The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 50 -- Friend or Foe

On an old side street of Beijing, Fan Kong Tu dodged young men on bicycles with passenger carriages behind them, offering people rides to their destinations. Women on bicycles zipped by him. People were coming and going to and from work.

Squat buildings in old-style Chinese architecture of bowed beams painted red and curved ends lined both sides of the street. Half-round tiles covered the roofs. Swaying in the breeze, long narrow banners with Chinese characters hung in front of shops -- clothing, groceries, and eateries.

Hurrying without noticing the activity around him, Fan had an appointment to keep.  He was on time.

Stopping in front of a grey stone two-story building, he read the Chinese letters on a painted sign above the door. In English, it read "China Doll, Imports and Exports."

This was the place. Stepping up to the entrance, he read a posted sign in Chinese. Translated, it read "Please push buzzer for entrance, then stop at the main desk."

After pushing the buzzer, the door popped open. Entering, he saw a young woman sitting behind an office desk.  He noted that the desk was very organized.

"I am Fan Kong Tu. I have an appointment." 

The young woman glanced at the clock on the wall. It read precisely 2 o'clock.  She had been writing on a piece of paper.  With exact precision, she placed the paper in a manila folder, placed it square on the desk and laid the pencil perpendicularly next to it.

"Please wait here." Daintily getting up from her office chair, the young lady disappeared down a long hallway to a door.  She knocked, before opening it.

Fan looked around the crowded office. Paintings and portraits lined the walls. Marble busts and statues huddled together on tables. On the floor were stacks of rugs, blankets, and other textiles. Despite that fact the he had worked for her on several occasions, Fan knew only a few details about China Doll like she dealt in Western Art, trading and selling to powerful businessmen. This time, he still wasn’t sure of the nature of his latest mission. Fan knew it involved Dr. Herkeimer.

The young woman reappeared. "She will see you now."

Fan walked past her and went through the door at the end of the hallway. 

Behind a large desk sat China Doll. Her pale face made her red ruby lips pronounced. Her pitch-black hair was tightly wrapped up into two short smokestacks shapes on her head. Two ivory-colored sticks protruded out of them.  Her black dress was accented by a bright orange carved, beaded necklace.

"You are looking very smart today," said Fan.

"Thank you," said China Doll. Her words were drawn out and in perfect English.

"Was your trip to Seattle successful?"

"You are educated on my whereabouts."

Fan bowed. "I like to know something about my employers, especially those who have made Beijing their home."

She grinned. "Good for you. But enough idle chit-chat. We have business to discuss. First, have you any information about the books?  I am anxious to hear."

"I discovered that an elderly woman named Charlotte Steers has the only access to them. I learned there is a boy. The Doctor wants one of the books and the boy for whatever reason."

China Doll's right eyebrow arched. "A elderly woman? A boy? What is this? A children’s tale? Hmmm... Very well. Dr. Herkeimer is no longer a concern to me. I want to focus on her and the boy. I desire weekly reports of their lives."

She pulled a plain letter-sized envelope out from under a high pile of papers on her desk and held it out to him. "Here are your new instructions. Please keep in contact. I will be back in Seattle next month if you need to reach me."

Fan took the envelope.  "When may I expect payment for this last assignment?"

China Doll turned her swivel black leather chair.  He couldn’t see her. "My secretary has it for you."

Fan walked to the door, stopped, and turned to ask her why she wanted this information, but China Doll had vanished.

Outside on the street, he opened the envelope.  The paper inside had one sentence written on it. 

He read it out loud and looked puzzled.  "Follow the woman and boy. How did she already know?"  He mumbled "What a waste of time this meeting was. Now I want to know even more why she wants the book?"