eerprising villagers  all, using its pounded earto build d  ered fragments of a great ory t  disappeared. tural gas and oil nearby e villages acy ricity, communications neter but t . tion corporations  an arid forgotten eland.

    As Li Jin eep incline  several arcone dooro ttened cliff. t but till seemed to be o ted  tc. t out of t at one of the doors.

    Lao Zook ts of rotting tom as trougic e one side of ting er o a sunken courtyard surrounded by several rooms. Lao Zoc on. A single sixty t bulb o life.

    In one corner of ted platform, made of unbaked clay. ts and pans to one side of t looked like explosives sat in one corner. Despite ts creeping along t, tion.

    “Is t dynamite?” Li Jin asked pointing at the explosives.

    “Yes, I .  do you ted for years. to live o Xian. troyed by encroaching sand dunes in one single day.”

    “t, Lao Zhank you.”

    “OK I will hey came in.

    “thanks.”

    Li Jin follo place, safe from prying eyes. Yet, Li Jin ed. too mucion o keep to himself.

    “Lao Z tell anyone about t?”

    “ Li Jin? As far as I am concerned I  seen you for t  in trouble.”

    “I am not in trouble. I promise you,” Li Jin lied.

    “OK. t’s t then.”

    ty minutes later, t and to tor going and t errupted pos, a generic console, Professor Yao’s backdoor rig and a ctery for backup. Lao Zook in all t like a farmer from a remote province visiting a large city for t time. It ed stringing ts, drips and pumps to an aluminum ar