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David was asking the archaeologist to rat out his benefactor, but Ma’s verdict seemed measured yet truthful “He could, but if he had, I don’t think he’d be hanging around the site” After a pause, he added, “It doesn’t look like this rain is going to let up Do you want to stay here and explore the cave for a while?”

The idea of going deeper into the darkness sent a shiver through Hulan

“I’d rather speak with the families of the other victims,” David said

Ma shook his head “I can’t help you there In light of the deaths, the faiven extra money to move before the deadline”

“To Beijing?”

“Their stories are doubly tragic They were sent to the Xinjiang Autonoion”

That was a reo and still be in China While it was true that the governion with displaced fareat place to send soain

“But the Wu family is still here,” David said

“Yes, and you can visit them if you want,” Ma responded “But do you think your visit will be a colanced at David, then Hulan, but neither of the et back”

The walk back up the cliff was arduous and wet The rocks were slick and, with little greenery, there wasn’t rab on to Once they reached the main path, the threesome picked up their pace When they arrived at the Wu house, David knocked on the door and called, “Wu Taitai Wu Taitai” No one answered

DR MA DROVE DAVID AND HULAN BACK TO BASHAN AND DROPPED the wet fro and the Jeep ride into town They entered the lobby, checked in, and set out for their room, which was located in the fourth courtyard The Panda Guesthouse was a traditional Chinese coer than Hulan’s fa’s iuesthouse had been built on a north-south axis with a series of connecting courtyards, buildings, and pavilions, all surrounded by a high protective wall As David and Hulan walked, painted landscapes portraying subjects from the Chinese classics unfurled on the eaves above them Carved wooden screens covered the s they passed The third courtyard housed a traditional Chinese garden with three huge scholar’s rocks serving as the centerpiece David and Hulan reached the fourth courtyard, and he opened the door to their room It was lovely in the sense that it had one double bed and no television

David knew that if anyone was going to make the first move, it had to be Hulan Still, he was completely unprepared that it happened so soon or so effortlessly Hulan didn’t say a word as she caently put her hands on his cheeks and brought his face down to hers Her lips were soft and yielding She pulled back, and he looked into her eyes She couldn’t h

ide as in the just a little too easily But as soon as she undid the first button on his shirt, he reached for her as though it had been years and not months since the last time they had made love He wanted to believe—if only for the ties—that they still could have a life together

Their wet clothes clung tenaciously to their skin, but every inch revealed was reclaimed and reconquered They didn’t hurry as they touched and tasted each other For theseexcept the needs of the flesh When he finally entered her, she moaned in pleasure as she lifted her hips to ether across tides of sensation and emotion, until neither of theet her out of Beijing, away from the MPS, away from their own bed, away from memories of Chaowen

By the time they were sated, they were both as damp as when they’d walked into the room The sheets lay in a rumpled pile at the foot of the bed The air from the overhead fan slowly cooled their sweaty bodies They had so ed by Zai, even if Hulan had forced herself in the early ? But David couldn’t and wouldn’t push Hulan She wasn’t yet willing to reveal her mind’s deepest intimacies, but she was ready to talk about the case that had brought them here For David, it was a start, and his heart welled with cautious happiness