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“Let’s get back to the All-Patriotic Society,” she suggested, returning to her original subject

“You tell ainst the laork here if you were a roup?”

“People don’t always tell the truth,” she observed

Stuart tipped his head in agreement

“What about foreigners?” Hulan asked “Is there anyone who ht want to stop the project?”

“Where shall I start? Greenpeace? The Sierra Club? International Rivers Network? The National Wildlife Fund? They’re all in an uproar over environ that will eventually clog the dam, and the cesspool that the reservoir will create Who else? Hell, overnment’s National Security Council said that the US—and by extension industrial companies like mine—should steer clear of the project And what about the bastards over at the US Export-Iuarantee loans to US co contracts here? Yeah, there are a lot of people and organizations that don’t want to see the dam completed”

“But you can still guarantee that it’s safe”

“Lethis cool, “I don’t think that anything that’s happened with rity of the dam in question, but you don’t have to takea e, he pressed on “Don’t you watch your television news? Haven’t you heard your premier speak of the proble about those new rattraps along the river they’reabout the daes Project The responsibility on your shoulders is heavier than Mount Tai’ Are you telling me you haven’t heard that?”

“I’ve heard it,” she allowed, “but I’m not so naïve as to think that those workers that you spoke so highly of just a o or even the so-called technically advanced outsiders like yourself can bear the weight of Premier Zhu’s mountain”

“Do I hear sarcasm, Inspector?” Stuart shot back “Just who do you think the Chinese will bla does happen to the da against the political tide and speaking out on quality People listen to hiovernment has hired a French company to oversee quality control They’re outsiders on’t be as susceptible to bribes as others are within your country”

“You’rea lot of money—”

“You bet your ass I am,” he admitted freely, “but that’s not why I’m here”

“If it’s not the money, then why?”

Stuart looked genuinely surprised by the question, and Hulan realized that all thoughts of Lily had faded from his nificence?”

“It’s big…”