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I must pause, however, to report an important conversation that occurred during this meal, before their stomachs revolted, and while a very merry spirit still prevailed. They were unanimous in admiring the food and spoke its praises extensively. But in a lull, Hood said, ‘I think we should have a vote, while we’re all still here. To avoid any unseemly arguments and things like that. I propose that we each make it clear to all present, here and now, how we feel about donating our bodies to the larder in the event that we should give up the ghost.’

‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ said Back.

‘You know it’s going to come up. Whoever dies first...well, the rest of us are going to have to make a choice. It’ll save a lot of awkwardness if we all just make our wishes clear in advance. I don’t mind if you eat me. I’m an organ donor.’

‘I don’t mind being eaten, either,’ said Akaitcho. ‘Nature is a feast at which we all take our turns.’

‘No one is going to be eating anyone else,’ said Lu. ‘We’re going to make it through this.’

But Hood continued, ‘How about you, Juana?’

‘This side of dying, I don’t think I mind,’ she said. ‘But it’s funny, when you think of, you know, eating someone else—one of us—it feels like I would be hurting them. Or maybe myself.’

‘It’s disgusting,’ said Lu. ‘We can’t kill each other.’

‘There’s a long way between eating a dead body and killing to eat,’ said Back. ‘I suppose I’m okay if you eat me.’¹

‘Just make sure you serve me with a good sauce,’ said Ge Ge.

Everyone laughed except Lu, who was silent for the rest of the meal.