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Prosecutors never asked a question unless they knew the answer, but David had been pretty sure what Wu would say Hulan’s line of questioning had been fruitless The Wus’ situation was unfortunate, but they were a dead end nevertheless

On their way out, Hulan stopped to examine the All-Patriotic Society flyer htly s so boldly”

“Xiao Da says we should not be afraid of our beliefs,” Wu said

“You have heard him say this?”

“When he speaks, I listen” The old man felt for the paper, pulled it off the nail, and handed it to Hulan “Go to the ht Open your heart”

Hulan took the flyer and stuffed it in her pocket, then she pulled the hood of her poncho over her hair and stepped out into the rain Once outside, David turned to take one last look at theand her cradled baby Underneath all that dirt and sorroas a very pretty young woman

“Zai jian,” he said

“Be reverent,” the old man answered, then shut and barred the door

A HALF HOUR LATER THEY WERE BACK AT THE HOTEL IT WAS close to six, still raining, still hot, and Houards still manned the front entrance David and Hulan wandered back to their room in the fourth courtyard They et and muddy Hulan took the first shower, and by the time David was out of his she’d made tea from the hot water in the thermos He sat down and took a sip The closeness he’d felt to Hulan just yesterday seemed very distant now

“I have to ask you so, Hulan Why were you so hard on that old man?”

“Soht answer You know that”

“He lost his son That woman lost her husband—”

“And they’re both cult members”

Suddenly her obsession with the group becas—against facing her grief over Chaowen’s death, against connecting to hiious policies, against dealing with Lily’s uish That wallher to the facts of the case

“I’m sorry we came out here,” he said