A Vomit of Diamonds Read Online Free PDF

life, evident from the feelings the two worthies presently
felt moments after their sensual happiness began its descent into
the abyss which is the human digestive tract. Mayura let out a
sadly happy sigh as their waitress cleared the table.

IX
     
    As the two worthies stood waiting for
the crosswalk lights to turn green, their attentions were forced
across the road, whence a group of young people in a boisterous
mood made loud noises to pass the waiting time. “Going out to
celebrate the end of exams I guess,” Soka observed with a curious
look; for, despite having months to assimilate to undergraduate
culture, the sight of students in provocative clothing marching
down to gin palaces never ceased to amaze the open yet conservative
nerd within her. “That’s nice,” Balzac replied with perfect
aristocratic indifference.
    The evening’s temperature continued to
drop as they sauntered back to Helena Hall; walking with a little
hunch of the shoulders and hands tucked deep within pockets. It was
such the kind of inclemency to stimulate warm thoughts in steaming
quantity. “The affogato was so good,” Soka reflected in a dreamy
tone, savoring every detail of the memory whilst it still lasted,
fresh in her mind. “You did react to it rather strongly,” Balzac
agreed, recalling her sudden possession after the one sip; “I’m
still deciding if you need to be exorcised,” he added drily. She
gave him a flat look.
    A few minutes later Soka asked
conversationally, “Have you read any short stories from ancient
China?” “I have not yet indulged in that pleasure,” Balzac replied
with gravity; “Are they anything like the novels I read?” he asked,
referring to books written before the twentieth century, his
preferred genre. “I don’t think so?” Soka replied, scratching her
chin. “In that case do educate me,” he insisted with perfect
aristocratic interest.
    “ Well, there was this one story
about a young man who lived in a village,” she began to narrate,
recalling the particulars and situation; “supposedly the handsomest
man in China at the time. His name was Wei Jie, I think. Apparently
his family was famous for beautiful people. One of his female
ancestors was so beautiful that when the Emperor passed by the
village and saw her, he married her and she became an Empress.
Anyway, Wei Jie was also very beautiful and wherever he went people
would gather around to look at him. He became quite famous because
of this. One day he left the village to visit a nearby city, and
when the people in the city knew that he was coming, they all went
out onto the streets to see him arrive. By the time he entered the
city the streets were completely blocked, and the crowds surrounded
him such that he couldn’t go anywhere. As Wei Jie had a weak health
however, he couldn’t stand the heat or the suffocating air, and so
became quite ill. They had to carry him to bed. A few days later he
died.”
    Here Bouchard raised an incredulous eyebrow;
“So the moral of the story is,” he said, hesitantly, “looks can
kill?”
    A little further into their journey home, a
big question entered into Bouchard’s thoughts. “How do you suppose
the universe expands?” he asked. “Hmm,” Soka mumbled, unconsciously
reaching to scratch her chin; “Maybe initially,” she began,
adopting a speculative tone, “the expansion was due to the kinetic
energy left over from the Big Bang?” Bouchard was all attention.
“But once it was converted into gravitational potential energy,”
she continued, again, speculating, “the expansion slowed down. And
then at some point dark energy kick-started the expansion process
again, maybe?” Bouchard reflected on this explanation; physics came
to him much slower than it did for her — the poor lad.
    “Hopefully astro camp will answer some
of your questions,” she pleasantly added for good measure. “Oh I’m
sure I won’t understand any of it,” Balzac countered with perfect
aristocratic