Forbidden City

The Chinese Press and Western Press begin to spar on the details of what is going on in Tiananmen Square. The city is abuzz with terrifying excitement. Again, the soldiers show up in the square. This time, the interaction between the soldiers and the people is not demur. They shout at the soldiers. They wave their arms and shout demands. The soldiers, Alex thinks, look “tough. And mad” (95). It wasn’t a game this time. And yet again, they retreat, much to Alex’s bewilderment.

Confrontation between troops and students begin in earnest. Alex describes himself as “grounded” because for once he is not able to talk Ted and Eddie into letting him accompany them into the square to see what’s going on with the demonstrations. Instead, they tell Alex he should stay at the hotel with Lao Xu. They promise to correspond with him over the two-way radio.

The two men take separate locations and spy distinct types of activity, both of which they related to Alex, who franticly writes down what they are seeing. Soldiers push their way through the crowd, swinging clubs at anyone in their way. Tear gas is used in an attempt to disperse the crowd.