A Fragile Beauty

Rosamunda runs towards Arthur, then stops.

What's that you're eating? says Rosamunda. It looks DISGUSTING!

It's a scorpion says Arthur. It just tastes like any fried thing.

You'll be sick, says Rosamunda. Hi, Sikong Shu. What've you got?

Sikong Shu is eating a beetle.

Rosamunda shakes her head. And I thought black chicken was foul.

Foul! says Richie. That's a good one.

This is Richie Porte, says Arthur. He recovered his memory. Richie, Rosamunda.

Hi Richie. What're you writing? says Rosamunda.

Richie isn't writing. He's doodling. It looks like a design for a bicycle with the head of a dragon trailing a tattered ribbon on which the words Pinarello are printed.

But Rosamunda doesn't look at the bicycle. She has spotted her name in a sentence.

"We're waiting for this girl called Rosamunda".

Wow, that's me! says Rosamunda. Now I'm here you should write a description.

Write your own description, says Richie, handing her the pencil.

Rosamunda writes: Here is Rosamunda. She has a kind of fragile beauty that attracts men......

Arthur comes over to see what she's writing.

You're right about one thing, says Arthur. Someone's followed you.

Someone has.

Oops! says Rosamunda. It's that gentleman from the subway. Has anyone got any money?

The gentleman comes up to Rosamunda.

Excuse me, says the gentleman. I believe you owe me two subway fares. It's not right what you did. You don't even know me.

Sikong Shu thinks it's time to take charge.

Do sit down, he says to the gentleman. May I offer you starfish on a stick? I have one left.

Thank you, says the gentleman, accepting the starfish. Is this young lady one of your party?

Yes, says Sikong Shu.

She has a fragile beauty, says the gentleman.

Rosamunda giggles. Arthur is about to laugh too, but he is feeling a little bit ill.

It seems Rosamunda was right about everything.

............

The gentleman has been mollified with a few yuan and the starfish.

His name was Ming Rong. He has left.

Arthur has thrown up on the pavement.

The Beijing police have moved in to clear it away.

Sikong Shu, Arthur and Richie pick up the two Flying Pigeons and the Team Sky bicycle and head out of Tiananmen Square, with Rosamunda.

Someone runs after them.

It is Lu Ban, waving a blueprint.