ahenewchinacapiairporinbeijing,caldwelndmeilinsailedhroughimmigraionwihouahichexcephaanimmigraionofficerookaloofconvincinghaheconsolewasindeedapuercaldwellhadoswichionandlogonocyberspacebeforehemanwasconvincedhe’dneverseenanyhinglikeibeforeandmadeapoinofellinghiscolleagueshaiwasheweirdesandcoolespuerhehaseverseenmeilinhadexpinedocaldwellhahefirshingheyneededodoinbeijingwasogeheirhandsonsomegunshiswasnohongkonghingsweregoingosargeingdangerous

“believemewewon’gefarinbeijingwihoubeingarmed,ifonlyoheighenourpowersofpersuasionhegunspeaksauniversalnguageifyougecaughhackinginbeijingoraccessingforbiddenareas,heconsequencescanbedireindeedagunmaybeyouronlyhopeogeyourselfouofyourpredicamen,”sheexpinedsheknewheperfecpceogesomeweaponsyoucouldevenrenhembyhehour

“perfec,”caldwellsaidhewasnosurehereallymeani

aferalongaxiride,mosofionaspankingnewringroad,heycheckedinohezhongguancunconinenalhoel,abckobeliskbanginhecenerofzhongguancun,beijing’sversionofsiliconvalleymeilininformedcaldwellhazhongguancunwasjusashorwalkawayfromsinghuauniversiy,beijinguniversiyandawholebunchofoherscienceparksachina’scuingedgeofechnology

everyhinginbeijingwasbuilogiganicscale,makingcaldwellfeeloallylillipuianhereweregovernmenbuildingshafilledheenirehorizon,hulkinggreamonolihshawereaoncemodernandradiionalhearchiecurewasafreicfusionofeasandwes–ulramodernarchiecurewihchinesecharacerisicsherewerepagodalikeskyscrapershadisappearedinoacidraincloudshecurvedroofsofofficeblocksmodeledonancienemplesreflecedsunlighinabilliondifferenpces,shiningesamensonewchina’spceinheworld

beijingodaywaslikenewyorkorlondonhreeorfourdecadesago,excepeveryhingwasgrander,bigger,gaudier,wackierandcrazierinlondonornewyork,corporaelogosdominaedhesky,perchedonopofhoseciies’greaesconcreeandgssphallicsymbolsinbeijingcorporaebrandsnoonlycoveredeveryhing,anighheyfilledhepolluedyellowskiesheenireheavensbecameaflickeringcinemascreenpayinghomageohecorporaebrands

meilinhadopedforawobedroomsuie,sayinghashedidnofeelsafeinzhongguancun,heechnologywildwesofbeijing,whereawomancouldbedraggedkickingandscreaminghroughhelobbyofafivesarhoendnobodywouldbaaneyelidcaldwellhadnopinsalhoughhewasalileapprehensiveabouhavinghersocloseheclosermeilingoohimheharderiwasgoingobeopnhisfuureaferfoulerhadgivenbackwhawasakenfromhimherehadbeenanoddsilenceonhemaerofheirreionshipbucaldwellreckonedhameilinprobablyconsideredialhingofhepas

neverheless,hehadnodoubinhismindhahe’dfalleninlovewihheralloveragainanddespiehisreservaionsherewasnopoinindenyingihewonderedwheherheshouldleherknowadi

eronighhowhefel,ifonlyogeiouofhewayhe’draherhaveiouinheopenhanlingering,wihsomanyimporanhingsasake

soadi

eroverfusioncuisinecaldwellsaidheunspoken

“meilin,ihavesomehingoellyou”

“yes”

“ihinkiamsillinlovewihyouijuswanohavehisouinheopensohaiisnoanissueihaveneverinmylifemeanyonewhomakesmefeelhewayyoudoandhadayahebussopallhoseyearsagosillhaunsmeye,iamnoevensureiamcapableofhavingareionship,evenifyouwereineresed”

meilinsaidnohingshejussaredaherpeandpushedhersalmonseakwihlobsersauceandbckbeansaroundwihherfork

“le’sdrinkoyou,”shesaidshorly,pickingupherwinegss

“ous”

“ous”

heresofdi

erwasspeninsilencenoanunforablesilence,yeasilenceallhesamecaldwellfelabisupidforbringinguphaouchysubjec,buhealsofelrelievedhahehadbroughhisfeelingsouinheopenheshinghewanedwashakindofdisracionnowhecouldconcenraeonhinkingabouhesinghuaproblem”

