“Yes, sir,” the girls murmured, overcome by the solemnity of the occasion, their heads bowed.
From his pocket Sandhu drew a handful of sparkling little ornaments, each one a circle of silver in which was embedded a piece of coloured glass, cut so that its multi–faceted surface reflected the light. He called Michiko to him and placed one of the ornaments, the glass a brilliant blue, in her navel, where it stuck fast, glinting prettily. He called the girls up to him in turn, each receiving a navel–ornament of a different colour. Cressida’s was bright red.
“Now we are ready,” Sandhu said, taking hold of Michiko’s leash.
Despite her rising nervousness, Cressida was irritated by the blatant eager–to–please, worshipful puppy–dog expression on Michiko’s lovely face. “Now take the leash of the
