Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (112 page)

             
Seeing
them
Thomas
Bell
called
across,
"
Mister
Heron,
Mister
Tanner,
join
us
gentlemen.
We
are
about
to
dine
–
will
you
take
supper
with
us?
"

             
Harry
led
the
way.
"
Thank
you,
sir.
We
were
intending
to
try
some
of
the
local
food
–
we
are
told
it
is
heavily
spiced.
"

             
"
One
way
to
describe
it.
"
Mister
Beasley
laughed.
"
I
think
you
will
discover
that
the
spices
they
use
will
even
make
salt
beef
palatable.
"

             
The
attendant
reappeared
and
placed
tankards
on
the
table
in
front
of
them.
Thomas
Bell
said,
"
They
make
a
passable
light
beer,
very
refreshing
in
this
heat.
"

             
Earlier
Harry
and
Kit
had
sampled
a
refreshing
drink
made
with
limes
and
lemons
and
sweetened
with
sugar
and
this
was
what
Harry
would
have
most
liked
to
taste
now.
But
the
beer
was,
as
the
First
had
said,
refreshing
and
he
sipped
appreciatively.

             
"
So
what
think
you
of
the
Indies,
Mister
Heron?
"
asked
Michael
Beasley,
the
Fourth
Lieutenant.

             
"
Fascinating,
sir.
We
visited
a
temple
earlier
and
I
found
the
gods
there
a
strange
mix
–
some
most
unsavoury
I
'
m
sure.
"
He
grinned
and
continued,
"
We
hired
a
rickshaw
man
and
he
showed
us
many
other
temples
and
even
a
mosque
–
though
it
looked
almost
the
same
as
one
of
the
temples
except
it
lacked
any
statues.
"

             
Kit
interrupted,
"
And
everywhere
they
seem
to
have
little
shrines
to
some
god
or
goddess
with
people
making
offerings.
"

             
"
Yes.
And
someone
collecting
the
offerings
and
reselling
them.
"
Harry
'
s
sense
of
morality
was
outraged
by
this
practice.

             
Mister
Rogers
said,
"
Enterprise,
Harry,
enterprise.
That
is
how
many
of
the
monks
make
a
living.
"
They
paused
as
the
food
arrived,
bowls
of
rice
and
a
large
bowl
of
meat
in
heavily
spiced
gravy.
Just
the
smell
brought
a
burning
sensation
to
the
nostrils
and
Harry
was
glad
to
see
coconut
milk,
grated
coconut,
chopped
onion
and
a
wide
range
of
something
he
had
learned
were
called
chutneys
with
it.
Other
chopped
vegetables
and
fruits
to
be
eaten
with
the
curried
meat
were
also
provided.
Strange
bread,
folded
and
refolded,
was
also
provided
and
the
older
men
tore
off
chunks
of
this,
loading
it
with
rice
and
meat
mixed
with
the
seasoned
sauce
and
sprinkled
with
some
of
the
condiments.
Harry
and
Kit
followed
their
example.

             
His
nose
proved
to
be
a
reliable
guide.
The
spices
used
produced
a
ferocious,
yet
delicious
flavour.
It
burned
on
the
palate,
demanding
slaking
with
copious
swigs
from
the
beakers
of
the
citron
drink
that
had
appeared
with
the
food.
By
experiment
and
by
carefully
observing
other
diners,
Harry
and
Kit
discovered
that
the
best
way
to
truly
appreciate
this
dish
was
to
mix
the
grated
coconut
and
some
of
the
fruit
chutney
with
it,
interspersing
the
meat
and
rice
with
chopped
fruits
and
vegetables.
Even
so,
the
ferocious
spices
made
them
perspire
copiously,
curiously
having
the
effect
of
making
them
feel
cooler,
though
they
drank
deeply
of
the
coconut
milk
as
well.

             
Eventually
the
First
pushed
his
bowl
aside.
"
Phew.
"
He
beamed,
his
face
flushed.
"
As
good
as
I
remember
it.
Though
I
was
your
age,
gentlemen,
when
I
first
tried
it.
"
He
signalled
the
attendant.
"
Another
tankard
gentlemen?
Before
we
repair
to
the
ship?
" 

             
The
party
acquiesced
and
sat
supping
their
tankards
and
enjoying
the
street
scene
below
as
the
sun
settled.
Bats,
larger
than
any
Harry
or
Kit
could
recall
seeing,
began
to
flit
between
the
pillars
supporting
the
roof
and
mosquitoes
began
to
buzz
about
their
ears.
Finally
the
First
pulled
his
watch
from
his
waistcoat
and
said,
"
Time
to
return
I
fear,
gentlemen.
The
streets
down
to
the
waterfront
are
not
the
most
salubrious
once
darkness
falls.
"