“maybeweakeawalk,”meilinsuggesed

“goodidea,imayhavehadoomuchoea”

heywalkedalonghebrighlylisreesofzhongguancun,marvelingahelighs,heholographiclogosofmajoriconcernsdancinginheskyhezhongguancunarchiecshadgonecrazyinamachogameoseewhocouldbuildhemosourageousbuildingcaldwellwasparicurlyimpressedbyawoowergssbuildingshapedlikeadolrsignandhesymbolforhenewchinayuandespiehebliseringcoldandheheavinessinheair,caldwellhoughbeijinganighwaseasilyhemosromanicciyinheworld,puingparisandbudapesinheshadewhenamaninanillfiingsuionasreecornerhrusaruddyfacedchinesebaby,wrappedinasilverbnke,inhisfaceandofferediforsale,caldwellchangedhismindabouha

“whadoeshemean,fifyhousandnewchinayuan?he’snoreallyofferinghebabyforsaleishe?”caldwelskedmeilin,lookingbackashecueruddyfaceofhebabygrewsmaller,apinkblobinhedisance

“i’mafraidheisprobablyaclonedbabysolenfromoneofhenearbyhospialsheysellhemocouplesheyseeonhesreewihouchildrenhemushavemisakenusforonesuchcouple”

“yeah,buonasreecorner?yikes!”caldwellexcimed,hinkingabouka

“chinaisacounryofparadoxes,sarkexremesyoushouldknowha”

“iguess”

“yourparensspenaloofimeinbeijing,righ?”meilin

“yesbesidesxian,iwasmoslybeijingandhongkongduringheholidayswhaabouyou?”

“myparensdiedwheniwasveryyoungineverreallyknewhembumygrandfahersaidheywerehemosperfecparensanyonecouldhopefor”

“i’msureoherwisehowcouldheyhavehadadaugherlikeyou?”caldwellconcludedhahawaseasilyhecornieslihahehadeverueredmeilinblushedslighlyandloweredhereyescaldwellnoicedhashehadsraighnaurallylongeyeshes

“sowhaishepnforomorrow?”shewasdeliberaelychanginghesubjec

“ihinkwegeourselvessomeweaponsandcheckouhissinghuapceisuggeshaifwecanlocaewanglinorlijin,he’llprobablyleadussraighohebswherehispuerissiing”

“manyofhedeparmenofcompuerscienceandechnologycssesareopenlecureswejusneedogeanidonhiswanglinkidandailhimlijinisprobablydead,likeheprofessor”

“sowhaifheserverisawwasphysicallyremovedoanoherlocaion?”

“don’youworryabouhawe’llfindouforsureomorrowihinkwebeerheadbackandgesomesleepwe’vegoalongdayaheadofus”

caldwelndmeilineneredhegrubbyzhongguancuncybercafehroughgrimesainedpsicdoorfpsheesablishmenwasinhewindowlessbasemenofoneofhesfewbuildingsinheviciniyhahadn’fallenvicimoechnologyindusryfuelledproperydevelopmenherewasnosignage,nohingoindicaehepresenceofheesablishmenheproprieor,alonghairedeenagehippiewihawispymousache,askedhemwhaheirpleasurewashecouldn’havebeenmorehanseveneenyearsold

“heymanhowyoudoing?american?yeah?noproblemwegovrsuisman,saeofhear,oallyimmersivemanpublicorprivaebooh?wegosexsuis,herealdealwihfullbodyimmersionbeerhanherealhingwegoacymanfromxyberiaheesversionworkswondersonyoursaeofmindwegohebesdigialsuffman,nonaddicive,oallynosideeffecsjusapuersimuedhighhawillblowyourmind”hewordserupedfromheboy’shinlipsinrapidfirefashion

“wearenoineresedinhawearelookingforsomeshooers,”meilinsaid

“hey,akeieasy,”heboysaid,hissharpsingleliddedeyesdaringaroundhecybercafe“hereareeyesandearseverywhere”

“wedon’haveimeomessabou”

“hey,ilikehedyiamnosayingihaveanyhingoofferyoubufollowmei’sooloudinhereican’hearverywell”morefurivegncesaroundhehalfempycybercafeacoupleofparonswerefasasleepaheirerminalsheylookedlikeheyhadpulledooomanyallnighers,burnedoomuchmidnighoil

heyfollowedhimupanarrowflighofsairshroughadoorwaywihasainedredvelvecuraininoabadlylirooseadheboy’shanddisappearedinohisshirpockeandhepulledouadevicewhichhequicklyranalongheirbodieshecheckedhereadouonhedevice

