Li Qun sits with his arms crossed, frowning at the document on the desk in front of him.
LI QUN
So the meat goes straight onto the stones?
ASIGEN
That’s right. It’s sliced super thin, so when you put it on the hot stone –
LI QUN
And it’s cooked?
ASIGEN
Yes! The stone’s so hot, the meat’s done in minutes. A sprinkle of salt, a pinch of chilli powder. Delicious.
LI QUN
Is that sanitary?
ASIGEN
Way cleaner than a regular kitchen. Plus it’s super eco-friendly. Everything’s natural, from kitchen to table.
LI QUN
You don’t see that every day.
ASIGEN
That’s how we grill meat where I’m from. Mongolians have been eating this way for a thousand years. When you’re out on the plains, you just need a pile of stones, and that’s your kitchen.
LI QUN
It’s like something from another world.
ASIGEN
Yes, can’t you see people going crazy for this? But that’s not even the best bit. Guess what the best bit is?
A silence. Li Qun realises that Asigen is waiting for him to ask the question.
LI QUN
What’s the best bit?
ASIGEN
The best bit is, the meat doesn’t just look and taste great, it sizzles! (He hisses, szzzr!) Doesn’t that make your mouth water?
Li Qun frowns and looks back down at the document. Asigen stands and keeps talking.
ASIGEN
I know you must be wondering, when did this become the Department of Dining? You’re the Committee for Global Ecological Balance and Environmental Promotion. What’s grilled meat got to do with you? Well it absolutely does. Do you know how much meat the Chinese get through every day? (He clearly does not remember the actual figure and presses on quickly.)
More than anyone could count! You know how much natural gas we consume cooking all that meat? Even more! If my plan is approved, think how much natural gas we could save to use for more important things. Now, to be clear, this will be a major undertaking /
LI QUN
But wait why Yong Le Island?
ASIGEN
Ah well now you’ve got to the point.
Asigen walks to the whiteboard and points at the map.
ASIGEN
Yong Le is a small island not far from the equator in the south of China. It’s a pearl of a place. It absorbs the finest that the earth has to offer and mingles the essences of river and sea. Because of its unique location, the sun shines fiercely throughout the year, and the rocks remain hot enough to cook meat on. Because just to finish what I said earlier. This will be a major undertaking, starting with grilling meat, then when the temperature rises some more, we can proceed with Operation Ocean Hotpot.
LI QUN
Ocean hotpot? (He flips through the document.) You didn’t mention that in your proposal.
ASIGEN
I left it out for now – we haven’t reached the ideal temperature yet.
LI QUN
Ideal temperature?!
ASIGEN
I’ve spoken to quite a few experts who all said in about thirty years surface temperatures on Yong Le Island will be high enough that the rocks will make the sea around them boil. You could sit by the shore with the Pacific Ocean for your hotpot. Doesn’t that sound like a dream? Think about it. Seawater bubbling away. No need to add salt or seasoning. Just swirl your meat, and there you go. Small outlay, big return.
(Remembering his pitch, he changes his tone.) Do you know how many people in China eat hotpot each day, and how much natural gas that uses up? / If you were to divert that gas to other uses –
LI QUN
(Raising a hand.) I have to stop you there. There are all kinds of holes in your plan. I don’t want to go on about it / but the main problem –
ASIGEN
Holes? I spoke to a whole load of experts / and they said –
LI QUN
(Raising his voice.) The main problem is what you said a moment ago. ‘The ideal temperature’. It sounds like your grand plan isn’t to stop climate change or save the environment. In fact, this plan could only be implemented if the climate keeps deteriorating. You want things to get worse.
ASIGEN
(Momentarily stunned.) You . . . you’ve misunderstood /
LI QUN
Oh? What have I misunderstood? You said yourself, in thirty years when Yong Le Island reaches ‘the ideal temperature’ the ocean will turn into a hotpot. You want to turn the Pacific into your very own hotpot restaurant. Tell me, which bit have I misunderstood?
Asigen steps away from the map, pacing the room a couple of times before returning to his seat.
ASIGEN
You’ve got it in for me, don’t you.
LI QUN
I’m just doing my job – following the rules.
ASIGEN
I know how it is. Like anyone would believe a guy like me could come up with a plan to save the environment.
LI QUN
I promise you, the committee only looks at two things: how feasible a proposal is, and what it could actually do for the environment.
