Summary

Hornclaw visits Dr. Chang at the clinic for “a regular checkup” (49). She is responsible for getting checkups to prove her good health to the agency. She always sees Dr. Chang, as he has a deal with the agency. He “treats the disease control specialists” and keeps their identity and work secret (54).

Dr. Chang informs Hornclaw she is healthy. She is surprised he has not mentioned the recent incident, realizing her “accidental coconspirator has stayed silent” (55).

One month prior, Hornclaw got into “a rare bout of hand-to-hand combat” during an assignment (56). Her target was a man “who peddled taxis licenses illegally” (56). When he noticed she was following him, he raced away in his car. Hornclaw trailed him. He then flipped his car. Hornclaw dragged him from the wreckage. The man attacked her. They fought for some time before Hornclaw stabbed and killed him. After...