totally nutso one about the eels.
This gentleman will pay for everything, says Margaret slowly. Do I take it you mean Gaius?
Not necessarily, says Rosamunda, glancing at Arthur. Arthur has money too.
Are you suggesting, says Margaret, that we swan around Yunnan province saying Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan?
Rosamunda wasn't. But she is now.
Yes, says Rosamunda. We can point at Arthur or at Gaius. Neither of them speaks Chinese.
This is all very well, says Margaret, and I am tempted.....
But? says Rosamunda.
It won't work here, says Margaret. Here everyone speaks English.What about the extra ticket?
Oh come on, Margaret, says Rosamunda. One little plane ticket. It's either that or..... you don't come at all.
Margaret can't help admiring the manipulative little minx.
Gaius, says Margaret. No need to fret. I shall pay for my own ticket.
Gaius fails to simulate the look of a man who has no further need of fretting.
His phone rings. It's Sweezus.
What is it? says Gaius crossly. I'm very busy.
A news flash, says Sweezus. About the Twitcher. Not him exactly. His species.
Not now, says Gaius. Oh dear, yes, what is it then?
Forget it man, says Sweezus, slamming down the phone.
Arthur, says Gaius. Call him back. I seem to have upset him.
I'll go and see him, says Arthur. And I'll get myself a scraper while I'm out.
He leaves, before anyone can stop him.
When do we leave for China? says Rosamunda Secunda.
Tomorrow, says Gaius. We fly to Kunming. Then on to Qujing. Once there, we find the Tongyue Garden Hotel which should be easy. It is painted bright pink. Then we call Professor Min Zhu, and arrange a meeting at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to discuss the Entelognathus.
How thrilling, says Rosamunda Secunda, going up to Gaius and kissing him on the cheek.
Why yes, how very thrilling....
And the gentlemen will pay for everything.
Did I hear you correctly? says Margaret. Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan?
Yes, says Rosamunda. It's the coolest Mandarin phrase on Omniglot. Except for the totally nutso one about the eels.
This gentleman will pay for everything, says Margaret slowly. Do I take it you mean Gaius?
Not necessarily, says Rosamunda, glancing at Arthur. Arthur has money too.
Are you suggesting, says Margaret, that we swan around Yunnan province saying Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan?
Rosamunda wasn't. But she is now.
Yes, says Rosamunda. We can point at Arthur or at Gaius. Neither of them speaks Chinese.
This is all very well, says Margaret, and I am tempted.....
But? says Rosamunda.
It won't work here, says Margaret. Here everyone speaks English.What about the extra ticket?
Oh come on, Margaret, says Rosamunda. One little plane ticket. It's either that or..... you don't come at all.
Margaret can't help admiring the manipulative little minx.
Gaius, says Margaret. No need to fret. I shall pay for my own ticket.
Gaius fails to simulate the look of a man who has no further need of fretting.
His phone rings. It's Sweezus.
What is it? says Gaius crossly. I'm very busy.
A news flash, says Sweezus. About the Twitcher. Not him exactly. His species.
Not now, says Gaius. Oh dear, yes, what is it then?
Forget it man, says Sweezus, slamming down the phone.
Arthur, says Gaius. Call him back. I seem to have upset him.
I'll go and see him, says Arthur. And I'll get myself a scraper while I'm out.
He leaves, before anyone can stop him.
When do we leave for China? says Rosamunda Secunda.
Tomorrow, says Gaius. We fly to Kunming. Then on to Qujing. Once there, we find the Tongyue Garden Hotel which should be easy. It is painted bright pink. Then we call Professor Min Zhu, and arrange a meeting at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to discuss the Entelognathus.
How thrilling, says Rosamunda Secunda, going up to Gaius and kissing him on the cheek.
Why yes, how very thrilling....
And the gentlemen will pay for everything.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Independent Scientific Scrutiny
It's the next morning. Gaius is expecting Arthur and Rosamunda Secunda any minute now.
They're late. He looks out of the window, at the fence.
Margaret is giving Lavender a lecture.
Of course, says Margaret, the Entelognathus in not a placoderm as we know it. It's a missing link. Entelognathus, or Complete Jaw, shows almost perfect intermediate condition between the placoderm and modern bony fishes........ Pay attention Lavender! Perhaps you'd like to see a diagram?