ASIGEN
I may not be book-smart, but I’m telling you the truth. Ever since I was a child, I’ve had this knack for protecting the environment.
LI QUN
Oh, really?
ASIGEN
No matter where I go, all I have to do is take a sip of the local water, swirl it around (he gargles) and I can taste what’s missing, or what there’s too much of. I might not know the whole periodic table by heart, but my mouth knows what’s what. Call it a talent.
LI QUN
Some talent.
ASIGEN
Why does everything you say sound sarcastic?
LI QUN
You’re imagining things (looking at his watch). Anyway, let’s get back to your proposal (flipping through the document). This is your third application?
ASIGEN
Yes. I suppose it’s all recorded there.
LI QUN
Let’s see (still flipping). Your first one was . . . to install a giant filter over the entire city of Beijing?
ASIGEN
Exactly. A dome, with a membrane to keep out pollution from neighbouring cities, that would take carbon dioxide and bond it with chlorophyll to release oxygen. A perfectly balanced air circulation system.
LI QUN
Bold idea. Why wasn’t it approved?
ASIGEN
Someone on the committee thought it wasn’t socialist enough.
LI QUN
(A little anxious.) Quite right, you should definitely work on improving your awareness in that area.
ASIGEN
Sure, but my plan was bigger than that. Beijing was just the start. If it worked, I’d have expanded the dome to cover the whole country.
LI QUN
(Flipping through the document.) And your second proposal was . . . (he looks up at Asigen) installing pumps along the Himalayas to capture glacier meltwater?
ASIGEN
The Himalayan glaciers are melting! The Himalayas, Mr Li! Can you believe that? The roof of the world, and its underpants are melting off. How is this happening? When I first read about it, I lay awake night after night until I had a solution (he goes back to the map and gestures frantically at the Himalayas). The melted ice flows down here. If we intercept it, we could pump it back up to the peaks. It’s cooler there, so the water would freeze back into glaciers. That’s how we’d save the Himalayas.
Li Qun starts to speak, but Asigen stops him.
ASIGEN
I know what you’re about to say. You’re right, the water pump would burn fossil fuels too. But sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils, and preserving the Himalayas is still more urgent.
LI QUN
Actually, I was going to ask why this proposal was rejected.
ASIGEN
The committee said the Himalayas don’t belong to us (he points at the map). Look – India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan. Getting them all to agree would be a nightmare. That’s reasonable. I should have thought of that myself.
LI QUN
(A pause.) I must admit, your current proposal is significantly more feasible than the previous two.
ASIGEN
Brilliant! You’re far-sighted, Mr Li.
LI QUN
However, we’ve received other proposals that are, frankly, even more attractive.
Asigen senses that things are not going well. His spirits droop, and he returns to his seat.
ASIGEN
More attractive?
LI QUN
Take this one, for example. (He pulls a folder from the stack on his right.) It’s a plan for the National Taoist Association to ration incense and candle offerings across the country.
ASIGEN
Huh?
LI QUN
Under this plan, every Taoist temple in China would limit or even ban the burning of incense and candles.
ASIGEN
So Taoists would have to stop making offerings to reduce emissions? How would Lao Zi feel about that?
LI QUN
Mind your words, Mr Asigen. I’ll ask you to bear in mind that this country staunchly supports freedom of religion.
ASIGEN
I mean if the Taoist priests themselves are willing to stop burning incense, of course that’s fine. But what about regular people visiting the temples?
LI QUN
Taoism teaches that ‘Heaven and Humanity are one’. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. It’s a classic tenet – no Heaven, no Humanity.
Do you know how many Taoist temples there are in this country? More than two thousand. Reducing their emissions would be a significant achievement.
ASIGEN
I see. And with the Taoist priests leading the way, the Buddhist monks would rush to follow, right? Clever move.
LI QUN
No need for sarcasm. Compared to your dome or pump ideas, this proposal requires a tiny amount of funding and would deliver a huge benefit. Plus, it would be a distinctly Chinese solution to the global crisis.
ASIGEN
How come?
LI QUN
Because only China has Taoist temples.
ASIGEN
But if we didn’t, there’d never have been incense to burn in the first place.
LI QUN
Now you’re just splitting hairs.
ASIGEN
I’m confused. My plan gives people a choice. Why go with one that forces them against their will?
