If we will see another. "
The words did not entirely make sense to Gregor, but all the dancers seemed to know just what they were doing. He guessed a lot of kids' songs in the Overland were kind of confusing, too. Especially those old ones. "Hey Diddle Diddle" ... "Ring Around the Rosie" ... "Sing a Song of Sixpence." What did any of those mean?
A little while later, Gregor was at the buffet table ready to load up his plate when Luxa came up and grabbed his hand. "Come, Gregor. Hazard says you must be my partner for this dance."
"Luxa, I can't dance, okay? I think I've made that clear," Gregor said.
"But this is a simple dance, and the words tell you exactly what to do. Come, or Hazard will think you do not like his party," she pleaded.
Gregor sighed and reluctantly put down his plate.
"All right, but just this one dance." He let Luxa lead him out onto the field. Another circle was forming, but this time everyone had a partner.
"Start by bowing to me, and then just follow the words," said Luxa. Suddenly the music began and Gregor found himself bowing like some character out of a cartoon.
"Join the dance and come be merry.
Take my hand and do not tarry.
One, two, three steps up,
One, two, three steps back.
Turn around
Off the ground
And set down what you carry. "
He didn't do too badly. That last part about "off the ground and set down what you carry" was a bit tricky. He was supposed to lift Luxa up, spin her around, and set her back down. He did it, about four beats behind everyone else, and then suddenly Luxa was gone and he was weaving around the circle, catching one person's hand and then the next, until he found himself back face-to-face with Luxa, bowing again.
"Join the dance and conquer sadness.
Take my hand and banish madness.
One, two, three steps up,
One, two, three steps back.
Turn around
Off the ground and give yourself to gladness."
Off he went again, making his way around the circle. By the third verse, while he would never admit it, Gregor was actually beginning to enjoy himself.
"Join the dance and be lighthearted.
Take my hand lest we be parted.
One, two, three steps up,
One, two, three steps back.
Turn around
Off the ground
And finish what you started. "