Part II, Looking Up Chomolungma's Dress Summary

For twenty years, Alobar has been at the lamasery. A woman named Kudra arrives dressed as a boy, and she is put to work moving stones. During the break, there is pressure on Kudra to disrobe and swim. Kudra goes to Alobar for help and tells him that he doesn't recognize her, that she is the woman he nicknamed Wren many years ago. "Of our nine planets, Saturn is the one that looks like fun. Of our trees, the palm is obviously the stand-up comedian. Among fowl, the jester's cap is worn by the duck. Of our fruits and vegetables, the tomato could play Falstaff, the banana a more slapstick role. As Hamlet - or Macbeth - the beet is cast. In largely vegetarian India, the beet is rarely eaten because its color...