Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'But we didn't know.'
'I know, you are very brave, you boys. It's quite cold to be cycling at this time
of year.'
'Do you meet many foreigners here?' I asked.
She blushed and laughed a little. 'It is a closed town, but yes there was another
Australian on bicycle one time, and she was here too in this office. By the way, if
you want I can take you on an escorted tour of our town,' she replied, eagerly.
'Oh, that would be great!'
We moved to another office, and while the officer flicked through some fat law
topics, Xiao Wei handed us a booklet. 'Look, you can read what others wrote so
you can write also,' she said.
It was a booklet with statements from all the other poor foreign cyclists who had
wandered into the forbidden zone and been arrested. There were two parties in all
- an Australian woman and a group consisting of an Australian, a Japanese and a
Canadian. I read the statements with interest and flicked over to see their finger-
prints and copies of their passports.
Then I looked at Xiao Wei and smiled. 'So you do meet a lot of foreigners here!'
After writing our own statements, we had to dip our fingers in red ink for fin-
gerprinting. 'It's just like finger painting!' I said to Xiao Wei, who blushed and put
her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. Then it was Chris's turn.
My spirits were high. I was wondering when the formalities would be over so
we could give the officer and Xiao Wei a ride on the bikes. But I overdid my con-
fidence. 'Can I film Chris signing the statement?' I asked. Xiao Wei blushed again,
as if it were an inappropriate question, but translated my request to the arresting
officer.
The atmosphere changed immediately. He slammed his fist on the table. I was
acutely aware of his glare and a supremely stubble-free face. Xiao Wei tried to fall
in line with the seriousness of the situation but failed. She just couldn't suppress
her giggle and curiosity. I realised my mistake and tried to look appropriately in-
timidated.
The officer said something to Xiao Wei.
'Did you see the Olympics?' she translated.
'No, we were in the Gobi and missed the whole thing, actually.'
She translated my response for the benefit of the policeman and then handballed
his response back to us. 'He said maybe then you do not love your country.'
