Chapter Four: The Arsonist in the Camera

Submerged in water, the camera clicked one last time. Its new photograph showed neither corpses nor Listening Rain, only Yongan's burned doorway. An address developed on the back: EGRET THEATER. NOVEMBER 26, 7:00 P.M. OBJECT: GOLDEN EAR AWARD, BEST NEWCOMER. OWNER: NOT YET AWARDED. The watch's death date had not changed. They had altered no fate. They had only recognized a counterfeit future. At the corner, Cheng Wu stood beneath a black umbrella, her red scarf bright in the rain. At her feet rested a scorched trophy.