A Cruel Bird Came to the Nest and Looked In

Chapter 24

The cake looked truly magnificent in the early spring sunshine. The restoration work had been completed to a high standard and the results were impressive.

Not a moment too soon, by all accounts.

No one in the empire ever noticed that the stone walls had begun gradually to fade over the years. It had required the eyes of outsiders, of course, to recognise the problem and rectify it. Now that they’d been returned to their original yellow hue we could plainly see the difference. Another decade, apparently, and they would have started to crumble.

Meanwhile, the roof had been cleared of all the dead leaves and other detritus which marred its creamy-white dome.

Now, once again, the cake appeared good enough to eat!

Performances would resume when all the seats had been reinstalled. (Nobody liked the idea of having to stand to watch the orchestra play.)