A declaration of war makes it hard to get the grass cut…

Empire of the Sun by JG Ballard

Empire of the Setting Sun

As the uncut lawns grew deeper and the formal gardens deteriorated, they spent their time cooking small meals on a charcoal stove which they set up beside the cement statuary on the floor of the arnamental pond. The smell of bean curd and spiced noodles drifted among the disrobing nymphs.