Lian and Shao even bought tickets to a film the next evening. It was one they had seen months ago in Nanking. But that didn’t matter. In the darkened theater, they shared a paper bag of salty dried plums and for an hour, Lian forgot she was a fugitive. When she gasped during a suspenseful moment in the film, Shao put his hand over hers. She didn’t pull away.

DAMING WAS DELIGHTED, then confused, to see them. He would have more time to talk after he’d made sure his patients were settled, and they arranged to meet later that evening at a food stand around the corner from the hospital.

“But don’t tell anyone we’re here,” Shao made him promise. “You’ll understand when we tell you, but it’s a life-or-death situation. I’m not exaggerating.”

When Daming arrived, Shao had already ordered large bowls of noodles with spicy tofu sauce. Lian and Shao looked around guardedly from time to time. Sparrow was her usual serene self, quietly spooning up the spicy soup.

“Shanghai,” Daming murmured, drumming his chopsticks on the table. “Shanghai, Shanghai. Let’s see. What’s the best way to get there? I’ve heard the fastest route is to the coast and then by boat to Shanghai.”

“But how?” Shao said. “Isn’t Hangchow Bay under Japanese blockade?”

“Yes, but you can get on a foreign-registered ship,” Daming said. “A lot of Chinese companies have reregistered their ships to fly foreign flags. And there’s always smugglers. We use them regularly.”

“Our military does business with smugglers?” Lian couldn’t hide her shock.

Daming snorted. “How do you think our inland cities get their imported goods? How does this hospital get the supplies and medicines we need?”

“So let’s go to Wen-chou, Young Master,” Sparrow said. “Your family owns warehouses and ships there. Your brother Tienming is there.”

“I never considered going around the coast,” Shao admitted. “Only overland and as directly to Shanghai as possible. But you’re right. Tienming goes back and forth regularly from Wen-chou to Shanghai.”

“Wen-chou is still Chinese territory,” Daming said, “so I might be able to get you on trucks heading that way. Or at least get you partway there.”

“But wouldn’t we have to travel through some occupied areas?” Lian said.

“It’s a matter of reconnaissance and intelligence,” Daming said. “And it really depends. The boundaries keep moving, as you know. Civilians can bribe Japanese soldiers to let them through. In other places, the enemy is spread so thin it’s possible to slip past patrols.”

“Sounds too easy,” Sparrow said.

“And in other places you’ll be shot on sight,” he admitted. “Let me see what I can do. Let’s meet tomorrow at the hospital, same time.”

“We understand the risks,” Shao said, clapping Daming on the shoulder. “If you can get us a ride even partway, we’re forever in your debt.”