iookcaldwelndmeilinalmosenminuesoreachheenranceoheuniversiyacoupleofsleekoblongaxiswerequeuedupaheaxisand,heirelecricsidlingwanglinhaddisappearedmeilinhandedcaldwelrollofnewchinayuanandacredichipandjumpedinohefirsaxiheauomaicdoorsswishedshuandhevehicleslidsidewaysinorafficcaldwellgoinohesecondaxihedriver,anoldweaherbeaenmanwihshorspikygrayhairandamoleahebackofhisneckwihasinglesrandofhairgrowingouofi,urnedroundandgavehimheonceovercaldwellhadafeelinghewasgoingoneedallhemandarinhecouldmuser

“niqunarlia?”hedriverasked,rollinghis“r”slikehiseehweremadeofmaysianrubberhisvoicewasadeepguuraldrawlifyouranihroughavoiceanalysisconsruc,you’dfindracesofsomeobscurenorherndialec

“followhosewo4x4s,”caldwellurgedinhisbesmandarin

“heoneshajusspedoffseveralminuesago?”

“exacly”

“hey’vebeengoneforminuesmanyp4x4sinbeijingahisimeofhedaymyfriend,”heoldmanobservedslyly,lookingacaldwellinherearviewmirror”

“fivehousandnewyuanifyoucansprouanexrapairofeyesandcachupwihvehiclesinquesion”

“nowwearealking,”heolddriversaidwihasaciouswinkleinhiseyesasheyeasedouinoraffic

“whaever,”caldwellmuered,selingbackinoheleaherseasofheaxiheflickedhroughherollofbillsmeilinhadhandedhimoseeifhehadenoughmoneyopayhedriverhehadmorehanenough

hingsweredefinielyheaingupandcaldwellwasnosurehelikedhegrowingfeelingofimpendingdangerhewasonherailofhep,onajourneywhosedesinaionhecouldnopredicwhaifherewasanaspecohisai,apurposemoresiniserhanappearedoheunsuspecingeye?whawouldfoulermakeofhecurrenurnofevens?whaifhenevermadeiouofhisalive?

“canyougoanyfaser,”caldwelskedheolddriveradisincnoeofimpaiencehadcrepinohisvoicehedidnolikehesoundofiasmuchashedidn’wanoadmii,hewasscared

“ican,buiisimpossiblewihherafficandeveryhingonauopiloforhenexwokilomeersanyway,herafficisgoodbecauseimeanswecancachupwihhosecars,”hedrivergrowledwihouurningaroundheoldmanclearedhishroa,spaahickglobuleofyellowphlegmouofhewindowandookasipouofaransparenfskofsronglookingeahebackofhisneckwasheexureofburnleaher,wrinklesechedinohemochacoloredfabricofhisskinwihhecruelpassageofunreleningimeausilverhairsahebaseofhisroundheadformedhebegi

ingsofanimpressivecrewcu

“jusfindhosewocarsok?”

“sureandsoplookingbackofheadmakemyskincrawl,”hedriversaidmaeroffacly,leaningbackinhisseacaldwellcouldn’helpbuughhedriverwasabicrankybuhehadasenseofhumor,avirueobeappreciaedaimeslikehisheaxiwasonauopiloguidedalongbyissensorsandhemarkersonheroadherewassomehingsurreabouallhecarsmovingalongahesamespeediwaslikehevariousechnologies,engines,fuelinjecionsysemsandcarbureorshamadesomevehiclessuperioroohershadbeensrippedawayleavingonlyuniformiyhiswasexaclywhasocieywouldlikeoimposeuponisciizens,caldwellhough,srippinghemofallsembnceofindividualiy,leavingonlypaleshadowsofhemselvesmachinginimeoamonbea

“pcars,alsoauopilo?”heaskedhedriver

“ofcourse,innewchinaeveryoneonauopilo,”hedriversaidwihachuckle

“indeed”

“whyyoufollowpcarsanyway?havedeahwish?”

