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But the concerns of one individual were of minor interest to Zai when the philosophical conflicts between Zhu Rongji and Li Peng—and the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Public Security—were being played out in Beijing, where what mattered were issues such as how the day be follohere consideration had to be given to how China would approach the United States about Michael Quon, his involvement in the All-Patriotic Society, and what he had atte to control theto destroy the dam was quite another

A delib

erately defective version of VYRUSCAN—the program that had es Dam’s computerized safety system Michael Quon had broken many of his many tenets, but perhaps this was the most insidious of all He had used dreaded “Confucian” technology to try to disrupt the daain and he could solidify his position as a religious and political leader He who controls the waters…

“The bo of the American spy plane pale in comparison to this scandal,” Zai said, “but is it worth political chest beating on either side of the Pacific? Is it worth tapping into the US’s worst xenophobic fears about spies and terrorisether to fight both of these threats? And what if wor versions of VYRUSCAN have been implanted either narrowly or broadly in the States? China’s future hinges on the US staying econoer”

Perhaps evenup the ainst China? Was it worth e merely provoke unwanted questions about the dam’s vulnerability and the leadership’s vincibility?

“But why do we talk about all this?” Zai asked lightly “What o ho will be the same”

“It will never be the same,” Hulan said “I loved you like a father, but you illing to risk our lives—”

“Nothing happened to you, and we have had a happy result,” he said reassuringly, but his features were filled with pain and remorse

She turned her face away froently lifted her chin “Whatever decisions you make, know that I will always love you,” he said “Good-bye, daughter” With that he walked away She was unsure if she would ever see hiain

Hulan got a ride out to Site 518 with Officer Ge Fei, as now the highest-ranking policeman in Bashan’s Public Security Bureau On the way, she reflected on soet to be a big public hero; however, people in power noted his role in all this and he’d been quietly given a ratitude for his efforts to aid China, while his company arded several very lucrative state projects Captain Hom, by contrast, became a true Chinese hero Hom had wanted desperately to protect the people of Bashan, but the government now used his death for very different reasons He was being held up as an exeory asand Liu Hulan Tales of his childhood were being collected for a picture book, while a s rushed to press by a publisher in Chongqing Thanks to Captain Hom, all across the country posters for the All-Patriotic Society had been painted out, Internet connections cut, and phrases like “Be reverent” (an admonition first spoken by Eo) removed from daily discourse Fortunately for Hom’s extended family, his brother-in-law’s life and death had “disappeared” Nothing could be allowed to ained by Hom’s death

Hulan arrived at Site 518, found David, and together they passed aood-bye Then Hulan and David walked out past the Wu house and down the path until they reached the little beach that had been Brian’s refuge The river had calmed and lowered The cliffs that soared above the current were now covered with trash at the high-water ed rocks, bottles ja twisted, torn, and flapping on inaccessible precipices All of these things would stay where they were until time wore them out, wind ripped thereat faith in the river’s persistence It ht be slowed, but it would never stop

Hulan let all of her regrets coht about the way she had denounced her father during the Cultural Revolution and how his tied him into a killer She had been a child then who didn’t know any better, and now she took her regrets about everything that had happened as a result of her actions and tossed theht about herfloat away on a little wave Hulan thought about the woht factory and understood in a way she couldn’t allow herself to before that she had saved more lives than had been lost She wrapped those hters in love and released them into the current She conjured up the woman she had shot on the square and knew in her heart that she had saved that little girl They too drifted out of sight She remembered Hom—his bravery and the terrible pain he’d endured—then let him peacefully swirl and ripple away Hulan had tried to save all of theave herself for the ones she couldn’t Finally, Hulan let her daughter coedy of Chaowen’s death could never be forgotten, but Hulan could honor her by loving her and her father forever

Hulan looked up into David’s eyes She saw in the these last few days, David and Hulan had talked aboutto get pregnant again—not to replace Chaowen but to create the family they needed, wanted, and deserved Hulan truly believed they had a chance at happiness She squeezed David’s hand, and wordlessly they began the long journey home