LI QUN
Look how dire the situation is. If we didn’t need to push people to act against their will, would this department even exist?
ASIGEN
Now who’s splitting hairs.
Li Qun glances at his watch and begins tidying the papers on his desk, returning them to a neat stack on the right.
ASIGEN
Look, I know you get off work soon, but can’t you give me a few more minutes?
Li Qun ignores him, and keeps tidying.
ASIGEN
I was born in Inner Mongolia. You know the sort of place, vast grasslands. That Inner Mongolia. Although there isn’t much grass left these days. Still vast. There was a children’s song I sang as a boy: How beautiful the plains of Mongolia, wind parts the grass and reveals the cattle. I was always confused. How could the grass be so tall that you’d only see the cattle when the wind blew it aside? You’d have to walk miles just to find grass that reached your ankles. I asked my mum where the grass in the song was, and why we didn’t graze our sheep there. She said the song was just a song. If it were the truth, it would be a news report, not a children’s song.
LI QUN
I wasn’t going to say anything, Mr Asigen, but now you’re going on about children’s songs and your mother, I do start to wonder.
ASIGEN
Wonder about what?
LI QUN
It’s clear from these proposals that you have a vivid imagination.
ASIGEN
That’s what my friends tell me.
LI QUN
No question about it. But do you understand that what we’re facing is a climate emergency? This is a huge issue. All of humanity needs to act.
ASIGEN
Of course I understand. That’s why I’m doing what I can to contribute.
LI QUN
Honestly, I’m not sure you’re taking this seriously.
ASIGEN
I’m an extrovert! I like to joke around. Don’t be fooled by my face – I’m a serious guy.
LI QUN
Looking at your CV (he glances down), you’ve worked in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Tianjin. If we don’t curb carbon emissions, scientists say those cities won’t exist by the end of this century.
ASIGEN
I’ve seen that report.
LI QUN
Then you ought to see how urgent this problem is! The Americans have given up on the world. It’s up to us now.
ASIGEN
I’ve heard about that too. Rising temperatures won’t hurt the US much. They’re far enough north that a few degrees won’t hurt them. They know exactly what they’re doing.
LI QUN
It’s irresponsible to indulge in malicious speculation, Mr Asigen. We Chinese have always held up our virtue on shoulders of iron. Those who are capable are called upon to serve the world.
ASIGEN
Absolutely right. That’s why I’m here, trying to do my bit. I want to travel thousands of miles to some tiny southern island, to contribute what I can. I care about our planet’s future.
LI QUN
From where I’m standing, it seems you’re mostly thinking of your bottom line.
ASIGEN
I’m disappointed that you’d think that of me.
LI QUN
If you were sitting where I am, Mr Asigen, you’d be more than disappointed. The earth is on fire, and the only thing you people think about is how you can turn that to your advantage. Do you not understand what a climate catastrophe is? It’s the most significant act of terrorism being carried out in the world today. It’s unprecedented. Every person living on this planet today should be terrified. But what have they done instead?
ASIGEN
(After some thought.) You think people are ducking the issue?
LI QUN
Exactly. They’ve done nothing.
ASIGEN
That’s a bit harsh. Even a guy like me knows this is happening, and aren’t there meetings about this every other day now?
LI QUN
You’re from China, you should know better than anyone – meetings don’t solve problems. Look, I’m not here to discuss bureaucracy with you. I’m just saying, most people think the truth is black and white, but really it’s in full colour.
ASIGEN
Full colour? I have no idea what you’re talking about.
LI QUN
People are afraid of colour. Fear turns into denial. The collective unconsciousness of humanity will fall apart as the planet continues heating up.
ASIGEN
My god.
LI QUN
What?
ASIGEN
The world is doomed, and you have the nerve to lecture me about philosophy.
Li Qun stands angrily and checks his watch.
ASIGEN
Don’t blame me. I really have no idea what you’re trying to say.
LI QUN
(Still standing.) I might as well tell you directly. The committee has decided to reject your proposal. I wanted to give you the opportunity to expand on your ideas in person, but nothing you’ve said today will make me recommend they change their minds. Just like the previous two times, you’ll receive the decision in the post within fifteen working days.
ASIGEN
(A brief pause.) Could you tell me the reason for this decision?
LI QUN
The letter will explain.
ASIGEN
I want you to say it to my face.
