Chapter Eleven

AND SO TO SLEEP

And the keeper said unto the travellers: "Let thy bodies arise and eat of our venison, that thy souls may bless us." Which the travellers took as meaning that dinner was served.

And they entered unto a chamber and beheld tables set with a great feast, which had been prepared in their honour. And a succulent repast didst they behold before them; for an abundance of pies containing meat pieces did they espy; and large gourds full with ruby red dressing and having the taste of tomatoes; and delicately shaped pieces of potato which had been deeply fried in vegetable oil.

Yea, and the finest wines were set before them, of a vintage more than one week old. And the travellers made merry with their feast long into the evening; for it came to pass that it took that long to break through the crusts of the meat pies.

Then, fully sated from their banquet, they retired each one, unto their rooms for rest; to prepare their bodies for to sleep a little; a little slumber; a little folding of the hands to sleep. And, verily, to partake of fizzy medications, for their undigested meat pies wouldst make the travellers certain candidates for the night-time chunder circuit.

And some amongst them beheld large wooden boxes standing as silent sentinels in the corners of their rooms; and a twiddle of the workings thereof caused them to recoil in fear and terror at the great noise and colourful movement that emanated therefrom. And these were surely vile creations of the Devil; for men with large girth berated them incessantly from within the boxes, demanding they purchase furniture at cut prices and at reduced interest rates.

And then other men with Brylcreemed hair, and wearing loud neckties, gave them warning that they wouldst forever suffer the purgatory of Hell if they failed to take advantage of the current prices for Japanese motorised wheeled carriages.

And the screams and threats which came forth from the boxes would not be stilled; and the travellers hid in terror beneath their beds; and some thrust pieces of furniture with great force into the workings thereof; and the boxes were silent once more; and the Devil was cast out.

And so, although the beds were shorter than a man couldst stretch himself upon; and the covering narrower than he couldst wrap himself in, the travellers finally fell into troubled slumber.

And those amongst them who had The Faith believed that come the morrow it would surely be a better day; whilst those that did not have The Faith doubted it very much.

Chapter 12 - The Temple