"I understand. But on the contrary, I was happy to learn I would be sharing a room with you."

"You were?"

"Yes, you are a military officer for whom I have the utmost respect."

Xu drew back his head in disbelief. "I have only known you five minutes, and already you are an interesting man, full of surprises."

Fang's eyes widened. "Yes."

For the next two weeks, Xu trained hard with his team and spent most of his free time with them. However, in the late evenings, when he returned to his room, he would find Fang sitting up in bed, reading Sun Tzu's The Art of War or a biography about Confucius. Fang spent little time socializing with his teammates, it seemed.

On the eve before the opening ceremonies, when Xu came home after a night of drinking a little too much, he found Fang, once again, sitting up and reading.

"Tomorrow the games begin--and you have done nothing to celebrate?"

Fang glanced up from his book. "My celebration will come afterward."

"You are that confident of a medal? The Taiwanese team has no reputation for victory. But the Chinese, well, we have done quite well for ourselves in the shooting events."

"I was not referring to the games." Fang set his book on his lap. "Tell me something, Xu. You tolerate me, yes. But there is something more there. Hatred. Why is that?"

Xu took a seat on his bed. "Do you know why I joined the army? The real reason? To liberate your country."

"Why does that matter so much to you?"

"It simply does."

"Would you be shocked to learn that I feel as you do?"

"As I said, you are full of surprises. But I am confused, hearing this from a former army officer such as yourself."

"I did not resign from the military."

"I see. And now you are angry with your country."

"You have no idea."

"Well, I am angry with your country, too."

Yes, the alcohol, which he had been forbidden to drink by his coaches, had taken effect, and Xu felt quite loose with his tongue, so he decided to share the story.

"You see, Fang, my parents once lived in Taipei with my two sisters and one brother. They were outspoken Chinese sympathizers, and one night, during a massive sweep by the military, they were arrested and deported to China with no chance to take my sisters and brother with them."

"So what happened?"

"My sisters and brother had to live with my uncles and aunts. My parents were forced to find work and live here in China, where I was born. For my entire life I have heard this story, and I have never met my siblings. But that is not as important as reuniting my parents with them. They are getting old now, and they want more than anything to be with their children--before they die."