Nonetheless, Cassius Croon knew this wasn't about saving gorillas. Obviously it was a political stunt, and the aim was to embarrass the Chinese government. In this age of east/west trade wars and Chinese companies muscling into every field from textiles to robotics, in this time of the Taiwan Tension... to expose the hideous exploitation of animals in the Middle Kingdom, to trace this exploitation to the top of the legislature: well, it would be excellent PR for the vested interests of the White House. Anyway, everyone was into animal exploitation these days - you couldn't just pin this on the Chinks. Even Croon had a pet wallaby... and a girlfriend called Telma T.

Telma was cuddled up with the wallaby on the mink bedspread when Croon arrived home. He stripped out of his shredded leather suit and strode across the room in his bare torse - two bullet scars flexing, large Maori tattoo rippling as he walked. Telma smiled at this development, curled as she was on the purring bed, but Cassius just walked right past her to a wardrobe where he began putting on a suit which was half spider silk, half imported yak hair.

<<Come on>> Telma said. <<Why don't you hop over here and jump into my pouch?>>

Croon lit a Cuban cigar, smirked. <<Hell baby, I ain't got the time for jumping about. I got a fucking job to do.>>

And he started packing a suitcase with binoculars, mosquito repellent and at least three safari suits.

<<Don't expect me to be waiting here when you get back>> Telma said.