The guard cocked his head. “No. Your son switched places with a trusty, one of those prisoners allowed to do unsupervised work. The warden said it was so Ko could spy on him.” The sergeant shrugged. “It’s why I put in for a transfer out of there last year. I’m a soldier, not one of those who likes to torment prisoners. That new warden isn’t right. They caught Ko and kept it unofficial, if you know what I mean. Beat him real bad. Blood everywhere. They didn’t put him in a bed in the infirmary, just locked him in a closet at the back of the infirmary. More like solitary confinement. No doctors to see him. You know how it goes. Next time they go working high up in the mountains they’ll take him with the crew then report that he had a tragic accident.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

As Shan stared numbly at the landscape below, he was vaguely aware that Tan was snapping out orders into the mouthpiece of his headset. As he regained his senses he realized the colonel was speaking to him.

“I’m sorry, Shan,” the colonel said. “I thought the boy had been weaned from his troublemaking ways. You know I don’t interfere with prison discipline.”

“It wasn’t troublemaking. He was helping me, helping us. It’s my fault. He was trying to get more information about Xun and Jiao, and what they did at Larung Gar.”

“That doesn’t involve the 404th. And why would he spy on the warden?”

“How could Jiao recruit guards for the 404th behind your back? The warden and Jiao must have a connection. You heard those seconded soldiers at the Five Claws. They came from the 404th. Xun arranged it with the warden. That warden is new, just arrived last year. It is unusual for you not to promote from within your ranks. Why was he different?”

Tan thought a moment. “Commendations. A record of rapid promotion. And the Commissar sent me a note asking me to, sealed with his chop for emphasis. He hadn’t asked a favor for years.”

“The retired boss who still gets calls from Beijing,” Shan said. “Who also signed the death warrant for Metok.” He did not miss the way Tan’s jaw tightened at the mention of the aged Party boss.

“Officially he’s been retired for years,” the colonel said, “though you wouldn’t know from the way people still shudder at his name. Lives on an old estate outside Lhasa. He may have slowed down but his fangs are still sharp.”

“Where did the warden come from?”

Tan frowned. “Are you asking me as Ko’s father or as my investigator?” Shan did not reply, just returned his steady stare. Tan sighed. “I don’t know such details.”

“Ask Amah Jiejie. Now.”