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"What is that about?" Rue pointed to The Complete Indian Housekeeper and Cook clutched in Pria book If we took soet the one we added"

"Very nice tactic" Rue respected Prim’s manipulative talents

"Besides, this looks like an interesting read"

At which statement Rue, who preferred adventure novels, was properly horrified

Three days later, they left off their slow spinning, to the great relief of all It had beconess of the aetherosphere Pri the stateroom was more restorative Rue made a vow to eschew the waltz at future balls – it may be old-fashioned of her, but she had a newfound respect for the quadrille

Percy de-puffed them expertly into a more relaxed and standard current, the Central Hyderabad Waft, which would take them on to India and doards Bohdad Environs at the moment, but the aetherosphere provided no evidence to this fact Much as she loved to float, Rue was finding that she preferred the slower method inside the actual air, where one could see the landscape below

It would take another three days to reach Boht tax their stores and leave them low on fuel, but there was no convenient tower near the Hyderabad Waft They’d have to go to ground for a restock and dipping doould severely waste hours

Everyone was prosaic about this decision except Pri low on milk She instructed Cook to take all non-dairy essentials, including Rue’s favourite custards, off therequired for tea – and even considered extracting the Swiss condensed reserves out of storage

"I don’t think we need go that far," was Rue’s response to the idea

"Extreme measures," hinted Prim darkly

Despite her friend’s dooe of milk They de-puffed out of the aetherosphere to find India spread below thereat red and brown apple fritter nestled in a pool of blue sauce There were sprinkles of green jungle, which, if one continued the comparison, meant the fritter was mouldy

Rue had no idea if Bombay was typical of the colonies, but it was not typical of any city she’d ever visited before Which she guessed e what she considered city-like It was lyrically beautiful, a place of colour and spice Aunt Ivy would have waxed ht Possibly even written another slihtened of flowery language even when faced with such an aht as Bombay

"Oh, uided theh the atibles, roads, rails, and humanity that made up the First Great Port of the Great British Empire