Word: hawkingses
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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In front of the house a group of soldiers were wolfing down bowls of rice. When Mrs. Hawkings appeared in her cardigan sweater and plaid skirt, the soldiers stopped eating and gazed at her with awe and affection. One young soldier started singing China's national anthem. "They'...
"Last Outpost." Later, she and her husband pointed out the room where they would hole up if the going really got rough-the pantry. "The bathroom is overhead," explained Mrs. Hawkings, "and that has a thick cement floor. Between the outside walls of the house and the pantry are two...
The drawing-room windows were barricaded with piles of logs, and a six-by-nine-foot Union Jack was draped over a bookcase. Said Mrs. Hawkings: "I know the Communists don't like a display of flags, but we just wanted to look at it."
The thump of shells echoed sporadically in the cool room. "Curious how easily one gets used to this," Mrs. Hawkings said. "Just yesterday when we'd heard no explosions for half an hour I remarked to Billy, 'Isn't it quiet?' "
...Hawkingses have no sure water supply, but the electricity was still on last week, and they have an ample stock of food and four bathtubs 'filled with water before the regular supply failed (plus the lily pond when these give out). During the long evenings Mr. and Mrs. Hawkings play Russian bank for pennies and halfpennies. "We call ourselves the last outpost of Empire out here," Mrs. Hawkings said. "I don't think we British ought to quit anywhere. It's a matter of prestige...