He waited for the call of her voice, turning in his mind’s eye to see her running through the tall grass to tell him that she was coming with him. But there was no call, and he knew that if he turned he would not be able to walk away, to leave her to face a precarious journey across a hostile land on her own. And the urge to turn back was almost irresistible. He knew she would be standing there on the rise, watching him go. He glanced over his right shoulder, an entirely involuntary movement. Just one last look. But she was gone. Down the slope, out of sight and heading for the fence, resolute, determined not to weaken. He could almost see the set of her jaw. Then he heard a swish, swish, swish, and turned to his left to find Margaret keeping stride with him. She smiled and said, “You didn’t really think I was going to let you go, did you? I mean, I’ve always wanted to see the inside of a Chinese prison.” She held his arm and made him stop. Her smile faded. She said, “Whatever future we have is for sharing.”

EPILOGUE

REUTERS:

DATELINE SUNDAY, 21 JUNE; WASHINGTON DC:

VIRUS CLAIMS BY US DOCTOR

The existence of a deadly new virus which may have infected up to half the world’s population was revealed last night on the Internet by an American doctor working in the People’s Republic of China.

Dr. Margaret Campbell, a forensic pathologist from Chicago, claims that the virus, known as RXV, mutated during the development of a genetically engineered super-rice which was introduced across the People’s Republic three years ago. The new rice, which increased yields by up to one hundred per cent and turned China into a major exporter, was developed during five years of research by the US-based company Grogan Industries.

A spokesman for Grogan refused to comment on the story which appeared on up to a dozen sites across the Internet late Saturday night, accusing the company of resorting to murder in an attempt to cover up the discovery of the virus.

Dr. Campbell, who describes the virus as being similar to but more dangerous than AIDS, says that RXV is ingested with the rice and lies dormant in the body for up to five years before attacking and destroying the immune system. She claims the world could be less than two years away from a catastrophe unprecedented in human history.

To date there has been no official response from the Beijing government.

REUTERS:

DATELINE TUESDAY, 23 JUNE; BEIJING, PRC:

MEMBER OF POLITBURO ARRESTED

Rumours are circulating among US diplomatic staff here in Beijing today that Pang Xiaosheng, the man China watchers were tipping as the next leader of the People’s Republic, has been arrested on murder and corruption charges.