Peking-Hankow Express

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm sure your knowledge of western China will be invaluable," says Elisabeth, "as that's where we're heading."

[aine]

The door opens and Santiago enters the compartment, he is carrying a large parcel. "Here you go; something to last until we reach the peanuts." He sits down and opens the parcel, "Hmm, Nuts, rice things, dumplings, more rice and, aha, sesame buns. And some strange brown stuff." He sniffs it and shakes his head. "Sorry Posie, I don't know what this is." To Elizabeth he says, "I'll leave it with you but don't eat all of it; it may have to last us a while. Is everything okay?" He looks into her eyes.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, everything's swell, honey," says Elisabeth, grinning wide and getting lost for a moment in Santiago's eyes. She puts her arms around him and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, we're famished. Posie, dear, you have first choice. What would you like to eat?"

[Tabs]

"A sesame bun, thank you," says a restrained Posie--no-one would guess that she had been bellyaching about hunger.

Mingzhu delicately selects a dumpling. "I'm unsure myself what the 'brown stuff' is, Senor el Aguila!"

She asks: "Did you . . . did you find anything else besides our things?"

[DrPeterson]

Caroline gives Santiago a welcoming smile, disregarding the scene of tenderness between him and Elisabeth.

"Ah, Senor Aguila! You come to us at the height of our need. Our young Lady Posie, brave though she is, was nearly overcome by hunger. Indeed, I feared she was going to eat me whole!"

Despite the gaiety of her remark, there is a sultry emphasis on the last part of that sentence that seems to electrify the air.

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, we raised her better than that," says Elisabeth, helping herself to some rice. "She knows to take small bites and chew first."

[DrPeterson]

Caroline turned her smile to Elisabeth.

Caroline thinking:   Not so innocent after all this one.

Of course not, she seems like the most upstanding British young lady. Hardly an accent at all.

[Mr. Handy]

"Quite," says Elisabeth, smiling at Posie. "What else would you expect from the future Queen of England?"

[DrPeterson]

Caroline lets out a short controlled laugh and smiles at Posie, bowing her head.

"Your highness, are your sesame buns to your liking?"

[aine]

Santiago shifts uncomfortably and gives Caroline a strange look. Once everyone has had something from the bag he takes some food himself; he takes four buns, some rice and the brown stuff, and then stands up. "I'll take this out to Henry, see you in a bit." He says gruffly and then leaves the compartment, frowning.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm sorry, Caroline," says Elisabeth. "He's not usually like this."

[Tabs]

"Oh, yes indeed, Miss Lamarr," mumbles Posie, her mouth full of sesame bun.

"Thank you, daddy," says she to the departing Santiago.



"He's a good man, Elisabeth.

"I feel that you can be a little abrasive, Caroline," laughs Mingzhu . . . She looks pensive: "Something similar has been said already, I think?"

[DrPeterson]

Caroline laughs hoarsely.

"Yes, I believe so too, and not just on this train."

She looks at Mingzhu as she speaks, her eyes alight with something very akin to joy.

"Not many people are comfortable around people who speak their mind, least of all men."

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I think the chaps are a bit intimidated by you, Caroline," says Elisabeth, grinning, "but that's one of the things I like about you. I can be outspoken sometimes too, but I can only take it so far. That's what comes of my diplomatic ambitions. It's funny, but in diplomacy one cannot say what one truly thinks. Otherwise there'd be constant war. Still, there are ways to get the point across without actually saying it."

[DrPeterson]

Caroline chooses to not read deeper into what was being said and put a hand on Elisabeth's arm.

"Thank you, Elisabeth."

She leans back in her chair and looks on as Posie eats her bun.

I am more of an action girl myself, but then again the people I usually deal with are dead.

She laughs to take the sting out of her words.

[Mr. Handy]

"You're quite welcome," says Elisabeth, eating her rice. "This trip is the most action I've seen. I never thought I was cut out for that sort of life, really. I'm not all that strong physically, though I've made up for it by developing my mind."

[DrPeterson]

"I'm sure you'll get some colour on your skin in the West, Elisabeth."

Caroline brushes a wayward strand of hair to the side and looks out the window.

"When you're out in the wild, a strong mind is at least as important as a strong body."

[Mr. Handy]

"That's true," says Elisabeth, "and we've both got that. And my husband has a strong body. I know he'll look after us."

[Tabs]

"I want to go to the toilet!"

Mingzhu says: "I need to visit the powder room myself. I'll take you, Posie."



[ooc: Mr. Handy, I can't see Elisabeth's photograph, just the word "Image."]

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says Elisabeth. "We'll await your return."

OOC,Thanks, I'm aware of that. Silentladies.com, which hosts the image, has been down for a while.