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Show 217 veneer of validity to the excuse. So within a day the date was set and arrangements marie. Sid invited the Major but was turned down, the Major's social life still limited to pokar, hunting, and the ballistic climax at the Fuji-en. The Lamberts had left for Kyoto, to visit General Greaves. During the preceding week the ladies enjoyed the anticipation. "A weekend away from the children," sairi Evely, as they waited on train-day, "Enough in itself." "Plus a change from hamburger," said Phyllis. "Is the train getting worse?" asked Louise. "Last week I barely managed chuck." "Wonder if a ship sank." The train's offering had never been elaborate, and had caused the women to use great ingenuity in camouflaging the same old fare: a plethora of patties, casseroles and meat loaf put great strain on family ties. And lately things had grown worse. "Maybe," sairi Mike, always upbeat, "today good." Unfortunately she was wrong; they were due for another disappointment. Several new military-government teams had arrived up the line, and the commissary officer had not been notified. Consequently at each station the old contingent and the new got on, marie their purchases and departed; supplies disappeareri witih uncanny speed. By Maruyama the steaks were gone; at Ichibei the pork-chops; outside Sakkanai the sergeant threw away the last of the lamb. At Motome it became apparent |