Outside, the night air was filled with the honking of geese, croaking of frogs, and trilling of cicadas. The room was hot, and the mud walls smelled of earth. The humidity drenched her clothes. Back to China. To Lulu's certain death. Nola passed her tongue over dry lips. Decisions had been made behind closed doors. This officer was here only to deliver them, not to negotiate them. Back to China.

Her voice pulled from the pool of dread. “I must be quite a trophy.”

“We have enough troubles with China.”

“The cat bringing the bird for the tiger?” She regarded him. He had been schooled in the States and was probably more than a military man; maybe he had some important foreign-ministry position. If her brain could only break out of its stupefaction, she could think.

She must be quite a sight with her messy hair and dirty clothes. Not the image of dignity and authority. “May I have some fresh tea?” she asked.

He shouted an order over his shoulder, and a moment later the soldier by the door brought a ceramic pot and two cups. The officer poured one for her.

“Thanks,” she said. “What school did you go to?”

“I’m the one asking questions here.”

The hysteria she was holding in check crept up her throat. Back to China. She must give him instead something to bring to his bosses, an accomplishment to show off.

Her mouth strung disjointed words together as she summoned every iota of her conversations with Daniel and Ming-Ji. “On one hand, Taiwan is fighting the ‘One China’ concept,” she said. “On the other hand, you’re willing to ship me back to the mainland as if you’re no more than its colony, subject to its whims?”

“This is our problem, not yours.” But she thought she saw a flicker in his eyes. Doubt or interest, she couldn’t decide.

“Somehow, my baby and I are involved in this too. You’ll extradite me, and in one dramatic feat you’ll make a mockery of your claims of independence. Worse, you’ll raise public outrage in the West at a time you’re seeking its support. I can see thousands of my fans picketing in front of the U.S. Congress when it votes on Taiwan-related issues. Can’t you?”

He looked at her, spinning his pen like a miniature baton.

She spoke in her lower range. “However, if you get me safely to the Philippines, I propose my silence. I will not reveal my visit here.”

“Our reports indicate that even the United States is not enamored of your recent antics.”

“I guarantee you that my own government wouldn’t want to see me sent back to China. Why don’t you check with the White House?”