The Interior Read Online Free PDF Page B

getting on and off, we won’t be able to hear each other. So let me ask you something. Knight International. Ever hear of it?”
    “That came out of nowhere.”
    “It’s where Miaoshan worked. It’s an American company. Have you heard of it?”
    “Who hasn’t?” David replied. “It’s huge. It’s based back East somewhere, but the company has a lot of Hollywood connections.”
    “So what is Knight?”
    “They—a father and son—make toys. Do you know
Sam & His Friends
? Do you have that over there? It’s a TV show for kids.
Sam & His Friends
is a cartoon. I’ve never seen the actual show, of course, but the advertising! I think Knight makes dolls. No! What’s the word? Action figures! They’ve got an action figure for every one of those damn ‘friends’ and ads to go with them. Knight makes those over there? Jesus!”
    “It’s that big?”
    “Remember the rage over Cabbage Patch dolls? Did you have those in China?”
    “No. I don’t think so.”
    “Tickle Me Elmo?”
    “No.”
    “Beanie Babies?”
    “No. Barbie, I know Barbie.”
    “Sam isn’t like Barbie. These Sam toys are a fad. Kids are crazy for them.”
    “How do you know so much about it?”
    “That’s what I’m trying to say. It’s on the local news every time a new shipment hits the stores. Parents line up around the block to buy these things. The supply can’t meet the demand. It’s in the business pages practically every day. Knight stock has gone through the roof. Here’s a company that was percolating along for about seventy years, then this show comes on and kids go nuts. It’s a phenomenon.”
    “And Knight is manufacturing the toys in Shanxi,” Hulan mused thoughtfully.
    “I guess it shouldn’t be that strange, Hulan. Half of everything is made in China.”
    “Sure, in the Special Economic Zone in Shenzhen,” Hulan said as the train whistle blew again. “In Guangdong Province. Around Shanghai. But Shanxi? There’s
nothing
out there, David.”
    These last words were almost lost in the noise behind Hulan. “We’re at the station,” she said. “I’ll call you later. I love you.” And then she was gone.
             
    After putting the receiver back in the cradle, David couldn’t go back to sleep. By the time he pulled on shoes and shorts, there was enough light for him to head out for a run around Lake Hollywood. Tall and lean, he had dark hair, graying a bit at the temples. His blue eyes tended to pick up the hues of whatever environment he was in. This morning, with the fog still hiding nature’s sky and water tones, his eyes were flecked with highlights from the greenery around him.
    His pace was fast today and he knew why. Certain words Hulan had used this morning—the Red Soil Farm, the Cultural Revolution, an apparent suicide—had sent tremors of anxiety into his bloodstream. Could Hulan have more secrets from him? Would she be placing herself in danger out in the countryside? Was it even healthy—physically or mentally—for her to go out there? With each stride he tried to convince himself that there was nothing to worry about. Hulan worked for the Ministry of Public Security. No one would mess with her, especially in the countryside. Besides, a girl had committed suicide. That was about as open and shut as you could get in law enforcement.
    Maybe after Hulan settled this thing, she would go back to Beijing, pack up, and come to him. Who was he kidding? They had gone around this way for three months now, talking on the phone and communicating by e-mail. Back in March Hulan had promised she would come to Los Angeles. “We’ll be together,” she’d said, and he’d believed her. He’d begun talking to government officials and filling out forms for a permanent-residency card. But days had turned into weeks, weeks into months as Hulan’s doubts kicked in. She had lost so much in her life that, as much as she loved him—and he had no reservations about the depth of her passion—she was