The Board of Fast Parties

Wednesday. The management keeps a board of the quickest parties to surface from each of my submarines. I did not ask for it. I am told it is very popular.

The rules are simple and I approve of them. The fastest time wins. If two parties tie, the one that asked for fewer clues wins. Photographs go up only for parties who agreed at the venue, which is right; not everybody wishes to be remembered mid-sneeze.

Today’s party had studied the board before boarding, which I have never seen. They had a strategy. They had roles. One of them had a stopwatch, which he watched instead of the gauges. They did not make the board. They did make it out, which is the main thing, and I told them so, and they did not believe me.

I asked whether the Beast might have a board of its own. I was told no. I think the Beast is relieved.