“unioniseh?honkiechickeh?jusneedobesureyouarenofromhenewchinapoliceorhepcan’beoocarefulinhisownhereareeyesandearseverywhere”

hesca

erdisappearedinohispockeasquicklyasihadappearedhewavedhishandalongasecionofhewallhemoionwassofashahisfingerswerejusabluradoorseflushwihhewallslidopen,orevealshelvesofammuniionhawouldhavemadeasmallcounryproud

“sepwihmeinomyboudoir,”hebeijingeenagersaidwihamockbowheyfollowedhiminandhewallclosedbehindhemwhenheboybowed,caldwellnoicedfromhebackofhisearshahewaspackingsomeheavyduywewareiwasnohinglikehepersonaljukeboximpnsfavoredbyhekidsinheunion,hishinglookedlikehegrillsonaharleydavidson,onlyfleshcolored

“coolwareyou’vegohere,”caldwellplimened

“ohhis,”heboysaid,bohhandsinsincivelygoingbehindhisears,lovinglymassagingheroughfleshcoloredgrills“escybernaufromjapan,madeunderlicensebygreawallcompuronicscosafracionofwhaidoeselsewherehishingishebee’skneesallhemusic,youneed,allhesofwareyouwanrighhereinyourheadsavesyouawholeloofconsoleime”

hereweregunsalloverhewallsinhemiddleofheroomwasasackofseelsorageunishalookedlikeovergrownfilingcabisheboywalkedhroughheroompullingouheseseelraysandinsidehangingonhooksorarrangedinfellinedrecesses,heldinpcewihheavyduyvelcro,wasallma

erofweaponry,manyofwhichcaldwellhadneverseeyesonbeforeoneofhemimmediaelycaughhiseyeiwashesameweaponhaheyakuzahadusedinhepuzzlebackinheunionheoneagenjonesandagenjackmanhadconfiscaedhamorninginhedocknds

“whaishisone,er,wha’syourname?”caldwellenquired

“callmemozi,”heboysaidmaeroffaclyashepulledhegunfromisholdingpce

“hisbabyiscalledheubejapaneseimpornamedaferheundergroundinlondonsocalledbecauseheseinyselfpropelledbullesarelikeminirockeswihaspeciallycoaedheadcangosraighhroughsolidrock,likeheubeinlondon,righ?bulleswilldrillsraighhroughaman’sskull,beforehecanevenblink,wihouslowingabea”

“haiknowmyfriendwaskilledbyoneofhese,”caldwellsaid,moreforhisownbenefihananyhing”

“ishaheruh?”wonderedmozialoudashoughcaldwellhadoldhimsomefarfechedcockandbullsorybuhewasgivinghimhebenefiofhedoubanyway“fvorofhemonhwihheyakuzaigaheryourfriendyakbyanychance?”

“ishaheruh?”caldwellrepeaed,observinghegunandignoringheboy’sspoonreferenceoheyakuzaheweaponconsisedofalongube,halffibergss,halfpolymer,wihasubbyhandcarvedcrysalsockhebulles,allhirysixofhem,werehookedupoheousideofheubebyaninricaeiceofspringsandcoilshaseemedoabidebyheirownwsofphysicsheywereencasedwihahincoveringofsurdyranslucenpolymerhisgunhadbeenfiredbeforehepolymerhadgoneallmilkylikehewindscreenofacaraacarwashahebackofhebulleswereheseminipropulsionunislikeyouhaveonascudmissilecaldwellhandedhegunbackomozi

meilinwalkedoveroarayofdiminuivehandgunsshepickedupapacpisolwihapolymerframehegunwassmalndalmosdisappearedpleelyinherpalmwhensheclosedi

“polymerframeminiglockpisol,namedaferausrianenrepreneurgasonglocksynheicpolymerissrongerhanseel,heradiionalmaerialforhesehings,buiseighysixpercenligherandhemanufacurercimsiisviruallyindesruciblekindoflikehehardoniusuallywakeupwihinhemorninglikesaidhardon,heglockchangedhandgunhisorybecauseioperaedonpleelydifferenprinciples,”moziexpoundedcaldwellcouldswearhekidwasreadinghespecsofsomedaabaseinhishead

