Scene 13

The pleasure of disorientation is that it opens up almost all possibilities. Maille decided to use Zhang's remark as a tip. He had helped him, done «Buro 106» a service – why should they not return the favour in a small way? Even if they had different interests, they had a common enemy: Hing.

And why not also Confucius, the great Master Kong – it was, after all, the only clue at the moment. Maille allowed himself to be driven to the greatest Confucius temple in Guozijian Jie. He liked the place, not because of Master Kong, who was chiselled here, more than anywhere else, in immortal fashion in stone, but because of the serenity that every beam and every stairway there seemed to emanate. Most of all he liked the tiny fountain, which King Qianlong had once christened «Ink Lake» – because the water had the reputation of inspiring poets from its depths. Perhaps the fountains would inspire him, too, at least in justifying his expense account.

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