Chapter 15: The Last Watch

Ji Hanzhou told her to stay in bed, and for once she listened.

He reached Gate Four in the grey light with his jacket buttoned wrong.

Luo saw it and said nothing, which was the kindest thing Luo had ever done.

Wen Zhe stood outside the barrier in his camel coat, holding a cream envelope in both hands.

Two sentries watched him from the booth.

"Captain Ji," Wen Zhe said, and gave him a sorry smile. "I'm sorry to come so early."

"You are not allowed past the barrier."

"I wouldn't dream of it. She asked me to bring this."

He held out the envelope.

On the front, in blue ink, it said Captain Ji Hanzhou.

"Ning didn't want to say it to your face," Wen Zhe said. "She's ashamed."

"You've been so decent about everything. I'd only ask you to let her come back to me quietly when the year is up."

"I'm what she knows."

Hanzhou took the envelope.

He did not open it. He turned it over once and put it in his breast pocket.

"Thank you for the post, Mr Wen," he said. "You may go."

"Aren't you going to read it?"

"Luo. Escort him to his car."

Luo took Wen Zhe by the elbow with great politeness and walked him backwards for forty metres.

Hanzhou went down the corridor of the quarters block and into the locker room.

It was empty at that hour, except for one boot left on the bench.

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