“no,iamajournalisworkingonasory,”caldwellliedhehadnomisgivingsaboulyingoheolddriverellingheruhwouldhrusheconversaionindirecionshedidn’waniogo

“havedeahwishallforeignjournalissinnewchinahavedeahwish,”hedriverconcluded,offeringcaldwellwhaheprobablyconsideredwouldbehissredpagodacigaree

“nohankyousowhaareourchancesofgeingcloserohavehicle?”

“jusgereadyopaymeerplusfivehousand,deahwish”

“okbuenoughwihhedeahwishalkok?”

“whaeveryousayhegirlchinesesheiswho?”hedriverasked,revealingaseoffadedjadeeehcaldwellhadn’noicedearlier

“journalisoo”

“can’foololdman,deahwish,”hedriversaid

“whydoyousayha?”

“iseemanyeyesofwomenduringmylifeiseesuffering,desire,happiness,hunger,hopeanddesperaioninheireyesiknowwhaisee”heoldmanappedhisskullwihanindexfingercappedbyaalonlikeaperedfingernailhecolorofburnash

“andwhaisha?”

“iseeanicipaion”

“anicipaionofwha?”

“ofwhayouarecapableorincapableofgiving”

hedispyonheaxi’sdashindicaedhaheywerenowoffheauopilogridandsureenoughherewasaslighshudderashesysemswichedoverheoldmangrabbedheseeringwheel,allbonyfingersandwhieknucklesheexperlyhreadedhiswayhroughheraffic,exploiinggapshawerenolongerbeingmainainedbyheauopilosysemhewasamanransformed,inenonmakingheexramoneyacosiwasamazingwhaheprospecofsomecashcoulddoformoivaion

caldwellhoughabouwhahedriverhadsaidaboumeilinwasihaobvious?wassheeagerlyanicipaingsomehing?andifso,wha?shehaddoneapreygoodjobofmaskingherfeelings,ifheysillexisedcaldwellhadn’forgoenhewayshehadabruplysideseppedhisprofessionofloveforheradi

eriwasverylikelyoomuchforhershewasprobablyinhesuienow,ahezhongguancunconinenalhoel,hasilypackinghenrushingouocheckouandmeehimaheairpor

ahapoinherememberedhahedidn’havehermobilenumberhedecidedocallhehoessoonashearrivedaheairporofindouwhehershehadalreadycheckedouandwhehershe’dlefhernumberwhaifshefailedomeehimaheairpor?hewouldhavenochoicebuoboardapneforshanghai,hoonheheelsofhepcaldwellmayhavedevelopedarenewedappeieforhegame,buhehoughofheunknowneniyhawasshanghaisilllefafu

yaseinhismouh

forhefirsime,caldwellbeganoharbordoubsabouwheherhewouldbeableogivefoulerwhahewanedandgehispasbackhesaredsinkinginoanabyssofdespairandselfdoubhefelafraidandwasbegi

ingowonderwhehergeinghismemoriesbackwasallhaimporanhell,hehaddoneokwihouhem,hisrecensuicideaempnowihsandingnowhaheknewhakenzoyamamoohadbeenbehindhisinabiliyomakealivinghacking,hecouldseherecordsraighandgobackowhaheusedodobeforewihglyphdead,hehubprobablyneededhimmorehaneverhesighofoneofhegreen4x4’sabouencarsaheadpupaidohaideaandhisadrenalinsaredpumpinglikeiwasheendofheworld

youdon’srollinohecavernousarrivalserminanewchinacapiairporisucksyouinlikeagianmagandbombardsyouwihadverisemensinercedwiharrivanddeparurea

ouncemensonecouldbeforgivenforhinkinghaheadverisingjinglesweremoreimporanhanhefligha