LI QUN
(A brief pause.) Your proposal is full of contradictions. Let’s take the most basic example. There’s no agriculture on Yong Le Island. All the food would have to be shipped in from the nearest port, and guess what? Ships burn fuel. In the end, more carbon would be emitted than saved. Is that clear enough? And that’s not even the biggest issue.
ASIGEN
What’s that?
LI QUN
Yong Le itself is a low-lying reef. According to our forecasts, if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, the island will be underwater in thirty years. By the time we’ve reached what your experts call ‘the ideal temperature’, the island will be submerged.
Aisgen slumps in his chair. A long silence.
LI QUN
I guess your experts didn’t mention that.
ASIGEN
The precious pearl . . . underwater . . .
LI QUN
(Glancing at his watch.) And now, if you don’t mind, Mr Asigen, I’m done for the day.
Asigen nods, picks up his briefcase and stands to leave. He takes a few steps, then hesitates.
ASIGEN
Actually, Mr Li, I hadn’t finished that story about my mum. Just a few minutes more, I promise.
LI QUN
I stopped you earlier because I couldn’t see what your mum had to do with global climate catastrophe.
ASIGEN
Mr Li, I’m guessing you’ve spent all your life in the city. You turn on the tap, and there’s drinking water. You walk into a supermarket and the shelves are stocked with food. Of course, you can’t see the connection. You’ve never sat on dry, cracked earth not knowing what to do. Staring at your parched cattle, with no grass to eat. Hoping for even a minute of rain. Wishing your tears, or the blood from your wrists, could water that soil.
LI QUN
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted. Please, go on.
ASIGEN
We herders travel to find water and grassland. One year, my mum, my sister and I herded more than a hundred sheep and dozens of horses for three days and nights, looking for pasture. We moved as fast as we could, but when we finally reached the riverbed, it was dry. There was no grass to be seen. The animals were so hungry they gnawed at withered roots and tried to eat pebbles. My sister and I sat down and burst into tears. (He pauses, collecting himself.)
My mum hugged us and told us the story of Yong Le Island. She said, My son, our motherland is enormous and contains all manner of things, not just this patch of grassland. To the south, near the equator, there’s an island called Yong Le. It absorbs the finest the earth has to offer, and mingles the river and sea. The pearl of our southern coast. It’s surrounded by sea, and rains all the time, so it never dries out. People who live there must be so happy.
(Another pause.) I’m a coward, Mr Li. I ran away because I wanted to live like you city folk. Turn on the tap for water, go to the supermarket for food. I abandoned my mother and sister to that withered grassland, and came here by myself. Men are no good – we leave women behind to face the parched earth alone.
LI QUN
(A pause.) I shouldn’t have stopped you. I’m sorry.
ASIGEN
That’s fine. I’m used to being ignored.
LI QUN
No one should be used to that.
ASIGEN
You were right earlier – there’s nothing we can count on. We’re always talking about Mother Earth. Not just because she gave birth to us, but because a mother never betrays her children, even when they betray her.
LI QUN
(A pause.) If Yong Le Island means so much to you, why wasn’t it in your first two proposals?
ASIGEN
You’ve misunderstood, Mr Li. It’s not Yong Le Island that’s important to me – or maybe it is now, but there’s a bigger picture. When I was a boy, my teacher used to tell us that the earth is like a person. You can’t just treat the head when you have a headache, or examine just your leg when it hurts. Everything in your body is connected. All I really want is for my mum to see the grasslands, those in the children’s song. If that means putting Beijing under a dome, or installing water pumps along the Himalayas, or developing Yong Le Island, then that’s what I’ll do. That’s the connection between my mum and the climate. (He pauses, smiling bitterly, then starts to exit.) All underwater. Sorry to have wasted your time. Goodbye.
LI QUN
Wait a minute.
Asigen stops and turns back to look at him. Li Qun hesitates for a moment, then sits down and gestures for Asigen to do the same.
LI QUN
Please, have a seat.
ASIGEN
Was there something else?
Li Qun takes Asigen’s proposal from the file and flips through it again. Finally, he sets it down.
LI QUN
I’m going to approve your proposal.
ASIGEN
What?
LI QUN
It’s approved.
ASIGEN
Because I told you a story about my mum?
LI QUN
Of course not. The committee takes these decisions very seriously.
ASIGEN
But you said the committee had already decided to reject me.
