Wingrove, David - Chung Kuo 02 by The Broken Wheel (v3.1)[htm] Page A

to be a Captain. But he was a Han all the same, and when he took
a step across that threshold, a duty officer stepped forward,
intercepting him.
    "Excuse me,
sir, but might I see your pass?"
    Kao Chen
stopped, then turned and faced the man, keeping his feelings in tight
check. The man was within his rights, after all. He gave a terse bow
and took his permit card from the top pocket of his tunic, then
handed it to the officer. As the man studied the card intently, Kao
Chen was aware that other, non-Han officers went through unhindered,
even guests from other Security forces. But he had half-expected
this. The color of his skin, the fold of his eyes—both were
wrong here. The officer class of Security was almost totally made up
of Hung Mao, descendants of the mercenary armies who had
fought for the Seven against the tyrant Tsao Ch'un. Here Han were
secondary; servants, not rulers. But he was an officer and he was
thirsty. He had a right to sit and have a beer. And so he would.
    The officer
handed him back his pass, then gave a brief, almost slovenly salute.
In terms of rank, Chen was his superior, but he was not Hung Moo, and
so the rank meant little.
    "Thank you,
Lieutenant," he said tightly, then made his way through, down
the plushly carpeted steps and out into the main body of the club.
    He was halfway
across the floor before he realized who he was walking toward. He saw
Ebert's eyes widen in recognition and decided to walk past quickly,
but he was not to be so fortunate. Three paces past the table he was
called back. "Hey, you! Han! Come here!"
    Chen turned
slowly, then came back and stood in front of Ebert, his head bowed.
"Major Ebert."
    Ebert leaned
back arrogantly in his chair, a sneering smile on his face.
"What in fuck's name do you think you're doing, Han?"
    Chen felt
himself go cold with anger, then remembered he was kwai. These
were but words. And words could not hurt him. Only a knife could hurt
a kiwi. He answered Ebert calmly, civilly.
    "I've just
come off duty. I was hot and thirsty. I thought I would have a beer
or two at the bar."
    "Then you
can think again. There are rules in this place. No women and no Han."
    "No Han?"
    He realized as
soon as he said it that he had made a mistake. He should have bowed,
turned around, and left. Now it was a question of face. His
words, correct enough, innocuous enough in themselves, had challenged
what Ebert had asserted. It did not matter that he, Kao Chen, had the
right to use the club. That was no longer the issue.
    Ebert leaned
forward slightly, his voice hardening. "Did you hear me, Han?"
    Chen hesitated,
then lowered his head slightly, afraid to let the anger in his eyes
show. "Excuse me, Major, but I am an officer in the service of
the T'ang. Surely . . ."
    Ebert leaned
forward and threw his drink into Chen's face.
    "Are you
stupid? Don't you understand me?"
    Chen was silent
a moment, then bowed again. "I apologize, Major. It was my
fault. Might I buy you another drink before I leave?"
    Ebert gave him a
look of profound disgust. "Just go, little Han. Now. Before I
beat you senseless."
    Chen bowed low
and backed away, mastering the pain, the fierce stinging in his eyes,
his face perfectly controlled. Inside, however, he seethed; and at
the doorway he looked back, hearing their laughter drift outward from
the table, following him.
    Laugh now, he
thought; laugh good and long, Hans Ebert, for I'll not rest until my
pride's restored and you lie humbled at my feet.
    At the table all
eyes were once again on Ebert.
    "The nerve
of some of them," he said, filling his glass again. "Anyway.
Where were we? Ah yes. . ." He stood up, then raised his glass.
"To Li Yuan and his bride! May this evening bring them clouds
and rain!"
    The answering
roar was deafening. "To Li Yuan!" they yelled. "Clouds
and rain!"
    * *
*
    THE CEREMONY was
over; the last of the guests had departed; the doors of the inner
palace were locked and guarded. Only the two of them remained.
    Li Yuan turned
from