Tan cleared this throat, covering the moments of stalemate. “I apologize for the scene you witnessed outside. I assure you Sun and Gao will be suitably reprimanded.”
Mikelos busied himself with pulling the erhu from its case. “I’m sure they will be,” he said. “But will that be an isolated occurrence? Or are the members of the entire trade delegation in danger in Jiang Yi Yue?” He waved his hand, encompassing his shaggy brown hair and Europan facial structure in one gesture. His aquiline features marked his heritage as Roman, but to the untrained observer, he fit right in with the Brits. “I do happen to look a bit like them.”
Tan’s face grew stony once more, shadowed in the lamplight of the cabin. Mikelos hoped he hadn’t ruined his music lessons before they started.
“I assure you,” Tan s
