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were their children. Most of the troops were milling around in total confusion, and many of them had broken down and were starting to cry.
    Clinging to Arch tightly, Nicky exclaimed, “These kids don’t know what the hell this is all about!”
    “I’m convinced of it,” Arch agreed, putting his arm around her waist, determined to keep her safe in this melee.
    Unexpectedly, she saw Jimmy pushing his way toward them.
    How he had found them in the crowds Nicky would never know. He had sprung up as if from nowhere, and as he took hold of her arm he said, “Come on, we’re getting out of this mob!”
    Being ruthlessly aggressive, Jimmy and Arch managed to push Nicky and themselves through the seething mass of people until they finally staggered out onto the edge of Changan Avenue. As the three of them stood huddled together under the trees at the side of the wide boulevard, breathing sighs of relief as they straightened their clothes, Arch said, “By the looks of those kids, we weren’t in danger of being shot at, but we were in danger of being trampled to death.”
    “Our best bet is to stand here and watch what’s happening from the sidelines,” Nicky said.
    Astonished, Jimmy said, “Hey, that’s a new one for you, Nick, when have you ever been on the sidelines?” Not waiting for an answer, he rushed on, “But you’re right, it’s safer here. Being in the middle of that was like being in the center of—a stampede. And what an army it is—just look at em. They have camp gear, canteens and knapsacks but don’t have any weapons.” He shook his head wonderingly.
    “I told you they weren’t armed, Arch,” Nicky said.
    Clee joined them a few minutes later. His hair was rumpled, his jacket ripped, but otherwise he looked totally unscathed. His Nikon was slung around his neck and there was a triumphant glint in his dark eyes. “I got some great shots,” he said.
    “Isn’t that a bit dangerous, showing your camera?” Jimmy asked, eyeing the Nikon. “It’s liable to get pulled off your neck and smashed.”
    “Not by this bunch, they’re on my side. On our side. They want their pictures taken, they’re chanting the usual thing—tell the world, tell the world.”
    “But the riot police—” Arch began and abruptly stopped. “I guess there are no police around.”
    “It’s doubtful,” Clee responded. “At this moment, anyhow.”
    “Maybe I should go and get our cameras, try something live with Nicky,” Jimmy suggested, looking at Arch. “We might just get away with it.”
    “No, ” Arch said.
    “Let’s film on the balcony later, Jimmy, as we planned. I’ll do a phone narration,” Nicky said, knowing it was hopeless to argue with Arch when he was in a cautious mood. She had been in the line of fire on battlefields and he hadn’t batted an eyelash or said anything about danger, but ever since they came to Beijing he had been issuing warnings constantly, and she couldn’t help wondering why. She would have to ask him later, now was not the time. She glanced around, her eyes seeking Luke, but he was nowhere to be seen, neither were Yoyo and Mai. They had been swallowed up by that mass of people.
    Eventually, much to her relief, Luke came into view, with Yoyo and Mai beside him. Mai was limping, had obviously hurt her leg or her foot, and Yoyo was helping her.
    “What happened?” Nicky asked, hurrying over to them.
    “Not serious,” Yoyo said. “Man stand on Mai’s foot. She okay.”
     
    Nicky put her arm around the Chinese girl’s shoulders, and the four of them walked over to join the others.
    Luke said to Nicky, “It’s surprising the rest of us weren’t hurt.
    You are okay, aren’t you, Nicky?”
    “I’m fine, thanks, Luke.”
    They sat down under the trees on the side of Changan Avenue to rest and cool off. In spite of the breeze, the air was warm, almost heavy, and both Nicky and Clee took off their jackets.
    Arch passed around a pack of cigarettes but everyone except Yoyo