Book 4: Chapter 29
General Gong read the status report and grimaced.
Behind him, Governor Tai Su Long argued with Captain Li Jeng.
The results were certain, as far as he could ascertain. The skiff due to return from the deployment was overdue by thirty minutes with no trace of contact at all. A heaviness hung in his heart.
All those souls lost.
But of course, for the governor, only one mattered to him.
“Must I make it an order?” Tai Su Long said agitated. “Send another skiff! My nephew must be found.”
Li Jeng, to his credit, handled the governor with the upmost professionalism.
He bowed with an apologetic frown. “Would that we could, governor, but the protocols strictly forbit it.”
“To hell with the protocols!” Tai Su Long shouted. “You have a member of the royal family down there!”