GR translation: serai

[Mike Jing]

V131.19-28   The true king only dies a mock death. Remember. Any
number of young men may be selected to die in his place while the real
king, foxy old bastard, goes on. Will he show up under the Star, slyly
genuflecting with the other kings as this winter solstice draws on us?
Bring to the serai gifts of tungsten, cordite, high-octane?  Will the
child gaze up from his ground of golden straw then, gaze into the eyes
of the old king who bends long and unfurling overhead, leans to
proffer his gift, will the eyes meet, and what message, what possible
greeting or entente will flow between the king and the infant prince?

>From the OED:

serai, n.1

1. a. In various Eastern countries, A building for the accommodation
of travellers; a caravanserai.

2. A Turkish palace; esp. the palace of the Sultan at Constantinople.

Weisenburger chose meaning #2 in the Companion, but #1 seems to make
more sense to me, since it looks like the infant is still in a stable
(his ground of golden straw).

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