LI QUN
Over the course of this interview, I realised that your vision had scope for further development.
ASIGEN
But you said my proposal was full of contradictions!
LI QUN
We’ve approved even less orthodox proposals before, some with far bigger issues. We’ll just have to solve the problems as they arise.
ASIGEN
This is so . . . unexpected.
Li Qun gingerly picks up the red cube from his desk, opens it with reverence, and pulls out the red ink stamp. Once more, he glances at his watch.
LI QUN
Don’t just sit there, hand me your proposal so I can give it the stamp of approval.
Asigen opens his briefcase, pulls out the document, and moves to hand it over. Suddenly he seems to think of something. Li Qun reaches for it, but Asigen resists. They tug at it for a moment.
LI QUN
Let go.
ASIGEN
Something about this feels wrong.
LI QUN
We’re putting our trust in you, young man. Don’t waste the opportunity. Time is precious.
ASIGEN
No, this feels all wrong! (He pulls the document back, stands and starts pacing around in a frenzy.) All wrong! We spent so much time talking nonsense, and by the end, I was convinced my proposal was ridiculous. You – you keep looking at your watch! Are you approving my proposal just so you can head home? You’re a committee member! An expert! How can your only thought be about knocking off work? We’re about to be underwater . . . Do you know how this makes me feel?
LI QUN
How?
ASIGEN
No one believes we can actually change anything! No one, not a single person! You least of all! You think the whole world is made up of bastards who don’t care what happens to the next generation, and nutcases with wild ideas, like me. Yes, I’m sure of it – you don’t actually believe we can prevent climate catastrophe.
LI QUN
(Putting the ink stamp down on the table.) Please calm down, Mr Asigen. Look – (he glances at his watch) – I’m still here, well past the end of my workday, patiently listening to you talk.
ASIGEN
You hold the rubber stamp, but you don’t believe in anything. Every day, children are taught that the hole in the ozone layer is getting bigger and that we need to reduce emissions, but the air-con in every city in the world is turned up so high we’re freezing to death! No one believes we can actually change /
LI QUN
(Loudly.) Mr Asigen!
Startled, Asigen freezes. Li Qun stands.
LI QUN
You think you’re the only one who cares about this planet? That only your grand plan can save the earth? Sure, a lot of what you say is true, but you don’t get to accuse the rest of us of giving up. Because that’s not the case!
ASIGEN
(A pause.) Very good.
LI QUN
What?
ASIGEN
So you can still get angry. That’s very good. It makes you seem more like a real person.
LI QUN
What do you mean by that?
ASIGEN
I meet people like you all the time – calm, polite, blank-faced. At first, I was surprised – it seemed to me as if you lot had never lost your temper, or gotten into a real argument. You’d never had to persuade anyone of anything. Gradually, I started to realise: it’s because you’ve never needed to lose your temper or persuade anyone about anything. That makes you a rubber stamp, not a real person.
LI QUN
Stop saying ‘you lot’ and ‘them’. When it comes to climate change, there’s only one group of people, and that’s ‘us’.
ASIGEN
That sounds very moving, but Mr Li, if ‘you lot’ don’t support ‘us’, we can’t do much to change things.
LI QUN
I may be one of ‘them’ to you, but not to the people above me.
ASIGEN
‘I’, ‘them’, ‘you’ . . . You’ve lost me.
LI QUN
Forget it. The point is, not everyone has given up.
ASIGEN
Have you?
LI QUN
In my own way, no.
ASIGEN
What way is that?
LI QUN
If I’d given up, you wouldn’t even have had the chance to step through that door. But it’s true, I don’t believe in very much. I did once.
ASIGEN
What changed?
LI QUN
Everything. Every day, I come to work, and go through these proposals. So many figures, so many plans. We’ve planted this many trees, reduced emissions by that much, launched however many schemes. That’s my world: documents, and numbers and faces. After a while, it makes me feel . . .
ASIGEN
Like there might be hope for the world?
LI QUN
The opposite. I have to force myself to believe. The data’s there. We’re working hard. We haven’t broken faith with this planet. But I see no sign of faith. Everything is slow and calm, even the despair is slow and calm. Like someone with cancer who knows he’s dying but keeps smoking and drinking, hoping for a miracle.
