Chapter Two: The City's Other Voices

Slow footsteps passed outside. A small boy carrying an IV pole pushed half a sheet of paper beneath the door. In crayon, it showed a white umbrella above a crowd of faceless people. “Big sister,” the boy said, “Uncle White Umbrella says thank you. Now everyone knows the way home.” Xie Chenzhou opened the door. The corridor was empty. A half-burned paper child smoldered in one corner, its ashes drifting west against the air. “Typical patient?” Su Li asked. “There is no such child in pediatrics today.” He watched the ash. “We return to the restaurant. Now.” In daylight, the restaurant was gone. A mossy brick wall and demolition notice stood in its place. Xu Tang checked the map repeatedly; their location marker wandered through the nearby river.