How many nights she’s got to sit home with the baby waiting for the field marshal to return with his ratty briefcase? One night he comes home, finds the door ajar. First time he has to really draw his weapon, kick the door aside, and jump around with his heart in his throat, thinking, what’s the door open for? She’d never leave it open in this neighborhood, not at this time of night, not with what’s been going down. He searches the house, kicking in the doors, checking every room like he’s in enemy territory, snuffing out a sniper. But it’s empty, and she’s gone.

O.K., so much for the future you could predict. What happens next, and over time? Hasn’t happened yet, but you gonna find Akagi renting a room in the I-Hotel with the old Filipino and Chinese bachelors. Nothing strange about that. He’s a bachelor too. He’s like all the other activists down home with the tenants, working for their rights. Even though he’s been purged from the Party, he’s not like others to go wash his hands of everything, reject his beliefs. Where’s he gonna go anyway? Gonna keep working for the people.