Thoughts in the silent night

The man brought the coffee and put the cup before him. Wang Lian was startled.

The chair opposite him was now empty. ''You want something with it?'' the man asked as a matter of course.

''No, just the tea is fine,'' Wang Lian replied, drawing the cup towards him self.

''Have you come from Shanghai?'' he asked.

''Yes...''

''Going to Tianjin?'' he persisted.

This time Wang Lian replied with a nod. He was now taking a sip of the coffee.The man suspected that his eyes were wet.

''I'd like to be left alone for sometime,'' he said, putting down the cup, but without looking up. The man, looking at him with some surprise, returned to the kitchen and busied himself in small chores–all the while, keeping an eye on Wang Lian from the distance.