Red Skies (The Tales of the Scavenger's Daughters) Read Online Free PDF

in his eyes and in the rising and falling of his voice as he mused about history he had no connection to. It was interesting to her, this man’s love for China that was so evident.
    “Anyway, I try to capture candid pictures of people. Have you ever watched their faces when they’re looking at something amazing with their eyes and letting their minds explore the possibilities of the scenes before them? If you can get them in that split second when they forget the chaos around them and let themselves be immersed in what might have been—it’s magical.”
    He was right, but she wouldn’t tell him that. Seeing the wall for the first time was magical. She still remembered the day she and Bolin had traveled to Beijing, full of ideas and excitement, ready to shed their humble beginnings and make a new life. Their first stop had been the wall, a monument even their own fathers had not had the honor of seeing yet. Bolin had stared out over the ledge, obviously so proud that he was going to get a chance to be more than a farmer. His enthusiasm was contagious, and he’d inspired Mari that day, too. But now that moment felt like at least a century ago. Their magic had faded.
    “Are you a photographer?” Mari asked, curious now. He spoke like a poet, and unlike any foreigner she’d come in contact with.
    “Photojournalist,” Max said. “I’m independent, but that man you saw—my laoban —he’s sponsoring my time in China, hoping I’ll get a scoop that no one else has. Something he can take credit for. He’d like to stay here himself, but he says China is a hardship he can’t handle. But he wanted to come to this part of the wall because he’d heard about Nixon visiting it way back in the early seventies.”
    “In what way is China a hardship?” Now Mari really was curious, and not about the president Nixon—she’d heard all that before. She was always enthralled with how other countries felt about China, and despite her own troubles, she couldn’t imagine ever wanting to live anywhere else. Her country had more history than any other place in the world, after all.
    Max looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. “Well, you know, the food. He thinks—well he’s an idiot, and I don’t think this—but he thinks that it’s unsanitary here. He’s afraid if he stays longer than a few days, he’ll end up with some crazy infection or illness. But I love China.” His face reddened, and he switched subjects. “Hey, listen, want me to pull your camel back to the shed? I remember the way.”
    Mari hesitated. If Bolin found out that she was having more than business conversation with a strange man, he’d be angry. But then, she was tired, and Chu Chu walked so much better for Max than for her.
    “ Hao le ,” she agreed. The faster she got the camel back in the shed, the faster she could get home. And she might even have time to stop by the block An Ni was on and see if the girl was there.
    Max held the rope tighter and gave it one pull. Chu Chu began walking behind him as if he were the gentlest creature on earth. Mari felt like kicking him in his gently swaying rear. But she kept up with them, grateful for the respite from tugging the animal for another mile.
    “Were your laoban’s children satisfied that their father was a true adventurer?” Mari found it hard to believe that one photo of the man on a camel could mean that much—but still, she’d paid their entire month’s electric bill with the generous tip.
    Max laughed. “I guess they did, because he hasn’t called me with any butt-chewing since he was here that week.”
    “Butt chewing?” Mari asked.
    Chu Chu decided at that moment to move forward—or more accurately, lunge forward—and Max had to drag his heels in to stop the animal from pulling him down the walkway.
    Mari caught up to them and grabbed the halter.
    Chu Chu stopped fidgeting immediately, and Mari let go, glad to let Max handle him. “You were saying? What is a butt