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Nangi went into the closet； rummaging around out of the other's sight for a moment。 He returned with two identical manila envelopes。 He handed one to Fortuitous Chiu。
〃I must take one of these with me tonight；〃 he said。 〃The copy you have was destined for the Governor。 I wanted you with the Governor at the same time my meeting was taking place。 I would have felt safer that way。 But now…〃
〃Hold on；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said。 〃May I use the phone？〃
〃Of course。〃
For a little more than five minutes he spoke in a choppy； rapid…fire dialect。
Fortuitous Chiu put down the phone； turned to Nangi。 〃It's all set now。 No sweat。〃
〃What's all set？〃
〃At two this morning；〃 he said； 〃I will be sitting opposite the Governor of Hong Kong。〃
Nangi was nonplussed。 〃I…I don't understand。 How is that possible？〃
〃My father is taking care of it。 Like I said； no sweat。〃
Nangi recalled the manner in which Fortuitous Chiu had been received at the restaurant in the New Territories。 He thought of the power of Third Cousin Tok。 He thought of the Green Pang。 Lastly he thought of the five Dragons； the five heads of the Hong Kong Triads； the most powerful men in the Colony。 Who could Fortuitous Chiu's father be to be able to reach the Governor at this time of the night？ How powerful did he have to be？ How much clout did he need to possess？
Nangi bowed slightly。 〃I am in your debt。〃
〃As I am in yours。 I have gained great face with my father。〃
Now； to business。 〃You will sit with the Governor；〃 Nangi said。 〃God alone knows what you will converse about。〃
〃My father will do all the talking。〃
Nangi thought about that。 〃If I don't call you by three； you must assume the worst。 Give the Governor all the evidence against Liu。〃
〃It will cause a sensation；〃 Fortuitous Chiu said。 〃A scandal of the highest order。 The munists will lose enormous face。〃
〃They will； won't they？〃 Nangi said； musingly。
〃Very bad for them。〃
Nangi nodded。 〃Either way； it's very bad for them。〃
They stood facing each other in the room。 There was not much more to say； and time was running short。
Fortuitous Chiu gave a little bow。 〃Until we meet again。。。 Elder Uncle。〃
Nangi held his breath。 The honor which he had just been accorded was vast。 〃Elder Uncle〃 was a term used to connote respect and a certain sense of friendship that was not possible to accurately translate into Western concepts。
〃May all the gods protect you；〃 Nangi whispered。 He was speaking of the myriad Chinese deities； none of whom he； needless to say； believed in； but who were very important to Fortuitous Chiu。 Silently； then； he prayed for them both。 Godspeed。
Ocean Park； built primarily with funds donated by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club； was； Nangi discovered； set on two discrete levels。 One entered through turnstiled gates； strolling along paths bordering massive flower gardens； arbors filled with brightly colored parrots who for HK 5 would acmodatingly perch on one's shoulder while a color photo of the occasion was taken by an attendant。 Up a short hill was a bonsai collection of awesome proportions。 There were tiny pavilions erected by Air New Guinea and other such airlines； featuring local flora。
Farther along in this area was a swan pond； numerous waterfalls and； beyond； an open…air stadium where sea creatures performed。 Nangi did not get that far； however。 He had been told to buy a ticket on the funicular which ran at an extreme angle from Ocean Park's 〃lowlands〃 three thousand feet into the air to the 〃sky terminus〃 high atop a rocky promontory jutting out into the South China Sea。 There a manmade atoll reef； the world's first 〃wave…cove；〃 and another； larger stadium waited to entertain visitors。
There were four sets of funiculars…tiny glass…enclosed bubbles within which as many as six people could sit facing inward； hanging by what looked to Nangi to be a slender piece of steel from the cable line。 Nangi had been told to take the funicular on the far left。 He joined the line； moving forward periodically as the cable cars came back down the mountainside； swung around to make the return journey。
He did not look around； that would have cost him face。 But he was nevertheless acutely aware of who stood near him…in front and in back； on either side。 He saw tourists from the West and from Japan。 He saw Chinese teenagers chattering； no doubt； about the excitement of being at the park so late。 Or else； he thought cynically； they were betting on which car would detach itself from the cable and plummet to the craggy slopes far below。 He was aware of no one who took the slightest interest in him。
He wondered when contact was going to be made。 He was at the front of his line now。 Perhaps it would not e until he had landed on the promontory。 Would he share the funicular with the Chinese family just behind him？
The car came in empty； swung around。 The doors swung open and the uniformed attendant waved him forward。 He became aware that the attendant had barred the family behind him from entering his car。
It was so small in there that he experienced some difficulty in sitting。 A man swung aboard。 Where he had e from Nangi could not say。 The doors closed and they were caught in the moving gears。
The funicular shuddered slowly forward。 Ahead Nangi could see what was waiting for him。 A string of tiny lighted cars； like glass beads strung on a wire； arced ahead and above。
They halted momentarily at the edge of the concrete terminus。 It all seemed very solid； safe as a stroll in a garden。 Then； with a breathtaking abruptness； they were launched out into space； swinging back and forth giddily； following the path set by the glass beads before them。
Nangi turned his attention to his panion。 He was a heavyset Chinese of indeterminate age。 He could have been fifty or seventy or anywhere in between。 He had a flat nose； brush…cut hair that was so short his sunburned scalp could be seen through it。 Against this close scrutiny the Chinese bared his teeth…all gold…in a smile or a grimace； Nangi could not tell which。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Nangi；〃 the Chinese said； nodding。 〃I am Lo Whan。〃
Nangi returned the pleasantry。
〃Tell me； have you been to Ocean Park before？〃
〃Never。 But I have been to Hong Kong many times。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Lo Whan's tone of voice indicated that it was of no import to him。 He turned in his molded plastic seat； the kind one encountered in hospital waiting rooms。 〃I myself have been here many times。 I never tire of this view。 And one rarely gets a chance to see it at this time of the morning。〃
Indeed the sight of the great flat expanse of the South China Sea； the black humped and hilly shapes of the small islands dotting the space like rocks in a Zen pebble garden； was spectacular。 Long ships strung with glowing lights like eyes plowed the depths here and there； dusky jewels set in a dark； rich fabric。 Moonlight lent it a metallic aspect； scimitars of cool illumination glancing off the ocean's face as if it were chain mail。
〃Consider yourself fortunate；〃 Lo Whan said； and Nangi did not know whether he meant the sight or something more hidden。
The Chinese closed his hand in his lap as they ascended the steep； wooded slope。 If th