Wu and Chang walked arm-in-arm from the train station to the library plaza, saying little but obviously content with each other’s company. They had decided, hours before, to go to the library together, to make the pilgrimage that so many were planning but few had time to actually do. Singly and in groups, perhaps a total of twenty members of the NATO and allied forces and the science teams had gone and had returned with awed reports of the library’s potential.
This impressed Wu; he had asked permission of Hua Ling, and since their studies had been reduced in scope, the leader of the Chinese team had agreed.
But something was wrong. Russian soldiers milled outside the library in some confusion. As they spotted Wu and Chang crossing the plaza, alone, they dropped prone on the pavement and raised their rifles. Wu held up his hands instinctively; Chang backed away a step and seemed ready to run.
“No, my love,” Wu whispered.
“What are they doing?”
“I don’t know. I recommend we make no fast moves.”
She edged up beside him and raised her hands high as well, glancing at him for approval. He nodded.
They maintained this position for several long and unpleasant minutes while a few of the soldiers crawled toward each other and conferred.
Then a command was barked and all but two of the Russians stood and slung their rifles.
“Can we move now?” Chang asked.
“No; we are still in danger.”
Two Russians walked across the plaza toward them. Some meters distant, they stopped. ”Do you speak Russian?” one asked, in Russian.
“I do,” Chang replied in kind. ”My English is better.”
“My terrible English,” the spokesman said, demonstrating his point. “You are Chinese?”
“Yes. We were on a walk,” Chang said. From this point on, they spoke Russian.
“I am Corporal Rodzhensky, and this is Corporal Fremov. Something has gone wrong in the library; we are not sure what. We cannot allow anyone to pass; besides, the building is closed and will not open for us.”
“Do you have any idea what the trouble is?” Chang asked, struggling to appear especially interested and polite.
“No. We heard gunfire, and then the black ... wall closed, and would not open.”
“Why was there gunfire?”
“We do not know,” Rodzhensky said, glancing nervously at Fremov. “We have communicated with our superiors in the fourth chamber, but they have not arrived yet.”
“We will help any way we can,” Chang said. “Or, if you wish, we will leave.”
“No ... Perhaps you can approach the door, try to make it open. It may be ridiculous, but then again ...” Rodzhensky shrugged, then suddenly realized guns were still being trained on the pair. ”Do you have weapons?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at the prone riflemen.
“No. We are scientists.”
Rodzhensky called out for the riflemen to put away their guns.
“We are not familiar with this place,” he said. ”It makes us nervous. Especially now. Our officers are inside that building—searching for a fugitive.” He frowned and seemed to realize he was revealing too much to outsiders. ”Please, come with us and see if the door will open for you.”
Chang explained what had happened to Wu, who maintained a look of intense interest as they were escorted to the library entrance. The soldiers milled around in some confusion. Wu approached the black wall, hands held up, and touched the smooth surface with his fingers and palms.
It did not dilate, as he had been told to expect. He stepped back and lowered his hands. ”Sorry,” he said. ”It doesn’t—“
A low, vibrating series of tones issued from the wall, and repeated, followed by a voice. ”Police attention required in this precinct,” the voice said in Russian. ”No entrance to unauthorized personnel. Please alert medical and police authorities immediately. No entrance allowed.” It then repeated its message in English and Chinese.
The soldiers backed away, AKVs unslung and pistols drawn.
“Something must have happened inside,” Chang said calmly to Rodzhensky. “Perhaps we should tell our own superiors. Wouldn’t that be wise?”
She looked up at the Russian with her narrow almond eyes, her face a mask of persuasion and equanimity. Wu felt tremendous admiration for her. He had never seen her react to this sort of crisis.
Corporal Rodzhensky thought that over, shook his head firmly, then slumped his tension-hunched shoulders and seemed to reconsider. ”What do we do if it doesn’t open?” he asked.
“It doesn’t open now.”
“Our leaders are inside,” he said.
Chang maintained her intent gaze.
“Yes—all right,” Rodzhensky finally said. ”Please go and bring your own superiors.”
“Thank you,” Chang said. She took Wu by the arm and walked with him back across the plaza.
“Very strange,” she exclaimed, shaking her head in wonder. ”Most strange.”
“You were wonderful,” Wu said, awestruck.
“Thank you.” She smiled appreciatively.