The Sand Pilots
an excerpt

The party was in full swing
as Nellie arrived, uncomfortably attired in
stockings and long, silk dress that seemed to
make her both taller and wider
at the same time. Cant was sitting
next to Benetti at the bar,
inducing the young officer to
attempt his first absinthe. He
nodded to Nellie as she approached.
"Dear girl, you are an angel," he said,
eyes tracing an embroidered tiger-lilly.
"Very nearly didn't make
it at all," she replied. "I only
learned of this bash thanks to one of the
stone heads on Easter Island."