THE GATES OF BEIJING (9)
In which Jim inadvertently gets caught up in the clandestine intrigue of a daunting spy-catcher on the trail of an unlikely spy.
Note to readers: Below is a continuation of a series of excerpts from my novel, a chapter from THE GATES OF BEIJING. I had every intention of staying away from the news for a week over the holiday break but my addiction to state TV is such that I caved in and started watching again on the sly. I’ll run a special holiday round-up on the Follies at the end of the week, and then again on a regular basis in the New Year.
THE MAN IN THE BLACK JACKET
In which Jim inadvertently gets caught up in the clandestine intrigue of a daunting spy-catcher on the trail of an unlikely spy.
With the arrogant air you might ascribe to someone who actually owned the place, the man in the black jacket grabbed the nearest available chair in the empty cafe and swung it brusquely in front of me, blocking my exit. He let the metallic legs of the chair drop heavily on the tiled floor.
Clink, clank. Cu-lunk.
The man leaned in menacingly to ask in rather gruff Chinese if he could join me, but he wasn’t really asking, wa…