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The Chinese closed his hand in his lap as they ascended the steep； wooded slope。 If they were to drop off the line now； Nangi observed； there would be no chance for either of them； the scree below would batter anything that fell to oblivion。
〃It has e to my attention；〃 Lo Whan said； 〃through sources both far removed from me and devious； that some information is about to be moved。〃 His eyes were bright。 '〃Vitally important' information was； I think； the particular phrase used。 Further； it was passed on to me that this information concerns certain； ah； links to Canton and northward that could； perhaps； be promised under particular circumstances。〃
Nangi nodded。 〃That； in essence； is correct。〃
〃I see。〃
Nangi produced a copy of the contract that he and Liu had signed。 He unfolded it； put it carefully on the empty seat to his right。
Lo Whan； observing what that seat now contained； did nothing but look back at Nangi； though the information that had made its circuitous way to him had included the stipulation that he bring Liu's copy of the document。 His eyes were stony。
Nangi handed over the manila envelope。 Carefully； as if its contents might be lethal； Lo Whan used one long nail to slit the seal。 He slid the contents out one by one and looked at them。 They consisted of sixteen 8 x 10 black and white prints of very high quality and resolution； a mini tape player in which resided an unedited copy of the tape Fortuitous Chiu had made of the proceedings at Succulent Pien's apartment； a twelve…page transcript of the tape recording。
Lo Whan slipped on a pair of gold…rimmed spectacles and for the next ten minutes or so ignored Nangi and his surroundings； engrossed by what he had been given。
By the time he had reviewed all of the material thoroughly； they had alighted at the 〃sky terminus。〃 They went out； away from the crowds； along the rock promontory。
〃Interesting；〃 Lo Whan said； carrying the incriminating evidence under his arm like a business portfolio。 〃But hardly worth the price you are asking。〃 The Chinese shoulders shrugged。 〃We can return Liu to the sanctity of his homeland at any time。〃
〃I don't think it will be quite that easy；〃 Nangi said； working hard to avoid the rocks。 The path Lo Whan had deliberately chosen was strewn with them。 〃Liu is a fixture here。 He's known by everyone。 If you pull him now； in the face of the scandal that I assure you will follow； your country will suffer a great propaganda loss； you will lose all the advantage over England you have gained in the past two and a half years； worst of all； you will lose great face。〃
The wind blew lightly in their faces； smelling faintly of salt and phosphorus。 Lights from the ships far out semaphored unknown messages to unknown recipients。 They are like Lo Whan and me； Nangi thought； staring at the low…lying vessels。 They may know where they are going but they can't actually see it。
Lo Whan was lost in thought。 It seemed to him only just if； in the next several moments； Liu were to slip in the bathtub and break his neck。 It would save us all face and I could dismiss this clever ape of a Japanese； sending him back across the sea to his puny island home where he belongs。 But he knew none of that would happen or was even possible。
Everything Nangi said was true。 It was galling。 He could not do away with Liu； not with the information the Japanese had。 One word to the Governor and he would be on the phone to Her Majesty's Government； to one ministry or another。 That would be intolerable to Lo Whan and his superiors。
Then an idea hit him。 He stared out to sea as if nothing at all had happened。 He turned it over； looking at it from every side as if it were a gemstone he was considering purchasing； which； in a way； it was。 He did not rush； yet he was acutely aware of the passage of time。 He could not make as much use of it as he would wish。 To take too long would lose him face in this battle of wits。
But the longer he examined his idea； the more he liked it； and the more he felt that by employing it he would gain the upper hand over this Oriental barbarian。
〃It is our considered opinion；〃 he began cautiously； 〃that we want nothing untoward to happen to Mr。 Liu。 In fact； we want him precisely where he is； undisturbed。〃 Now he reached into an interior jacket pocket and drew out the mate to Nangi's contract。
〃This bees null and void；〃 he said； 〃the moment we agree on one point。 All evidence amassed against Mr。 Liu and； indeed； this Succulent Pien will be destroyed…copies； originals； negatives； everything； will be delivered to an address that I will provide。 In addition； you will sign an agreement that from this day forward you will make no move against either of them nor employ； either directly or indirectly； anyone else to do so。〃
〃But I do not want that contract voided；〃 Nangi said。 This was a terrible risk； but he judged the potential rewards more than worth it。
Lo Whan stood stock still。 It was as if Nangi had slapped him across the face with the document。 His surprise cost him face and he did not like that。 〃What is it you want； then？〃 he said testily。
〃I want us to go back to the original agreement I proposed to Liu。 That is； in exchange for a thirty percent interest in the kei…retsu…a strictly nonvoting interest…you agree to provide capital over the next three years in semi…annual payments on January first and July first of each year。〃
〃We already have a great deal of capital invested in you； Mr。 Nangi；〃 Lo Whan pointed out。 〃Thirty…five million dollars worth。〃
But Nangi was already shaking his head。 〃That was for the inconvenience your Lieutenant Chin caused the All…Asia Bank。 As of now； you have no investment at all。〃
Lo Whan's eyes locked with Nangi's。 He was burning inside with anger and loss of face。 He had no intention of being defeated here on his own soil。 He had only one last； desperate recourse。 〃I wonder；〃 he said； 〃whether you have lost your interest in why we have taken such exquisite pains to acquire a sizable portion of your keiretsu。〃
A vague premonition sprang up inside Nangi but he forced it down。 He is bluffing； he thought。 Carefully； he said； 〃Mr。 Liu has already delineated the munist point of view。 The Oriental Alliance。〃
〃Yes。 We are both familiar with Liu's； er； drawbacks。〃 He cocked his head。 〃Surely you don't think we've told him everything。〃
Nangi was silent。
〃There are currently in Peking two distinct factions。 We have the Maoists on one side and the so…called Capitalist Readers on the other。 In the fifties； as you no doubt know； the Soviets rejected Stalinism。 Mao； an avowed Stalinist； bitterly accused the Russians of revisionism。 That ideological rift between the two countries has； more or less； stood until the present。 However； those currently in power have been clandestinely seeking an accord with the Kremlin for some time now。〃
Lo Whan shifted his buttocks as if he were unfortable。 〃Others； perhaps not content with the current flow of the river； are seeking to dredge an alternative course。 They； it is whispered； seek a propaganda weapon to use against the Soviets and； thus； against those in power in Peking。〃
Nangi now saw the precarious spot his adversary was