He had looked grubby and dog-tired, Xingyu, his face drawn and his eyes nervy as they'd helped him into his flying gear, but he would catch some sleep on the flight and they'd clean him up hi Beijing and he'd look all right on the screen, that was what mattered.

'Take.'

'What?'

One of the captains was holding out a packet of cigarettes, the end torn open. 'Take.'

I pulled one out and he struck a match for me and we stood together with its light on our faces.

'You help China people.'

'Well, hope so,' took a quick puff as a gesture.

The End