"One might surmise you could have reason to celebrate the passing of the old guard."

"I have a preference," Shan said contemplatively, "for natural causes."

"You can't possibly think he would protect you."

"I have been relieved of the need to worry about protection. I have been entrusted to the custody of the state."

A sneer built on Li's face. "You are his fallback. His safety net. If you fail to build a case, he will create one. He will have his own case file even if you do not finish yours. All your actions can be construed as an effort to protect the radicals. Obstruction of justice is a lao gai charge in itself. I told you. I made inquiries about you. You weren't picked by Tan simply because you were investigator. You were selected because by definition you are guilty. And expendable."

It was the only thing Li had said that Shan believed. Shan watched his own fingers move, seemingly of their own volition. They made a mudra. Diamond of the Mind.

"No one will defend you. No one will say Shan is a model prisoner, a worker hero. Tan can't even put your name on the report. You don't exist. There is no need for you to be a victim also."

It was the closest Li had come to putting his threat into words.

Shan studied his mudra. "This place," he said with sudden realization as he surveyed the room again. "It is the Bei Da Union."

Behind him, Shan sensed an abrupt movement by Li, as if his head had snapped up. "It is an old gompa. It has many uses."

"I saw a list of gompas licensed for reconstruction. This wasn't on it."

"Comrade. I fear for you. You don't want to listen to those who want to help you."

"Does it have a license?"

Li sighed as he eased off the ceremonial robe and tossed it on a stool. "It has been classified as an exhibition facility by Religious Affairs. It does not need a license."

Shan raised his palms in a gesture of frustration. "I admire your ability to reconcile it all. For me, it is so confusing. If a group paid by Beijing meets to discuss educating the people it is socialism at work. But if people wearing red robes do so it is an unlicensed cultural activity."

Li was studying Shan closely now. They were both aware of how dangerous the game was becoming. "You have been out of touch, Comrade. Much progress has been made in defining the socialist discipline for ethnic relations."

"I do not have the benefit of your training," Shan admitted. He rose and moved to the door.

"Where are you going?" Li asked, annoyed.

"The sun is coming through the clouds." Before Li could protest Shan was moving into the courtyard.

A van had arrived with markings for the Bureau of Religious Affairs. Workers were arranging benches at the side of the courtyard, as if for a lecture. Directing them was the young woman Shan had met at Director Wen's office- Miss Taring, the archivist.

The moment he saw her Shan understood. In their underground refuge the purbas had said they knew about Shan's discussion of the costume with Director Wen. There was only one person who could have told them. Miss Taring had told the purbas, or perhaps she was a purba herself. He studied her as though for the first time. Her hair was tied in a tight bun at the back, and she wore a white blouse with a long dark skirt that gave her the gleam of professionalism, the model worker. She stopped, nodded casually and started to turn, too, when she caught his gaze. She slowly turned away to issue orders to the workers, her hands behind her back. Shan was about to turn when he saw her fingers moving. Her knuckles clenched together in fists, the thumbs facing each other at forty-five degree angles, the hands almost touching. He had seen it before, an offering mudra. Aloke, the lamps to light the world.

She held the mudra only a moment, then slowly turned her head toward the rear of the courtyard. She then walked to the far wall and stood beside one of the large Buddha heads, turning at an angle toward something Shan could not see.

He watched, perplexed, then walked toward the woman. She moved away before he reached the wall, not acknowledging him. He stood where she had stood, trying to understand. There was a gap between the buildings that was being blocked with brickwork. The job was not yet completed. He could see over the unfinished wall into an elegant courtyard. There was a man in the attire of a waiter carrying a tray with tall drinking glasses. A large wooden tub with steaming water was partially set in the ground. Two sleek young women in bikini swimsuits were stepping into it.

He slowly turned, confused, and found himself facing the opposite direction. He stared for a moment in shock. There was a low building, a stable converted to a garage. Inside it were two red Land Rovers.

Through the corner of his eye Shan saw Li approaching. He turned and slowly moved along the statue heads, letting Li catch up.

"Is Lieutenant Chang of the 404th part of your Bei Da Union?" he asked.

Li frowned. "I believe he qualified for membership," he said cryptically.

"How about a soldier named Meng Lau?"

Li ignored the question, and moved closer. "Listen, you should become a witness," Li offered. "Surely having the lead in an investigation must be overwhelming for one in your position. Become a cooperative witness instead."

"A witness from the 404th?"

"A witness recently transferred to trusty duties at the 404th, let's say. A model prisoner. I will vouch for you. You are always diligent, you have never been accused of lying, that kind of thing. Your problems have been of a different nature, in Beijing. The tribunal need not know of them."

"But I have nothing to say." Shan kept walking. There was a pool in one corner of the courtyard. It was made of stone blocks, elegantly carved centuries before, and was populated with small silver fish. Lotus blossoms floated in it, and an empty beer bottle.

"You might be surprised at what you could say," Li said from behind.

Shan walked to the edge of the pool and turned. "You haven't described the nature of your corruption investigation." From his perspective he could see a small knoll just beyond the compound. On it was a magnificent seated Buddha, at least twenty feet high. It had an unfamiliar headdress. Shan recognized it with a start. Someone had bolted a satellite dish to the head of the Buddha.

Li moved to his side and bent toward his ear. "Irregularities in the prison accounts. Unexplained withdrawals from state accounts. Missing military assets."

"Are you saying that Tan and the warden are conspirators? You're implicating the warden?"

"Would you like him to be implicated?"

Shan stared, wondering if he had heard correctly. "I would need to see your files."

"Impossible."

"Let me speak to Miss Lihua."

"Jao's secretary? Why?"

"Let her confirm Jao's corruption investigation. She would know."

"You know she is on vacation." Li shrugged as he saw the frustration on Shan's face. "All right. You can send a fax."

"I don't trust faxes."

"Okay, okay, as soon as she returns." He glanced at his watch. "The car will return you to town."

Shan climbed into the car without looking back. He knew Li was lying when he said he didn't want Shan to be a victim. But was he lying because he was worried about the investigation or just for all the usual reasons?

Li leaned into the window. The sneer was gone from his face. "Damn you, Shan. I don't know why I'm telling you this. It's worse than you could ever imagine. Heads are going to roll and no one will be there to protect yours. You have to go back to the 404th and I have to get my case done before the madness starts."