ouncemenshologramsdressedinheliveryofheinernaionairlinesmovedamonghecrowds,beameddownfromprojecorshighinheroofofhebuildingheairlineswerehereinforce,inbohanalogueanddigialform,allcmoringforapieceofheacioncaldwellkephiseyesrainedonhepparyridinghegsselevaorsohedeparureerminalhewasonaforyfivedegreeglideohesame,hemechanismofheancienescaorshudderingunderheweighofhumaniyhegrayserverslookedharmlessonheirrolleys,yeiwaspossiblehaheywereasdangerousasanyerrorisweapon

inhedeparureerminal,hefourpofficerscheckedinahefirscsscounerofshanghaieasernairlinesoneofhemenwasbarkingmandsoacoweringaendan,whilegesicuingaheserversayoungmaninredoverallsappearedfrombehindhecounerwihahandfulofpackingmaerialshepcedargered“handlewihcare”sickerandriangleshapedgreensickerswihaskulndcrossbonesmoifonheservershepsoldiershelpedhimapplyfoamproecorsohefourcornersofheserversandducapeoheirvariousparmensheylifedheserversonoheconveyorbelandhemachinesdisappearedinohei

ardsofhebaggagesysem

onequesionkeprepeaingiselfincaldwell’smindwhywereheyakingamercialfligh,whenamiliaryaircrafwouldhavemademuchmoresense?givenheinvolvemenofhep,onewouldexpecsucharrangemensobeeasilymademaybeprofessoryao’sdeahandlijin’sdisappearancehadforcedhepoacmuchquickerhansucharrangemensallowedye,herewasanoherpossibiliywhaeverwasgoingon,iwasnoofficiallysancionedbyhephemorecaldwellhoughabouhapossibiliy,hemoreimadeperfecsense

hequeueofeconomypassengerscheckinginohesameflighwasgrowingwouldherebeanyfreeseasonhefligh?caldwellwalkedowardsabankofphonesandcalledhehoelinzhongguancun,hankfulhahesillhadhehoel’splimenarycardinoneofhispockes

“zhongguancunconinenalhoel,howcanihelpyou?”afemalevoiceinquiredinfwlessenglish,pleewihamericanaccen

“misshsu,room2208,please”

“pleaseholdononeminue”mandopopassauledcaldwell’searassheswichedhimhroughhepbxsysemoheelephoneinhesuie

“meilinhadobviouslynocheckedouyeifshehad,hegirrecepionwouldhavesaidsowhawaskeepingher?heguessedhaheaxiridefromsinghuaohehoelwouldhavebeenquickerhanhisripoheairporhehoelhadfaseraccessohesuperfasringroadshaleadoheairporhephonekepringingandhensomeonepickedup

“meilin?”

“hangonaminuesir”

“sure”

“iamafraidhegueshasalreadycheckedouandisonherwayoheairporhisishousekeeping”

“okhanksdidsheleaveanumberforamrcaldwell?”

“nosir,shedidno”

caldwellhungupwihoumeilin’smobilenumberhowwouldheygeinouch?hehadogeonhapneoherwiseheywouldneverknowwhabecameofheaihadshedichedhim?whyhadshegivenhimhercredichip?ouofsympahy?caldwellurnedroundandlookedowardshecheckincounerhepsoldiershaddisappearedcaldwellsquinedahegiandeparuredispysuperimposedonheroofofheerminalherewasashanghaieasernairlinesflighsa809deparinginforyfiveminuesheflighhadnosaredboardingherewereohershanghaiflighsbyoherairlinesbuonlyheoneshanghaieasernairlinesflighinhenexwohourscaldwellwalkedupohefirscsscheckindeskandhandedheaendanhecredichipmeilinhadgivenhimandhispassporchip

“hisischeckinforflighsa809,righ?

