One of them rose and declared, "The chief is coming!"The crowd followed her example. Some women groaned as they stood up; others just nodded or whispe...ed to one another. Every one waited until a couple of dark-skinned women entered the temple. With ebony drumsticks, they beat the drums hung from their right shoulders. Little girls retreated, clutching their mothers' legs as the booming music frightened them. The guards entered, then Dagmar, followed by the four handmaidens and Lilura escorting. Being located at the border between the Purple, Blue and Azure provinces, Mei's home town was considered to be in a somewhat dangerous position yet for years it had been peaceful as any skirmishes in between the three always happened in prefixed locations, allowing for the large village to prosper, but that year something went wrong.The Zi from Purple and the Qing from Azure, while those two dynasties were engaged in their usual yearly battles, the Lan Dynasty from the Blue Province launched a. "Harriet threw a pillow aimlessly, missing them completely."I think she needs a wake up call" Mae mused."How should we wake her?" I think a wake up COCK is in order" Mae said, blushing slightly and giggling.Harriet sat up, her thick hair standing in every direction. "You sicko bastards didn't do enough to me last night? Dragging me in here and having your WAY with me?"Neil grinned and crawled over to the pillow, readying his ammunition.Harriet spotted him and threw up a hand in defense. "God.... "No," Billings agreed with a sigh, "she certainly doesn't. But let us forgive her for this minor transgression, shall we? Martians are well known for their crudity with the spoken word. After all, look at their ancestry. They are the descendents of welfare recipients of a society that were once the lower classes from this hemisphere. It amazes me sometimes that they can speak coherently at all."The assembled politicians and military leaders all had a laugh at this jest although, in truth, none.