Soon we arrived at the Beijing Hotel—within shouting distance of the now infamous Tienanmen Square.

I eventually got to a smelly bus shelter and perched cautiously on the bench inside.

But when the cargo hold was one-fourth empty his plan threatened to hit a snag . If the Spican twinsome had their way the Homingbird's hold seemed doomed to stay three-fourths full, unless Boyd jettisoned his cargo—but that would only alert Tar Baby.

Two-fifty quidlets, Mr. Duncan — you can't get a really posh stone for less. In any case it wouldn't be only an emerald or a sapphire you'd be buying […]