Under the Sign of the Swastika

[Tabs]

"What could we do to return your kind gesture?"

So answers: "There is no need, but thank you. Just--um--if Dr. Renwick could address a Society meeting tomorrow night?"

"To our hosts goes much honour and I hope good fortune!"

The Chinese men return his bow.

"To our hosts and to unlikely companions on the road!"

"You're quite an unlikely lady too, aren't you?" says Posie seriously, trying to sound like a grown-up.

She empties the cup with gusto and lets out an appreciative sound.

Dao refills Caroline's cup.

"Is this, er, made from rice?"

"Yes, yes. More?" says Ouyang.



"Try the baijui," says Jian, "an intoxicating spirit."

[DrPeterson]

Caroline smiles as takes the cup from Dao.

"Xièxiè nǐ, Dao shūshu"

Mandarin,Thank you, Dao-uncle

She then raises an eyebrow at Posie's statement and laughs happily.

"Thank you very much for the compliment, Posie."

[Mr. Handy]

"Hear, hear!" says Elisabeth, raising her glass. "Another way of saying 'unlikely' is 'extraordinary,' after all."

[Cearlan]

I look down and after a moment's reflection "Certainly I will give you a talk, it would be my pleasure. Do you have a topic in mind so that I may prepare, I would not wish to disappoint such distinguished hosts? And I promise not to try Mandarin So." I add with a smile on my face.

[Tabs]

"Hear, hear!" says Elisabeth, raising her glass.

Posie smiles proudly; everyone else laughs.

"Thank you, Doctor," says So. "We would like to hear about your experiences as a medical man, especially the differences between China and England."

Cearlan,Don't worry, you won't have to prepare anything. :)

Santiago accepts a cup of baijui: a fiery spirit.



Feng places a disc upon the gramaphone.

OOC:   I know it's 25 years too late, but this is fab!

Mingzhu stands, ready to Jitterbug, but halts, amused by Feng, who is capering hilariously.

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth sets down her glass and rises. She goes over to Santiago to dance with him. She is fairly well-coordinated, and she is certain she can make a good impression.

[aine]

Santiago throws back the fiery drink with nary a thought and then twirls Elizabeth around in a swing dance style, "Unless you'd rather tango?" He whispers in her ear.

[Mr. Handy]

Elisabeth smiles, feeling a little giddy and dizzy from the alcohol and being spun around. "I'm game if you are," she whispers back.

[Tabs]

Watching Elisabeth and Santiago, Mingzhu grabs hold of Feng for a Tango. They follow the moves and do a fair imitation; Mingzhu only has a few squashed toes.

The time is 9 o'clock. Posie has fallen asleep whilst clutching a half eaten pancake.

[DrPeterson]

Caroline laughs and enjoys herself, looking at the dancers and talking to whomever of the others was brave enough for her company and drinking.

[Mr. Handy]

"Aww," says Elisabeth, looking at Posie. "She looks so cute like that. Well, I suppose we'd better put her to bed."

[Tabs]

Dao leans across to Caroline, but his advances are abruptly squashed by So.



"Uncle Dao is too old to dance the Tango with Ms. Lamarr," says So, "and I do not care for it! Would you like to Waltz with me?" He casts a sidelong look at Feng and adds: "Feng is a buffoon; poor Chee Mingzhu."

Two bedrooms have been set aside: one for Santiago, Elisabeth and Posie; the other for Caroline and Mingzhu; Renwick is to room with the Society men.

[aine]

Santiago spins Elizabeth to a dramatic stop. "You're right, she has another long day ahead of her." He florishes a bow to Elizabeth and winks before going to pick Posie up and carry her into the room. When he sees the beds, he murmurs, "Ahh, that's something we hadn't thought of." He puts Posie onto a bed and then leaves. He says to Elizabeth, "I'll let you two get to bed. I'll stay up with the men for a bit longer." And goes to sit next to Renwick.

[Mr. Handy]

"Posie can simply share the larger bed with me," says Elisabeth, tucking the girl in and kissing her gently on the forehead, "and you can have the smaller one. I'm not ready to go to sleep myself yet, though. Caroline's still awake too, you know. Or do you consider her one of the men?" she adds with a wink, following Santiago back downstairs.

[DrPeterson]

Caroline laughs at So.

"I am honoured, So, but the road here was long. My feet are and my throat is parched. Sitting at this table seems a remedy for both!"

Caroline has another drink and looks at Feng and Mingzhu with an amused glance.

"Though I doubt my feet are as sore as hers."

[Tabs]

"Your loss will be Jian's gain," replies So. "Xiānshēng! Nǐ yuànyì tiàowǔ ma?" *

* Mandarin,"Sir! Would you care to dance?"

So and Jian glide around the room.



Mingzhu flops down in a chair beside Caroline. "Whew! That's me finished for the evening; and I believe Feng has chipped one of my toe nails." She tucks her knee up under her chin and examines her foot. "Are you really going to the Kumbum monastery by yourself?"

[Cearlan]

I sit and watch those on the dance floor appreciatively and curse under my breath that I never paid more attention to Miss Smetherwick's lessons at school, but then who wanted to dance with other boys anyway, the downside of a boys only boarding school. I am lost in the reverie of the situation and try and come up with positives about that time of my life ... yes it made me more of a scholar, which in turn allowed me to become a doctor, but it made me miss out on the more personal side of things. As Santiago sits next to me I nudge his arm gently to get his attention.

"I had no idea you could trip the light fantastic in such a manner. I have two left feet and could never move like that in a thousand years. Could I possibly have some more of that baijiu spirit please?" I ask, despite knowing it tastes more like pigs urine than anything palatable.

[DrPeterson]

Caroline smiles as Mingzhu investigates her foot.

"Here, take this against the painful memory."


She filled up Mingzhu's cup and returned it to her.


I am headed for Kumbum, but I wasn't planning on staying for too long.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, Dr. Renwick," says Elisabeth with a smile. "Santiago has always been an excellent dancer, far better than I. It's in his blood, I think."

[aine]

"Dancing was as essential as reading when I was brought up; a necessary social grace in my family - no thank you, I'll pass on the liquor." Santiago shakes his head with a slight grimace. "So what are our plans for the morrow?"