“There are dead bodies inside,” Tan said as Shan produced a cone of incense, then watched in silence as he lit it and laid it on a slab of broken stone. In the dust on an adjacent slab, Shan inscribed the mani mantra with his finger. They backed out of the cave and spoke no more until they reached the truck. Then with the brighter light, Tan located four yellow flags on the slope above the cave that marked the caches of explosives laid for Jiao’s demolition of the cave mouth.

When they returned to the parking lot, two of Tan’s men were waiting for them. One silently pointed to a truck in the shadows at the back of the parking lot, at the opening that led to the rearmost row of modules. “The truck has a mop hanging off the back. It has two men inside, like an outer guard.”

“For the toolshed you mentioned that has more guards beside it,” Tan said.

“At the far corner of the equipment yard, yes, sir,” the commando reported.

“So consider it a training exercise, Sergeant,” Tan said. “Neutralize these two. Nothing fatal. Gag them and tie them to a bulldozer.” The soldiers grinned, saluted, and melted into the deeper shadows.

Ten minutes later Shan and the colonel approached the shed. Three of the cleanup crew now stood in front of the door, holding what looked like pick handles. Tan’s scouts marched directly up to them. Sharp words were exchanged, a club was raised, and before the man who held it could swing he was on the ground, with the club against his chest. The other two guards backed up, blocking the door. “We have orders!” one of them spat and raised his own club.

“Stand down!” Tan barked as he emerged out of the shadows with Shan. The men at the door hesitated a moment, then recognized the colonel and with fearful gasps lowered their weapons, butt first on the ground, as if standing at attention for an inspecting officer.

“Corporal Cheng?” the commando sergeant asked.

“Sergeant?” came the man’s equally surprised reply.

“You know this man?” Tan asked his sergeant.

“We used to be stationed together, sir. Cheng’s a prison guard. Or was.”

Corporal Cheng seemed to relax. “Still am, at the 404th. Seconded, the warden calls this duty. He even lets us earn wages here too. Hardship pay he calls it.”

“I don’t recall signing off on that,” Tan stated.

“Head of personnel did, sir. Major Xun.”

“Earning wages for what exactly?” Tan asked in a simmering voice.

“Whatever Deputy Director Jiao tells us to do, that’s our orders. He’s in charge of security.”

“Then what’s Public Security doing here?”

“They were called in to clear the high ground. That’s how Jiao puts it. We just keep the troublemakers in line.”

“Troublemakers?” Shan asked.