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“Who says this?”

“Our leaders”

“Waaa!”

An even louder “Waaa” from the crowd echoed the lieutenant’s response

“You and I don’t share the same leaders,” the lieutenant said “We follow Xiao Da”

“Xiao Da, Xiao Da, Xiao Da” The worshipful susurration reverberated through the cave

“When a true leader gives repose to the people,” the hidden voice pronounced, “his kindness is felt and the black-haired race cherish him in their hearts”

The construction of the sentence had an archaic sound that ree of the classical dramas sometimes shown on state television Could this be a Confucian saying or perhaps a snippet of classical poetry?

Tang Wenting bowed his head piously, absorbing the sound Then he raised his eyes and asked David in brittle Chinese, “What do you have hidden behind your sain the crowd parroted this two or three times before the man repeated it himself “What do you have hidden behind your smile?”

This was the same question that had been posed to President Clinton when he’d come to China Clinton didn’t kno to respond, and neither did David

Hulan stepped forward and demanded, “If Xiao Da is so special, why does he not show his face?”

David wasn’t so sure that her question was a good idea, although it did divert attention away from him

“And why don’t you ask Stuart Miller to show his true face?” Tang Wenting asked in response “Is your governreedy for this dam that they will look the other hile he steals China’s soul?”

“You are afraid to answer my questions!” she fired back “Why doesn’t Xiao Da tell the people who follow hi behind you? Is he that afraid?”

The lieutenant put his hands on his hips and shouted back staunchly, “Xiao Da afraid? Not of you!”