cyclical patterns of thousands of years ago with the two poles setting the limits of the cyclical changes, the Yin and the Yang.
Before leaving her office, she telephoned Margaret Wormald who had agreed to take over Eleanor’s patients if the need arose. Margaret asked no questions, and said she thought that a break would be good for Eleanor. The last time they had met, Margaret had remarked that Eleanor was becoming a workaholic, which was very bad for her balance.
Eleanor left her office with a sense of relief. She recalled the flexibility of China’s ways and philosophies. She had learned about these from her husband, and later in China. ‘The Yang having reached its climax, retreats in favour of the Yin; the Yin having reached its climax, retreats in favour of the Yang.’ This was the basic philosophy of Carry Tiger to Mountain as she understood it. But it could mean and beapplied to so many different things. There could be a period of tough yet peaceful coexistence, she thought. But did her fears about the new China include an evil aspect, not one of peace, but one that could kill and destroy? She needed time, time to find out, to understand … but how long had she got? And what did they really want of her?
The Minister of Health had arrived at his office later than usual. He was dreading going to the House of Commons the following day. A question had been tabled a week or so ago by a back-bencher for Question Time in the House. ‘Is the Minister of Health aware,’ he was to be asked, for he had seen the questions written out for him and underlined in places by his Private Secretary, ‘that a British journalist in Beijing has written an article stating that it is time for the British Minister of Health to stop denigrating the Chinese leaders, accusing them of uncooperative actions: that the Minister could be better employed seeking, perhaps, their cooperation in the terrible problem of ENDS?’ The question went on to demand of the Minister an answer on what exactly he was doing.
The Minister had been working on the answer he hoped to give. Only very recently he had, so he imagined, handled himself rather well on the awkward questions he had been asked in the House about the progress towards a solution to ENDS. The timing of the latest questions made the Minister furious. Even more maddening was the temporary absence of his Permanent Secretary, Sir Richard Morris.
It was Sir Richard who had suggested to him that there seemed to be some kind of link with the Far East, a link with the deaths, but so far nothing more had been told to him. He had hinted at this in the House. On reflection, maybe he had been somewhat tactless about China, but that was nothing to be ashamed about: their record on human rightswas still disgraceful. Nothing like a confrontation from time to time … clears the air … the Yellow Peril and all that … They had changed, but not enough towards the democratic process for his government’s liking. All the usual political clichés rushed through his brain.
He had asked Dr Clifford to call on him early the next morning. Were there any new developments on the medical side? Had the doctor made any progress with his investigations? And what about the American woman doctor, specialising in Oriental medicine? The Minister was impatient to meet Mike Clifford again.
When Mike Clifford had first met Eleanor, she had told him about the Oriental wonders to be seen in the British Museum. She thought they might help him to comprehend some of the imposing medical history of China. Back in his flat, after reading more reports, he became more and more convinced that China held a key that could unlock some of the enigmas that surrounded the deaths. He had discovered that Japan had pumped several billions of yen into China. China had in turn invested much of the money in Oriental medical centres throughout the Western world. China seemed to have moved towards becoming a more tolerant political
Before leaving her office, she telephoned Margaret Wormald who had agreed to take over Eleanor’s patients if the need arose. Margaret asked no questions, and said she thought that a break would be good for Eleanor. The last time they had met, Margaret had remarked that Eleanor was becoming a workaholic, which was very bad for her balance.
Eleanor left her office with a sense of relief. She recalled the flexibility of China’s ways and philosophies. She had learned about these from her husband, and later in China. ‘The Yang having reached its climax, retreats in favour of the Yin; the Yin having reached its climax, retreats in favour of the Yang.’ This was the basic philosophy of Carry Tiger to Mountain as she understood it. But it could mean and beapplied to so many different things. There could be a period of tough yet peaceful coexistence, she thought. But did her fears about the new China include an evil aspect, not one of peace, but one that could kill and destroy? She needed time, time to find out, to understand … but how long had she got? And what did they really want of her?
The Minister of Health had arrived at his office later than usual. He was dreading going to the House of Commons the following day. A question had been tabled a week or so ago by a back-bencher for Question Time in the House. ‘Is the Minister of Health aware,’ he was to be asked, for he had seen the questions written out for him and underlined in places by his Private Secretary, ‘that a British journalist in Beijing has written an article stating that it is time for the British Minister of Health to stop denigrating the Chinese leaders, accusing them of uncooperative actions: that the Minister could be better employed seeking, perhaps, their cooperation in the terrible problem of ENDS?’ The question went on to demand of the Minister an answer on what exactly he was doing.
The Minister had been working on the answer he hoped to give. Only very recently he had, so he imagined, handled himself rather well on the awkward questions he had been asked in the House about the progress towards a solution to ENDS. The timing of the latest questions made the Minister furious. Even more maddening was the temporary absence of his Permanent Secretary, Sir Richard Morris.
It was Sir Richard who had suggested to him that there seemed to be some kind of link with the Far East, a link with the deaths, but so far nothing more had been told to him. He had hinted at this in the House. On reflection, maybe he had been somewhat tactless about China, but that was nothing to be ashamed about: their record on human rightswas still disgraceful. Nothing like a confrontation from time to time … clears the air … the Yellow Peril and all that … They had changed, but not enough towards the democratic process for his government’s liking. All the usual political clichés rushed through his brain.
He had asked Dr Clifford to call on him early the next morning. Were there any new developments on the medical side? Had the doctor made any progress with his investigations? And what about the American woman doctor, specialising in Oriental medicine? The Minister was impatient to meet Mike Clifford again.
When Mike Clifford had first met Eleanor, she had told him about the Oriental wonders to be seen in the British Museum. She thought they might help him to comprehend some of the imposing medical history of China. Back in his flat, after reading more reports, he became more and more convinced that China held a key that could unlock some of the enigmas that surrounded the deaths. He had discovered that Japan had pumped several billions of yen into China. China had in turn invested much of the money in Oriental medical centres throughout the Western world. China seemed to have moved towards becoming a more tolerant political
Similar Books
