“Yes, what is it?”
“Well, I don’t expect that a man with your heavy responsibilities and busy schedule concerns himself with what amounts to hearsay about circumstances outside his purview.”
“Of course I don’t.”
“Then possibly you’re not aware of Golden Chance Company’s reputation. They’re known to be a reliable but conservative firm. They’re extremely unlikely to act on information of this sort until it’s been corroborated.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, of course, mining protocol is unfamiliar to me, but it’s my understanding that they’ll have ordered more exploratory investigations, before proceeding in any other way.”
Commissioner Wu tapped the paper before him. “It’s possible, then, that this finding will turn out to be — what do the medical people call it, a false positive?”
Lo shook his head. “Judging from the figures there, I don’t see how.” To the commissioner’s raised eyebrows he said, “I studied a bit of minerology myself, sir, before it became clear to me that academic effort was not in my line. I can still read a simple assay. There is no question as to the meaning of this. But since Golden Chance will be offering the owner a large sum for title to his property, it’s procedure for them to make doubly sure. Before they approach him.”
Commissioner Wu was silent for a moment. “You’re saying Mustafa Sadiq hasn’t been told about this yet?”
“No, sir. I mean, yes, sir, you’re correct. He has not.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mustafa Sadiq is known to me. He’s one of the Uighur shopkeepers with whom I’ve developed a certain relationship, over the years. During a—” Lo gave a shamefaced smile “—a Xiangqi game recently, he and I happened to touch on the subject of land in the mountains. As I’m sure you know, there are few conversations in Turpan these days that do not include mention of mining, and the mining companies. Sadiq told me his family owns land in the mountains, that he has not visited it in years, and that he has granted one of the mining companies permission to explore it. He said nothing more, nor did he appear to be holding anything back.”
“Did he not?”
“No, sir. Though of course I could be wrong; I speak only as a policeman, with a certain amount of practice at observing people trying not to tell me things.” Lo paused again. “Also...”
“Detective! What is it?”
“Sir, the damage done by the vandals at the Golden Chance offices was extensive. I imagine it will be some time, possibly a week or more, until an inventory is completed, repairs are made, and the routine operations of the firm can return to normal.”
The commissioner sat back in his chair. “They don’t know this report is missing.”
“I’m not sure, of course, sir. But considering the disordered state of their offices and files, I’d be very surprised if they did.”
“So.” Commissioner Wu looked steadily at Detective Lo. “An enterprising man could make something of this.”
“I think that’s true.” Lo returned his gaze.
“Detective Lo,” Wu said. “I have to ask why you’ve brought this... opportunity... to my attention. You and I have never worked together, nor even met. You’re not under my authority. Why haven’t you gone directly to Mustafa Sadiq, with whom you’re so obviously on friendly terms, and offered to relieve him of this worthless land? Why involve anyone, and why, particularly, myself?”
“Well, as to that, Mustafa Sadiq is not a fool. What use has a policeman for land in the mountains? Especially land he’s recently been told is worthless? Sadiq would understand immediately that something was afoot, and of course he will recall signing an agreement with the Golden Chance company allowing them to prospect on his land.”
“You’re saying, if you make an offer, Sadiq will know immediately the land is valuable.”
“Yes.”
“And why would it be different if I make the offer? I, a commissioner, whom he does not know and has no reason to trust? Unlike a friend,” Wu added sardonically.
“It would not be different.”
“Then what is the point of this exercise? Do you expect me to use Housing Commission funds to speculate, buying this land from Sadiq for whatever outrageous sum he demands, in hopes Golden Chance will pay more?” The commissioner stopped and frowned. “Or perhaps you expect me to condemn it. You are a policeman, so I suppose you don’t understand these things, but my powers of condemnation end at the city limits.”
“Yes, sir, I did know that. I agree with you: Condemning the land is not possible, and underpaying Sadiq is not practical.”
“Then why are you wasting my time?” Commissioner Wu’s bark caused the detective to start in his chair.
“That is not my intention, Commissioner, I assure you. Just, as I considered the use an enterprising man, as you say, might make of this information, it came to me that you, sir, are in a unique position.”
“What position would that be?” the commissioner hissed through clenched teeth.
“Well, of course, it’s only an idea, possibly a poor one, but perhaps, sir, at no cost to yourself or the Commission, but in your official capacity, you may be in a position to offer Mustafa Sadiq something in trade for his land. Something he wants very much.”
Later that afternoon, the spice-shop owner, Mustafa Sadiq, found himself summoned to the office of the housing commissioner. Sadiq could, of course, have refused to go, as his neighbors urged him to do. The housing commissioner, for all his despotic behavior, was not the police. He could not compel Sadiq to appear.
But Sadiq shrugged. “I’m curious,” he said. “Why does the housing commissioner even know my name? Why should he want to see a shopkeeper?” His neighbors had no answer. Sadiq changed his shirt, put on a fresh white cap with the embroidery and four-cornered shape of his tribe, and locked up his shop. Heading to the center of the city, where the government buildings squatted, he walked slowly, as the day was very hot.
Housing Commissioner Wu was not the police, but when Mustafa Sadiq was shown into the commissioner’s office, he found the police there, in the person of Detective Lo Pen-wei. He raised his eyebrows at the sight. “Detective Lo,” he said, speaking in Mandarin for the benefit of the commissioner, who sat frowning behind his desk. “Is the reason I’ve been called here a police matter, then?”
“Sit down,” Commissioner Wu ordered Sadiq, before Lo could speak. “Detective Lo is not here in his official capacity — though I expect you to respect his rank — but to serve as a translator. We will be covering some fairly subtle points, and it may be that your Mandarin is not up to the task.”
“The Housing Commission has no translators of its own? How fortunate that the Public Security Bureau is so generous with its officers, then,” Sadiq murmured. He seated himself, eyes on Lo.
“Mustafa Sadiq,” the commissioner said. The shopkeeper shifted his gaze to meet the commissioner’s. “I’ve brought you here because I’m interested in land in the mountains.”
“The land in the mountains is interesting,” Sadiq said agreeably. “The rock formations, the streams — they are unique in all East Turkestan. But I’m a poor shopkeeper, hardly an expert. I suggest—”
“Sadiq!” The commissioner gestured irritably at Lo, who spoke to Sadiq in the Uighur language.
“He means your land in the mountains, Sadiq.”
Sadiq blinked. To the commissioner he said, in Mandarin, “My land in the mountains is no more interesting than another man’s.”
“You’re wrong. Sadiq, I won’t insult you by playing games. Golden Chance Company has found gold on your land. I’ve brought you here because I want to buy it from you.”