“correc,”hegirlreplied,sca

inghisfaceforanysignoflunacyforallsheknewcaldwellcouldbeaerrorisshewasabouosaysomehing,probablyunpleasan,buheinerrupedquickly

“i’dlikeopurchasewoickesforhisfligh,please”

“woickes?”sheaskedincredulously,hershrewdeyesdaringbehindhimomakesurehasomediminuivepersonshehadn’seenwasn’hidinghere

“correc,”caldwellsaid,mimickinghervoicehersmallishfeauresbrokeinoaoruredsmile

“i’llneedheoherpassenger’sidorpasspor,sirsoiknowwhooissueheoherickeo,”shesaidshesoundedvaguelypleasedwihherselfsheprobablydidn’georebuffanaempocheckinveryofen

“canijuspayforheickesandleaveheoheronewihyouicanleaveyouhernamemyfriendwillbecheckinginshorlywihherpasspor”henioccurredocaldwellhameilinmaynowanoravelunderherow

ame

“haisahighlyunusualrequessirbuwemighbeableomakeanexcepionwillheoherpassengerbeheownerofhiscredichip,sir?”heaendanwasshrewd

“yes,shewill”

“veryconveniensirifyouweren’buyingwoickes,sir,iwouldhavebeenmosunusualouseanoherpary’scredichip,sirhenewchinagovernmenlooksmosunkindlyuponcredichipfraudsir”shesmiledherfacewasaaumaskofmakeupsrechedoislimiaanymomen,caldwellhough,crackswouldsaroappearonherfacegianfissureswouldemergerevealinghepale,unhealhyskinhiddenbeneahheyersofwhienerheaendanslidhechiphroughareader

“oh,youpanionhasalreadypurchasedickesinyourname?”

“really?”

“yes,amszhumeilinshe’sinhedeparurelounge”heaendanhandedcaldwellhischipsandaprinercameolifeissuingheickecaldwellwonderedwhawasgoingon

“here’syourickeandyourboardingpassmrjohnsonhedeparureloungeisupsairsoherigh”

“hankyou”mrjohnson?mszhu?

“haveasafeflighsir,”heaendansaidpleasanlyherewasamischievousglininhereyes

caldwellurnedround,feelinghershrewdlileeyesburningholesinhebackofhisheadashemadehiswayowardshedeparurelounge

afabaldingmiddleagedmanhawkedinoagarbagebi

earheenranceascaldwelleneredhedeparureloungeaglobuleofgreenbloodspeckledphlegmadheredohesideofhebinandcrawledslowlydownisshinyaluminumsurfacecaldwellgrimacedandsca

edhedeparureloungeforanysignofmeilinandhenhesawhershewasseaingseveralrowsawayfromhefourpofficerswihaworriedlookonherfaceshelookedup,sawhimandwalkedovercarryingheirluggagecaldwellnoicedhabohbagshaddiplomaicagsonhegainmeilinwasprovingbeyondashadowofadoubhasheknewhowhegamewaspyed

“hankgodyoumadei”

“yes,iwasabiworriedwhenifoundouididn’haveyourcellnumber”

“meoo”

“diplomaicags?don’ellmehydracanpullhaoff”

“sure,didn’wanoakechanceswihheglocksmozicouldhavebeenjusryingoimpressmewihallhaalkabouakinghegunshroughcusoms”

“hesurewasihinkhehadhehosforyoubuiamnooosureaboumszhu”meilinughedandhenurnedserious

“somehingveryineresingioverheardhoseguyschainghisallseemsobelinkedosomeonecalledmajorgeneralwangoneofheguysmadeaphonecalndoldsomeoheywereaheairporandwouldarriveahehospialinafewhours”

“hospial?”

“yeahsrange”

“couldwebewrong?couldhisbesomemedicalpuerandnoheai?”

“ha’swhaihoughhehingishaheywerealkingamonghemselvesabouanai”

“really?soweareonherighrack”

“iwouldseemsooomuchofacoincidenceheflighleavesinlesshanwenyminuessowebeergo”

“sure”

heywalkedohedeparuregaeandboardedhepneafewminueserhefourpofficerseneredhefirscssparmenandookheirseasseveralrowsinfronmeilinlookedacaldwelndsmiled

“youhinkingwhaiamhinking?”sheasked

“yup,ihopeyoubroughsomeofyoureavesdroppingoys”

“neverleavehomewihouhem,”meilinsaidmischievously