An hour later Leedok saw Kim at the other end of the lobby. Every Anglo businessman in the Hilton was admiring her. Especially appreciative were those who seemed to travel without their wives. On the other hand, Oriental men, fully accustomed to such beauty, concentrated on the few Occidental women who strolled through the lobby. However, women of all cultures who saw Kim appeared to make mental excuses for themselves. After all, she was only twenty-six years old. No doubt a good cosmetologist could have done the same thing with their eyes, given enough time and artistic ability. And Kim’s minx figure could be duplicated if they chose to invest in enough silicone. Her air of fun loving sophistication would be somewhat more difficult to duplicate and they dismissed her before admitting the utter impossibility of replicating her cheerful, welcoming smile. Lips like hers were the bane of all who reduced themselves to envy. Her figure was not voluptuous by California travel poster standards. However, as a Chinese, her bosom was a challenge to the silk blouse that separated imagination from reality.

At a distance Leedok saw her wave with an outstretched arm, her breasts bouncing in erogenous unison with the movement. Other men’s admiration suddenly escalated to prurient gasps.

“Hi, Kim,” Leedok said, hardly acknowledging her. “Would you go up to the desk and have them page Noah again?”

“What's up?” Kim asked, a little miffed that Leedok seemed so disinterested.

“I can’t find Noah. He checked out of the hotel at four o'clock this afternoon. All of his suitcases were packed and stored. The clerk said he left without a word except to charge the bill to his AmEx card. I was just trying to figure out where he went.”

He realized that had devolved upon him to tell her about the explosion. Saddened, solemn, out of place in the bustle of returning businessmen and nattering shoppers, he had to share the story of the bombing. Leedok was not one to dwell on the moribund and he tended to become petulant when he was forced out of his characteristic good humor. No one had yet accused him of being glib. But he tended to founder in the presence of despair. It was in the natural energy of light and laughter that he found himself most comfortable and effective. Perfectly willing to ignore disaster and deny the existence of hardship, he wanted to canter through life. Occasionally, however, there was no pretense behind which to hide. He had to swallow his sadness along with his predispositions and tell her the whole story about the explosion.