Free Darkness Under Heaven by F. J. Chase

tap on the shoulder. He turned around and a few of the spectators were gesturing for him to get out of there.
    When in Rome, Avakian thought. He bent down and picked up the doctor’s bag and, with the argument still raging, wrapped one arm around the doctor’s waist and pulled her into the crowd. Which closed in around them, a couple of Chinese patting him on the back.
    â€œShould we be leaving the scene of the accident like that?” Doctor Rose asked him.
    â€œIf they want us, they can come get us,” Avakian replied. “Otherwise, why bother them?”
    They were now free of the crowd and heading down the sidewalk.
    â€œWhy didn’t any of those people help that man?” Doctor Rose asked.
    â€œYou’re incurring an obligation,” said Avakian. “Which can be a very serious thing. Besides, you open yourself up to all kinds of potential official hassles, as our case proves.”
    â€œAt least someone gave you that hacksaw.”
    â€œAre you kidding? This is China. I had to buy it.”
    â€œI still don’t feel right about leaving.”
    â€œYou did good, Doc,” Avakian said. “Besides, it was time for the locals to do their job.”
    â€œBut they could be arguing for the next fifteen minutes, while that man needs to be in the hospital.”
    â€œYeah, but they were going to do that whether you were standing there or not.”
    Back at the car Kangmei was arguing with a group of other drivers over potential liability.
    Avakian stuck his head in the window. “C’mon, Brandi, we’re going to walk a few blocks and catch a cab.”
    â€œIt’s about fucking time,” she said.
    There were press and photographers waiting on the curb in front of the hotel, along with a whole herd of gymnastic team suits. Little Brandi bounced out with a brave smile on her face and was embraced by her mother before they were all engulfed by the media scrum.
    Doctor Rose stayed in the cab.
    Avakian had a feeling he was about to receive a sensitivity lecture. Whatever. “You’re not going with her?”
    â€œIt’ll be a while before we get a chance to check her out. I wanted to ask, are the Chinese going to do anything else about this?”
    â€œDepends on how much she embarrasses them with the press. They may let it go. But they’re just as capable of picking her up for spitting on the sidewalk and either deporting her on putting her on trial.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell her that?”
    â€œI may have been wrong, but she just didn’t seem prepared to listen.”
    â€œI wanted to tell you that I did get quizzed by the Chinese once you were gone.”
    â€œYou didn’t tell them anything, did you?” Avakian demanded, mock-sternly.
    â€œJust name, rank and serial number…I want to thank you. This turned out to be very intriguing.”
    She seemed about to say something else, but didn’t. So Avakian did. “Tell me, Doctor…”
    â€œPlease call me Judy.”
    â€œAs long as you call me Pete. Tell me, Judy, do you like dumplings?”
    â€œAs in chicken and?”
    â€œAs in Chinese.”
    â€œMy knowledge of Chinese food doesn’t extend much beyond General Tso’s chicken, I’m embarrassed to say.”
    â€œThen maybe you’d like to join me for dinner? I know the best dumplings in Beijing.”
    She favored him with a sunny smile. “I’d like that.”
    The smile worked its magic on Avakian. “I’m going to be busy during the gymnastics.”
    â€œYou’re going to it?” she asked, surprised.
    â€œBusiness. But dinner right after that?”
    â€œGreat.”
    They sealed it with the modern ritual of entering each other’s cell phone numbers into each other’s cell phone address books. Then he opened the cab door for her and she left.
    â€œUnited States Embassy,” Avakian told the driver.
    Â 
    â€œThat’s