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in his hands. Are you?”
    The first officer hesitated as concern filled his face. He could die for admitting people improperly. He could also die for incompetence, even if the mistake was somebody else’s.”
    “You are right about talking here,” the first officer conceded. “Step inside the gate where we can talk privately.”
    Bin-lu nodded and ushered Boris and Tedi through the gate. When everyone was inside the gate, Bin-lu pulled the other officer aside.
    “Look,” Bin-lu said softly, “I do not know who messed up this assignment, but I do not care to die for it. Their ship was not due in today, and I was not notified in time to meet them. You haven’t been notified yet that they would be arriving, although that is not your fault either. What are we supposed to do? Ask them to spend the night in some common inn? We would both surely die.”
    “I hear what you are saying,” answered the officer, “but my task is to admit only those who are scheduled for the day. These people are not on my schedule. I also have never seen you before. Who are you? And what gives you authority to have people admitted to the palace?”
    “I am Special Officer Bin-lu,” Bin-lu stated softly. “I am part of the External Diplomacy section.”
    Bin-lu leaned even closer to the officer and whispered, “It is my task to find foreigners that will pave the way for our invasion. These people are very important to our plans. That is why nobody is to know that they are here. You must not mention a word about their arrival to anyone. They are to be whisked in to the Emperor and hustled back out to their ship before anyone sees them. Now do you understand why I was so upset about a confrontation on the city streets? Do you also understand why I do not fear to go with you before the Emperor? Gate officers he has galore, but people who can provide what I do are rare.”
    “But I am doing my job as instructed,” complained the officer.
    Bin-lu shrugged and smiled at the officer. “You are the gate guard,” smiled Bin-lu. “It is your choice what happens next. Let me know what you decide.”
    Bin-lu marched over to Boris and Tedi and began apologizing profusely for the short delay. Boris reacted sternly and seemed disinterested in any apologies. Within minutes the first officer approached the group.
    “Officer Bin-lu will escort you to the Emperor,” the officer declared.
    Bin-lu wasted no time is ushering Boris and Tedi away from the gate. He chuckled to himself as he looked back and saw the gate officer making motions to the other guards. Bin-lu knew that the officer was complaining of sickness and was going to leave his post. He might get beaten for not being at his post, but he would escape death for admitting a questionable person.
    “Well done, Bin-lu,” congratulated Tedi. “I could not believe that was you. I could not imagine how you were going to get us past that guard. Whatever you told him sure changed his mind. How do you plan to get us out?”
    Bin-lu looked at Tedi and shook his head. “I have no idea how we are going to get out of here,” Bin-lu answered. “We are just on the grounds of the palace. We still have to get into the building, find your mother, and think of a way out. Don’t worry, we’ll think of something.”
    Tedi felt as if a giant cold hand had reached up and grabbed his heart. He stared at Bin-lu and then looked at all of the soldiers marching around the grounds. He looked back at Bin-lu and just shook his head.

Chapter 5
Unexpected Company
    Bin-lu hesitated at the bottom of the huge stone steps before the Imperial Palace. Boris and Tedi also stopped alongside him.
    “Trouble?” Master Khatama asked softly.
    “There will be fewer soldiers inside the palace,” began Bin-lu, “but they will be more curious. The marching soldiers on the grounds do not trouble themselves to identify visitors. This may not be true of the ones inside. We must be careful.”
    “Do you know where you are going?”