We Saw the Sea
“The rules of Saturnalia held sway, no man could be punished and no woman was unapproachable. Maidens who had resisted all year gave way in a single night. The temple girls did a brisk trade. Fireworks seared the sky every night and the streets were bright with flaring torches. Processions of dragons, masked men and dancers threaded the narrow streets of the city, kites with long streaming tails flew above Huang’s palace and young men and girls danced to the throbbing of gongs, drums and cymbals.... Carousel’s sailors watched the festivities with goggling eyes, finished their drinks and, led by Number One Boy’s nephews, joined in.A full programme had been arranged. Carousel’s Royal Marine Band beat the retreat on Huang Steps in spite of an unseasonable cloudburst. The ceremony brought tears of nostalgia to Miss Several-Strickland’s eyes, and was respectfully reviewed in the Dhonese press the next morning as a rain-making rite of supernatural efficiency. The ship’s football team were soundly beaten by a team of Huang’s executioners in a game which lasted nearly five hours, a banquet of fried chicken and rice wine being served at half-time in the Prime Minister’s house which was over two miles from the ground.MoreLess
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