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The route took theovern that had once housed the largest slaughterhouse in the world It was now renovated and filled with upscale shops and restaurants, including several that offered vegan or vegetarian fare

They stopped briefly at the Oriental Pearl Tower, the e tubular supports that rose fifteen hundred feet into the sky

“It looks like a science experione awry,” someone on the bus said

“A Buck Rogers rocket ship,” soested

Paul and Ga they saw, but all they really cared about was the last leg of the journey, when the bus would drive through don Shanghai and right past the building that contained the American Consulate

They were closing in on that block now, the traffic slon giving thes The vieas less than enticing

“So much for the Consulate,” Gamay whispered

Paul nodded grimly Scores of Chinese police and soldiers had been stationed around the building and at every intersection leading up to it Barricades had been erected and Chinese officials could be seen checking the passports of anyone seeking to be let through “All in the name of safety, no doubt”

The bus caht and stopped As it idled there, Paul noticed another couple pointing out the security teams He leaned toward them “Any idea why all the soldiers are down here?”

The couple turned his way Based on the ured they were Canadian “I heard so about terrorist threats on the news,” the woman said “It’s just horrible, really The police were at our hotel thisand I’m told they’ve surrounded the Canadian and British consulates as well We’re thinking we’d rather have gone soet ho because they’ve closed the airport and the train station”

“I hadn’t heard that,” Paul admitted “We’re due to fly out tomorrow”

She offered a kindly smile “You’d better check with the airline, sonny I was told we ht be stuck here for a week”

Paul sighed as if it were a uess I should,” he said “Might I use your phone? I’m afraid ours was stolen”

Paul’s overall impression of Canadian citizens was that they were alilling to help out By far the most polite people he’d encountered in his travels

“Won’t do you any good,” the husband said “They’ve shut down the cell phone networks citywide”