Yes, says Lavender. Show me a picture.
Margaret gets out her tablet, and calls up a picture of the bony head of Entelognathus. It wears an evil grin.
As you see, says Margaret, his lower jaw is composed of a complex set of bones, unlike other placoderms.... Lavender, what's the matter?
That's HIM! says Lavender. I'd know him ANYWHERE! And I can tell you how he got that broken jaw.
Gaius! says Margaret. Did you hear that? This little monkey will disgrace us if we take her, and no doubt embarrass the Chinese.
Yes, says Gaius, but do you not think, Margaret, that any piece of scientific evidence ought to be subjected to independent scrutiny?
Margaret throws up her hands.
The doorbell rings. Gaius opens the door.
Gaius, says Arthur.
Arthur, says Gaius. And who is this lovely young lady? Could it be...?
Rosamunda Secunda, says Rosie. I've been so excited, knowing I was going to meet you. Ever since I became a natural historian you've been my role model, I.........ouch!
Arthur has stepped on her toe to shut her up.
Margaret is suspicious of this voluble young woman.
Natural historian, says Margaret. Where did you study?
Oh... says Rosamunda.... Edinburgh University. Yes, there. But Gaius has been my mentor. He is so knowledgeable about everything.....
Gaius beams.
Rosamunda thinks: Arthur's right, I am dangerous.
And you speak Mandarin, says Gaius. This has turned out to be extremely convenient. I do hope you will come with me to Qujing, Rosamunda. And you, Arthur. I can't do without my right hand man. Do you still have that scraper?
No, says Arthur, but I can get one.
What about me? says Margaret. Gaius, the Chinese will only pay for two companions. And you have invited three.
Four, says Lavender.
I thought you had agreed to drop out, Margaret, says Gaius.
I am the only one who speaks proper Chinese, says Margaret.
Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan, says Rosie.
Margaret is shocked.
They're late. He looks out of the window, at the fence.
Margaret is giving Lavender a lecture.
Of course, says Margaret, the Entelognathus in not a placoderm as we know it. It's a missing link. Entelognathus, or Complete Jaw, shows almost perfect intermediate condition between the placoderm and modern bony fishes........ Pay attention Lavender! Perhaps you'd like to see a diagram?
Yes, says Lavender. Show me a picture.
Margaret gets out her tablet, and calls up a picture of the bony head of Entelognathus. It wears an evil grin.
As you see, says Margaret, his lower jaw is composed of a complex set of bones, unlike other placoderms.... Lavender, what's the matter?
That's HIM! says Lavender. I'd know him ANYWHERE! And I can tell you how he got that broken jaw.
Gaius! says Margaret. Did you hear that? This little monkey will disgrace us if we take her, and no doubt embarrass the Chinese.
Yes, says Gaius, but do you not think, Margaret, that any piece of scientific evidence ought to be subjected to independent scrutiny?
Margaret throws up her hands.
The doorbell rings. Gaius opens the door.
Gaius, says Arthur.
Arthur, says Gaius. And who is this lovely young lady? Could it be...?
Rosamunda Secunda, says Rosie. I've been so excited, knowing I was going to meet you. Ever since I became a natural historian you've been my role model, I.........ouch!
Arthur has stepped on her toe to shut her up.
Margaret is suspicious of this voluble young woman.
Natural historian, says Margaret. Where did you study?
Oh... says Rosamunda.... Edinburgh University. Yes, there. But Gaius has been my mentor. He is so knowledgeable about everything.....
Gaius beams.
Rosamunda thinks: Arthur's right, I am dangerous.
And you speak Mandarin, says Gaius. This has turned out to be extremely convenient. I do hope you will come with me to Qujing, Rosamunda. And you, Arthur. I can't do without my right hand man. Do you still have that scraper?
No, says Arthur, but I can get one.
What about me? says Margaret. Gaius, the Chinese will only pay for two companions. And you have invited three.
Four, says Lavender.
I thought you had agreed to drop out, Margaret, says Gaius.
I am the only one who speaks proper Chinese, says Margaret.
Zheiwei xiansheng hui qingdan maidan, says Rosie.
Margaret is shocked.
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