SOMEWHERE IN THE DISTANCE a bird sang the first throaty notes of his morning song, drawing Liao back to the here and now. He glanced once again towards the night sky and realized several hours had passed since he entered the clearing. Dawn was coming, he realized, and with it a new day of matches. He looked around the clearing, seeing the fire that had not been lit, and yet he felt refreshed.
Liao gathered together the things he brought to the encampment with him after breaking down the pyre he erected those few hours before. One last glance around the clearing told him that to an outside observer, he might never have been there. Realizing he was hungry, and a good hot cup of tea would be most welcome, he started down the trail leading back to the villa.
Liao arrived at his quarters just
