The young deputy’s face turned pale. “I will fetch it, sir, at once.”

Shan stood at the window and watched his assistant as he darted outside, wondering if he should send the form he had completed requesting Choden’s transfer. His prior deputy had proven to be a ruthless murderer, had even killed Shan’s predecessor, so Colonel Tan had paid special attention to his replacement. Choden had had the highest exam score of any Tibetan in his class on the law enforcement exam but he seemed incapable of asserting the authority of his office.

“I told Lhakpa the goat had to go an hour ago,” Choden groused as he returned with his boot.

“You mean because you knew I would be returning later.”

“Yes,” Choden replied, then hesitated, as if sensing a trap. “I told him family can only visit for an hour a day. Rules of the jail.”

“It’s a goat,” Shan pointed out.

“Well…” Choden began in a tentative tone, as if about to argue the point. He had been raised only a few miles away in one of the many families who not only fervently believed in reincarnation but also knew that most of the prior generation had died with terrible burdens on their everlasting spirits, meaning they had come back as lower life-forms. Nearly all of the traditional households in the township included animals who were believed to be relatives. “He’s convinced she’s his young niece, who took a terrible fall off a mountain last year. He says that’s why she came back as a goat, to learn to pay better attention on the trails.” Choden fixed Shan with a hopeful gaze, as if he believed he was winning the argument. “I tied her in a stable on the far side of town this morning. But she always finds him, no matter where he is. Very clever, that girl. He says she has his niece’s eyes,” he added uncertainly.

Shan sat at his desk and stifled a yawn. “No animals in the jail,” he said, then noticed the short typed report on the center of his desk. He read it out loud. “Incident One. A yak was reported to be knocking down road signs near milepost 200 on the highway.” It was an event that occurred nearly weekly somewhere in the township. “Incident Two,” he continued. “Mrs. Lu reported that three onions were stolen from her windowsill. Incident Three. Mr. Xing reported that a vandal chalked a sun and moon symbol on his back wall.” Shan cocked his head at his deputy.

Choden shrugged. “I told him it was intended as a protection, a good luck charm, really, and that it would help keep mice away from his grain.” The Chinese residents represented perhaps five percent of the town’s population but accounted for ninety percent of the complaints.