Falling In Numbers

Arthur owes Doctor Minchin Chow money for the hire of his bicycle.

Dr Minchin Chow has agreed to accept the cake server in lieu.

(He is not to know it is not Arthur's cake server).

Dr Minchin Chow is now in charge of cutting the moon cakes.

Are they the ones with the salted duck eggs inside? says Professor Lanpo Jia. I like them much better than the plain ones.

Dr Minchin Chow cuts the first moon cake open.

Yes! Salted duck eggs inside.

May we know the reason for your sudden, unexpected departure? says Professor Mee-man Chang, to Gaius. Of course, if it's private.....

No, no, it's not private says Gaius. It's to do with the Sepia Apama, or Giant Cuttlefish, and a possible change in taxonomy. They are falling in numbers.

How sad, says Professor Mee-Man Chang. There is something to be said for working with fossils. They are always increasing in numbers.

True, says Gaius. Indeed I found several interesting ones in your Kuanti Formation.

I don't think you did, says Professor Mee-Man Chang.

I did, says Gaius. I gave them to Dr Zhu Min.

Did you? says Dr Zhu Min, who has been sitting at the end of the table picking salted duck egg lumps out of his moon cake.

(Not everyone likes them).

Yes, says Gaius. And I hope you will allow me to take one or two home with me.

Professor Mee-Man Chang looks pointedly at Dr Zhu Min, who gets up and goes out of the tea room.

A few minutes later he returns with a box.

A few fossils for you, says Dr Zhu Min.

Thank you, says Gaius, handing the box to Arthur.

Arthur shoves the box into his pocket.

May I give you a lift to the airport? says Dr Zhu Min.

Thank you, says Margaret, but we can't go without Rosamunda. Where is she?

........

Rosamunda is eating baozi in the luxurious apartment of her handsome new lover Ming Rong. She is wearing new silk pyjamas. They feel smooth and cool on her skin.

She thinks she might stay in Beijing a little longer.

Yes, stay, says Ming Rong.