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“Is there any way these deaths are connected?”

“They were all local day workers”

This didn’t seeo on After all, orized as local day workers, whether in fields or in factories

“Has anything been done to iain, what does the local Public Security Bureau have to say?” David asked

“Hoe improve safety e have phantoet the Public Security Bureau to do so?”

“Phantom?”

“We have nothing to pinpoint and no one to accuse”

“Be grateful,” David reassured the director “It probably means no one’s to blaate if there were so to worry about”

“That’s what I was told”

Sometimes David’s job was closer to that of a psychiatrist or priest than that of an attorney People wanted to tell hi, but he had to wait until they were ready

“We are a country ofhis problener’s death, however, brings us unwanted attention”

Again Ho fell silent, but this time David wouldn’t allow the director to skirt the issue “Tell me exactly what happened”

“A young n expert He was recently found dead Today I was informed that it was not an accident This makes me question the other deaths”

But what Ho said next showed that he was less concerned with the loss of life than with the bureau’s reputation in the international community “Our difficulties make their presence known at an inopportune time,” he went on “The world’s eyes are focused on the Three Gorges Dam…”

Actually, David thought, the dam had transfixed environreat debates about pollution, safety, and money, but most people around the world had not even heard of it