"Left, grape."
Bai Zhu lounged in a deck chair on the deck, a skullcap perched on his head and sunglasses resting on his nose. His right leg was crossed over his left, and his mouth stretched wide toward the left.
The girl in the white dress peeled a grape and brought it to his mouth.
"Right, juice."
Another girl lifted a glass and positioned the straw just right. Bai Zhu's mouth twisted into another bizarre curve.
The girl standing behind the chair adjusted the parasol to block the shifting sunlight, then smoothed the thin blanket draped over his abdomen.
The luxury cruise ship, temporarily requisitioned for them, had already left the harbor and was following the Association's designated safe route toward the Caspian Sea. It had a movie theater, hot springs, restaurants, and even two helicopter pads on the top deck.
Less than half a day after boarding, Bai Zhu had given the investigation a new name.
Company-funded vacation.
Morel walked past carrying a stack of nautical charts, his steps gradually slowing.
The three crew members responsible for reception, translation, and route coordination were all gathered around Bai Zhu.
Meanwhile, everyone else who was supposed to be entertained could only pour their own water.
"Bai Zhu."
"Hmm?"
"You came here to investigate the Caspian Sea."
"I am investigating."
Chewing on a grape, Bai Zhu raised a hand and pointed into the distance.
"The sea is over there, and the Caspian Sea is over there too. I've been facing the target the whole time. Isn't my attitude proper enough?"
Morel clenched his pipe between his teeth, his cheek twitching several times.
"You've been lying there for two days."
"Conserving my strength."
"You soaked in the hot springs for five hours yesterday."
"Relieving mission stress."
"The day before yesterday, you had the