Chapter I
Shall I Show You a Magic Trick?
Baoxing, Xizang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China, May 31st, 2011
Baoxing was a backwater. It was as far away from civilization as you could get and still have other human beings around. Most of the citizens hadn't seen electricity outside of car lights, and indoor plumbing was a fantastic thing talked about in glowing terms by the lucky few who had ever been to a town passing as modern. Driving up the switchbacks that led to this barren Tibetan town, in a black Jiangling Motors Baowei, was an agent of the Ministry of State Security, Lei Mei-xi. She was old, sixty-three, she wore her hair close cropped and short as was the fashion of Chinese Matrons, and she was fierce. Born in Jiangxi Province, raised in Shanghai, an idealistic member of the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution, and an agent of State Security ever since her special "talent" had become apparent. As she drove, she felt no need to extend her arms, as the steering wheel seemed to be moving quite well by itself. She took sips from a water bottle that hovered from the cup-holder to her lips and back down again as she focused on the dark road. The time was about five-thirty in the morning, and Mei-xi was very tired of trying to squint out the roads that were the same colour as the surrounding soil.
She finally pulled into the little square which the simple houses were stacked around, parking in front of the town's simple Stupa, bedecked with prayer flags. She got out, cursing her old knees and hips, and adjusted her somewhat rumpled Maoist-style pant-suit. Another old woman came out of one of the decrepit little homes, calling out to Mei-xi in Tibetan.
"Who are you and why are you here?" the Tibetan woman called, squinting suspiciously at Mei-xi.
She whipped out a fake Ministry of Education badge. "My name is San Xingxing, and I'm from the Ministry of Education. I am here to find a girl by the name of Buhsandara. She has been selected for a special education program in Beijing."
"I am Buhsandara's grandmother. But I don't understand how she possibly could have been selected for a special education program. I haven't sent her to school, and as far as I know the government doesn't even have a birth certificate for her."
"Well, that is why she was selected to participate in the special education program. According to our tax records, she is eight years old and has received only informal education from local monks. We are trying to boost education in the Xizang Autonomous Region, and Buhsandara is one of our target students. She will come home every summer and on the winter holidays, courtesy of the People's Republic, and while in Beijing she will be cared for as an honoured guest and student."
"I need her here to help me with the yaks, and she wants to be a Buddhist nun. She doesn't need a fancy education in Beijing."
"Madam, this program is not voluntary, it is compulsory. The Ministry of Education had hoped that you would be more accepting."
"No! You can't take Buhsandara! The Ministry of Education doesn't have that kind of power! Even an ignorant old yak herder like me can see that!" By this time, other villagers had roused, and a small crowd had formed around Mei-xi and Buhsandara's grandmother. Mei-xi began to worry. Even with her telekinetic abilities, one of the Tibetan villagers might have an illegal firearm or some such weapon, and fifty against one would be an unfair match, even taking into account telekinesis. Honesty, then.
"No, the Ministry of Education doesn't. But the Guojia Anquan Bu (Ministry of State Security) does." The Tibetan woman staggered back, face filled with fear. The other villagers bore hard looks or mournful faces. "She has been requested by the GuoAnBu because she has the potential to have 'special' abilities. Like this." She said, levitating a piece of yak dung in the air and then catapulting it towards a nearby mountain. The Tibetans jumped back, and many whispered "Black magic."
"If you release the child into my custody, she will be cared for and this village will receive a generous economic development package from the central government. If you refuse, I will take the child anyway, and you and any who attempt to assist you will be charged with treason."
The old Tibetan woman was bawling now, screaming for the Lord Buddha to help her, send down heavenly fire, anything to protect her granddaughter. Mei-xi sighed pointedly, and then scooted the woman aside with her telekinesis and marched into the small house from which a young girl was peering out of. The young girl retreated before her advance, back into the confines of the house. Mei-xi entered the house and pulled out a piece of melon candy, which she proffered to the girl.
"Come on now." Mei-xi called to the girl, holding out the melon candy. Buhsandara approached cautiously, wanting the candy but not trusting the woman who she thought was a witch. She reached Mei-xi and snatched the candy.
"Buhsandara, I've been sent to take you to Beijing. Have you heard of Beijing?" Mei-xi said in a friendly manner, smiling.
"I don't want to go to Beijing." the little girl said, pouting.
"Shall I show you a magic trick?" Mei-xi asked brightly, trying to distract the child. The girl nodded, lip still stuck out in a mighty pout. Mei-xi levitated a pot from the very modest kitchen and zoomed it about the small house. The girl clapped and laughed, pout quite forgotten.
"Show me another! Another!"
"Okay! Are you ready?" Mei-xi asked, smile upon her lips. As irritated she was about being in this backwater, she couldn't help but be entranced by the laughter and smiles of the small Tibetan girl.
"Yes yes! I'm quite ready!" the little girl said, clapping.
"Okay, here we go!" Mei-xi said, lifting the little girl into the air with her mind. Buhsandara shrieked in delight and floated the little girl out the door towards the car, parting the crowd of Tibetans with the occasional flick of the eyes, scooting them to the left or right. She floated Buhsandara's grandmother over to her car, and then set Buhsandara and her grandmother down.
"Say goodbye to your grandmother, dear. We're going to Beijing."
Buhsandara ran up to her bawling grandmother and hugged her tightly whilst Mei-xi waited. Grandmother and Buhsandara whispered in Tibetan, and Buhsandara gave her grandmother a quick kiss, then hopped into the passenger seat of the car. Mei-xi sighed in relief, then got into the car and drove off, a giddy and sugar addled Buhsandara in tow.