The voice faded into the sky when I opened my eyes. Thus my senses returned to normal. I could see the fl ash of queer curiosity in the eyes of some dashing passers-by. Then suddenly I realized time was running out. The only bus to Huairou County seventy kilometers northeast of central Beijing, where I could transfer to another bus to the foot of the Mutianyu Great Wall, was due at nine o’clock. I was close, but I had a maximum of a quarter of an hour to catch the bus. I mustn’t miss it! The problem was, there were two bus stations with the same name. So this was the question - should I turn left here or cross the road straight ahead and turn left at the next intersection? But I was in no state to hesitate any longer. I must move! Yes! I must move! That was just the point, otherwise I could ask people for directions. But hell no, I wouldn’t. Instead, I rushed to the fi rst bus station. It was about two hundred meters away, and there was no such bus. I ran more quickly back to the intersection and headed to the next one. By the time I had at last found this goddamn hidden bus station, I caught the sound of the engine of this bloody bus roaring. As I sped up and waved to the bus driver, the automatic door was opening on the side I could see. Only then did I feel a sense of relief. Hurrying to take one of the very few seats left, I was sweating and gasping, and my heart pounding. I couldn’t breathe. The other passengers laughed as the driver entertained them with a funny shout: “Hey! Our last passenger must be a prison breaker who just escaped from the hands of the police and so ran into us at the last minute.”