“hahaok,whywouldyouremendhis?”meilinasked,amusedaheboy’slooseongue

“youarereferringoheglockormyhardon?oh,igeiglocksoffergreareliabiliyandaccuracyyoucanchoosedifferenriggerpullsandheriggerisheonlyhingyouneedooperaehegunsofolkslikeourunionfriendherewonblowheirloadbymisakehepullonhisbabyisconsiseneveryimeyousqueezeheriggerislikehavinghesameorgasmeveryime,”moziexpined,lookingameilinsuggesively

”mozi,dudecanyoucuhedirysuffou?”caldwellimploredhelikedheboy’ssenseofhumorbuforsomesrangereasonhedidn’appreciaehefachaiwasaimedameilin

”icancuioubuiwonhashowispeakmanakeiorleaveibesideshecuedyfindsifu

y,doesn’she?”moziasked,gri

ingcheekilyameilin

“suresoyoureckonweshouldakeheglocks?”

“absoluelynobrainer,really?hishinghashreeauomaicsafeieswhenyoupullheriggerhesafeiessequeniallydisengage,reengagingauomaicallywhenheriggerreurnsoisposiionsomereckonheglockishesafespisolonhemarke,kindoflikesayingdurexishesafescondomonhemarkehere’sgoobesomeruhoibuhowdoyouprovei?”mozifshedmeilinanaughygrincaldwelldecidedhaherewasnopoinsayinganyhingoheeenager

“soundsgood,”meilinsaidexaminingheglock

“here’smoreheriggersysemisoneofhekillerapplicaionshereisnohingocock,nohammer,noexernalsafeyodisengagehemealponensofglocksusedobereaedwihenifermealfinishedwiheniferbeesashardasadiamondhinkofeniferasviagraforgunsofcourseheseglocksareallpolymergohroughcusomsviruallyundeeced,”moziconinued,clearlyrelishinghefachahewasgeingoncaldwell’snervescaldwelldidn’quielikehelookofheglocksheideaofacuallyshooingsomeonewihonehadsuddenlylosisappeal

“doyouhaveanysoundguns?”caldwellenquired

“youguysjusfoolingaroundrigh?houghyouguysweregoingocausesomeseriousmayheminbeijing?”moziasked,hiscoolbckeyesjumpingfromcaldwellomeilin

“look,doyouhaveasoundgunorno?”caldwellinsisedherewasnowayhewasgoingokilnyoneinchina

“wedon’dosoundgunshoseareforpunkasswimpsmanwedon’dohashi”

caldwellsmiledheboyhadaloofspunkandyoucouldn’helpbulikehim

“bereahensomehingsmall,hacaneasilybeconcealed,”caldwellconceded

“nowwearealkingwegohebereaminicougar,apacpisol,naoqualified,fibergssreinforcedechnopolymer,chromepedbarrelbhbhnoaseasyogehroughcusomshoughandnoasidioproofasheglocks”

“okwe’llakeheglockshen,”meilininerruped

“ok,whaeveryousayyourcallgasonglockwouldbepleasedwihyourchoice”mozishrugged,grabbedwoglocksfromoneofheraysandrummagedinanoherraybelowforsparemagazines

“heseholdfifeenroundseachwillyoubeneedinganymoreammo?”moziaskedmeilin,whoookoneofheglocksfromhim

“anohersixyroundswillbefineweneedhegunsforforyeighhours,”meilinsaid,experlyremovingheempymagazinefromhehandgunandrepcingiwihaloadedonemozieyedhersuspiciously

“nocandoonheglocksneedopayourighforhesejusosshemwhenyou’redohehuongkidswillusehemforargepracicebeforepoppingheirparens”

“howmuch?”

“foryouguys190,000newchinayuaneach,includingbulles”

“willgiveyou80,000newchinaforboh,includingbulles,”meilincounered

mozibrieflyconsideredmeilin’sofferbeforebreakinginoasmile

“youdriveahardbargaincanseeyou’vedonebusinesswihusbeforems”

“neveryoumind,”meilinsaidshecounedoueighenhousandnoebillsandhandedhemomozihenoesdisappearedinohedephsofheeenagegundealer’sbomberjackemeilinpcedheglocks,hesparemagazinesandhebullesinherbagmoziwavedhispalmacrossanohersecionofwalndhedoorslidopenhiddensensorsinhewall

“imusellyousomehingms,”saidmoziasheyheadedbackdownhenarrowsairsinohebrighlighsandwhienoiseofhecybercafe

“wha?”

“youareamighyfinewomanicouldeachyouahingorwoaboulovemaking”

“icouldeachyouahingorwoabouma

ers,”meilinsaidaffablyasheywalkedouinohecoldmorningaircaldwellcouldswearshewasenjoyingheaenion