"Eighteen," said Liu, in the tone of someone conducting an inventory. "Almost all of us."
"Yes yes, we know you're already nineteen," said Taro.
"Almost all of us," Liu repeated, without modulating.
Taro looked at him for a second.
Then he decided the conversation was not going to produce useful results in this direction and let it go.
Anuar served with the efficiency of someone who had practiced the process and was satisfied with how it was going, right up until Li reached the central serving dish before Anuar had finished distributing from it and helped himself directly, with the implicit argument that Anuar's serving system was less efficient than the alternative system of reaching the dish yourself.
"Li," said Anuar.
"Your food it's good," said Li, already eating.
"There is an order."
"It's very good, Anuar."
Anuar looked at Tao for support.
