Removing The Wrappings From Plums

It is the following morning. Gaius, Margaret, Rosamunda and Sikong Shu have arrived in Beijing.

Doctor Zhu Min meets them at the airport.

Welcome to Beijing, says Doctor Zhu Min. Unfortunately it's a little hazy.

I've heard it's always like that, says Gaius.

Oh no, says Docter Zhu Min. And when it is, it's always from elsewhere.

I visited the Kuanti formation, says Gaius. I found some interesting specimens there.

Have you brought them? asks Doctor Zhu Min.

Margaret pinches Gaius hard on the forearm.

Sikong Shu steps on his toe.

Gaius looks at Rosamunda. What's going on here?

Not necessarily, says Rosamunda.

Doctor Zhu Min is happy with that.

.........

Behind the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Arthur is inspecting a bicycle.

It's a very reliable bicycle, says Dr Minchen Chow. I've had it since the 1950s.

I can see that, says Arthur. Looks like it weighs a ton.

Forty four kilos, says Dr Minchen Chow. Never lets me down.

One speed? says Arthur.

Yes, says Dr Minchen Chow. No need for any more. I imagine by now you have spotted that it's a Flying Pigeon?

Arthur has spotted that fact.

It means nothing to me, says Arthur.

Dr Minchen Chow is shocked.

Flying Pigeons are very popular, says Doctor Minchen Chow. And the older they are the better the quality. Mine is an old one. I must ask you to keep it locked up when you're not using it. It may well get stolen.

I don't know, says Arthur. I was thinking of something more modern.

I advise against something more modern, says Dr Minchen Chow.

...........

Gaius has arrived at the Institute, with his backpack not necessarily full of interesting specimens collected from the Kuanti Formation.

Doctor Zhu Min ushers him into his office. Locks the door.

Sikong Shu is free to show Margaret and Rosamunda around the building.

But his heart is not in it. Where is Arthur?

Instead they bump into Professor Mee-mann Chang. Naturally she knows who they are.

She invites them into the tea room, for pu'er tea, and preserved plums.

We were all looking forward to meeting your colleague, she says. Doctor Zhu Min seems to have spirited him away. So we must all be patient. Do try a plum.

Sikong Shu is standing near the window. He looks out. Is that... could it be... Arthur down there, inspecting a Flying Pigeon?

Excuse me a moment, he says. And rushes out of the tea room.

Time ticks on in the tea room.

Margaret and Rosamunda carefully remove the blue and white paper wrappings from the first of their black preserved plums.