Saying the road was slow would make it slow, and saying it was quick would make it quick, but after a few days, they arrived at Shanzhou dock. The sky was like a jade as clear as an expansive blue body of water, and the clouds crowded together, low in the sky, hanging around the white and red steamships that followed after each other, masts erect, the canvases making rustling sounds as they were blown by the wind, the water eaten up by the boats one swallow at a time, the swaying extremely pleasing to see. Only upon walking closer would one realise that the steamboats were as tall as two storey buildings, like massive monsters, cast iron steps extending from the ships to the shore, like a long tongue admitting all kinds of travellers. The milky white leather high heels trod upon the ground, pressing close against the fair, pale skin of the instep of the foot, a hand enclosed in a lace glove supporting itself on the railing, tapping as if playing a piano, an apricot-coloured Western-sty