Sikong Shu returns with the jam.
He gives a pot to Xui Li and a pot to Hui Zhong, saying: This is to remember us by.
Are you leaving? says Xui Li.
We must return to the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, says Sikong Shu. I will always remember our night in your feeble tent...... and today.
So will we, says Hui Zhong. But where is your friend?
Here, says Richie, looking up from his stream of consciousness, indicating himself with his pencil.
Not you, sky pilot, says Hui Zhong. The young poet.
Sikong Shu looks around. He sees rose cake crumbs on the grass, two bicycles.
Alarming. Arthur has gone.
This is what happened.
Sikong Shu was in the small village shop buying five pots of rose jam.
Richie was writing oblivious of all punctuation.
Hui Zhong and Xui Li were exploring an abandoned stone mill destined for an eco-type retrofit.
When Arthur decided to leave.
.........
Meanwhile, Gaius and Dr Zhu Min arrive at the Summer Palace, and make a beeline for the Marble Boat.
Dr Zhu Min does not want to stay there all day. He has seen the Summer Palace before.
He is hoping to meet up with Professor Mee-mann Chang, deposit Gaius, and leave.
They approach Kunming Lake.
You will soon see the Marble Boat, says Dr Zhu Min. It is not made of marble. It is painted to look like marble. It is a wooden structure resting on stone.
It looks, says Gaius, less like a boat than a gigantic yellow rubber duck floating out there.
My goodness, says Dr Zhu Min. What ever is that duck doing? How very inappropriate. We have come on an inauspicious day.
Not at all, says Professor Mee-man Chang, coming up behind him. It is the well known Big Yellow Duck, designed by Florentijn Hofman. Its purpose is spreading joy around the world. We were just admiring it. Margaret is with me. And Rosamunda is somewhere back there.
May I leave Gaius with you? says Dr Zhu Min. I have another appointment. His fingers are still stuck together.
Unfortunate, says Gaius, but not insuperable. In fact it's quite handy for eating.
Certainly, says Professor Mee-man Chang. We are just about to have a picnic. Won't you stay, Dr Zhu Min?
What are you having? says Dr Zhu Min. Perhaps I could spare half an hour.
Super-tonic Black Chicken Stew, says Professor Mee-man Chang. With wolfberries, wild jujubes, licorice root, and dried longan. Here in my thermos. There's plenty.
Dr Zhu Min can't say no to Black Chicken. Of course he will stay.
Margaret is intrigued. Black Chicken. How exotic.
Gaius takes out his notebook and pencil. He is going to write down: BLACK CHICKEN.
But he can't hold the pencil.
Give it to me, says Margaret. I'll do it. What do you want to write down?
Never mind, says Gaius. Nothing. I'll just try and remember it.
Professor Mee-man Chang hands him a bowl.
Eat this. It will give you a boost of energy, says Professor Mee-Man Chang. Black Chicken is a super food, good for blood, lungs and stomach.
Gaius plunges his hand into the stew. Brings out a black lump of chicken. Examines it closely.
Remarkable, says Gaius. Remarkable.
Its just chicken, says Dr Zhu Min.
His eyes widen.
But indeed it is remarkable, says Dr Zhu Min. The stew has uncoupled your fingers.
Gaius changes his focus from chicken to fingers.
It's true.
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