Ten minutes into their flight, Shan removed the headphones that let him hear what the others on the helicopter were saying and numbly stared out the window. Tan, sitting beside him, would not stop laughing and repeatedly patted Shan on the knee, though whether it was in consolation or congratulations, Shan could not tell.

Tan had sent the helicopter back for four of his commandos, which they would call his security escort, and the colonel’s laughter had infected them as well. “An instant daughter!” Tan exclaimed in his microphone as he twisted to see his soldiers. “She just materializes on a galloping sheep! Like some old fairy tale!”

Shan was not sure what tale he was caught in, but it did not feel like a fairy tale. His immediate reaction had been anger that Meng would mock him with such an impossible suggestion but he had quickly seen the unexpected pleading in her eyes and he had made the inevitable calculation. They had been lovers for less than a month, but that month had been five years earlier.

With her usual wisdom Amah Jiejie had eased the effect of his paralysis by rising and hurrying to Kami. “What a wonderful sheep rider you are!” she had exclaimed, then added, “I hope I didn’t hurt you in the fall,” as she bent over the girl with a piece of the candy she always carried. Kami relaxed her grip on Meng and took a cautious step away, gazing in confusion at Meng and Shan, then let Amah Jiejie lead her toward the square, motioning the deeply amused Tan to join her.

Shan took an unsteady step toward Meng, who now looked frightened. “I had rehearsed so many ways to tell you,” she said in a tight voice. “I wrote letters every few weeks but tore each one up. I was thinking maybe we could have gone on a picnic in the hills for you to get to know her better and when she ran off to pick wildflowers I would ease into the announcement. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

Shan could not find his voice.

“She’s very bright, and so affectionate, Shan.” Meng was speaking quickly, nervously, now, and Shan saw moisture in her eyes. “I know she will do well with you. She’s very funny, and sometimes seems wise like—” Shan had touched his fingers to her mouth to silence her and embraced her.