Sometimes I panic because I realize that everyone’s just pretending to work hard, performing a role to mask their terror. It’s not apathy that’s laying waste to us, it’s our faithlessness.
ASIGEN
So you’re just playing a role too?
LI QUN
Sometimes I am. And sometimes I can’t tell.
ASIGEN
What about right now? Are you acting?
LI QUN
Acting what?
ASIGEN
Acting the part of someone powerful believing that someone powerless might be able to save the world.
LI QUN
I’m not powerful, and you’re not powerless. Power isn’t in a rubber stamp – it’s in your actions. And no, I’m not acting.
ASIGEN
But you changed your mind so quickly . . .
LI QUN
Let’s put it this way. The reason I approved your proposal is simple: I believe in you.
ASIGEN
You believe in me? What’s there to believe in, an uneducated person like me?
LI QUN
Educated people are mostly not to be trusted.
ASIGEN
My proposal is still full of holes.
LI QUN
There are numerous ways to plug holes in science. But once a person loses faith, nothing can repair that.
ASIGEN
I’ve never met a committee member like you, Mr Li. You’re odd.
LI QUN
Not as odd as you. Honestly, looking at you, I see myself when I was young. Full of weird, impractical ideas.
ASIGEN
Really?
LI QUN
You think every single person with a rubber stamp was born a bureaucrat? Yet you have what we all lack. You have faith, and the desire for change, and a powerful emotional motivation. Protect those. Everything else is secondary.
ASIGEN
(Delighted.) Thank you, Mr Li!
LI QUN
And I can introduce you to some more orthodox experts. They’ll help make your proposal more practical.
Asigen hands over the form, and Li Qun looks it over.
LI QUN
Your thinking may be a little eccentric, but I like proposals like yours.
ASIGEN
I feel like you’re just using me to shake things up. But that doesn’t matter – as long as you approve this.
LI QUN
They frequently turn down proposals I’ve approved, but I have a feeling we’re not too far from real change.
ASIGEN
Do you think I should open with my mum’s story next time?
LI QUN
Honestly, I don’t think that tactic would be effective with anyone else.
ASIGEN
You know, Mr Li, grilling meat on Yong Le Island’s hot stones is just the first step in my plan. My ultimate goal is to make the island prosperous, and maybe even transport their surplus rain to the drought zone of Inner Mongolia. For instance, a giant fan to blow all the rainclouds inland . . . No, wait, even better:
Let’s set up some machines in the most polluted cities to absorb carbon dioxide, which we’ll filter and compress. Then we’ll hire a few of Elon Musk’s rockets, and shoot the carbon right into space. Poof! Just like that, no more worries about exceeding our carbon quota. How about it, Mr Li? Why not approve all these ideas at once, and we can change the world together.
LI QUN
One step at a time.
Li Qun reverentially holds the ink stamp high, slowly brings it down on Asigen’s proposal, then returns it to its red box. He holds up the proposal, blows on it to dry the ink, and hands it to Asigen with both hands. Asigen stands and respectfully takes it with both hands.
LI QUN
I hope you won’t disappoint the committee, Mr Asigen. We hope that you’ll make a measurable contribution to improving the climate of the region.
ASIGEN
You can count on me, Mr Li! So, what’s next?
LI QUN
What’s next with what?
ASIGEN
Now that my proposal’s been approved, what happens?
LI QUN
You’ll need to submit more detailed materials for the next level of committee members to review. There’ll be more stringent evaluations later. Be ready for those. Someone else might express doubt about your proposal at any stage, or even turn it down.
ASIGEN
(As if he hasn’t heard.) I’m going to Yong Le Island . . .
LI QUN
You’ll continue adding to your submission materials, and they’ll be sent for a final review.
ASIGEN
And then it’s done.
LI QUN
If you pass the final review, the committee will send it to the central bureau to be audited, and they’ll grant ultimate approval.
ASIGEN
And after that, it’s done?
LI QUN
Then, yes, you can take your proposal to Yong Le Island, where the local government will put it through their own evaluation process.
ASIGEN
And then it’s done?
LI QUN
Once the local government has granted permission, you can take all these documents and go develop Yong Le Island.
ASIGEN
This sounds like quite a long process.
LI QUN
You need to be in less of a hurry, young man. What did I just say? One step at a time, one step at a time.
ASIGEN
I understand that, I’m just a bit worried. What if the climate deteriorates even faster than we’re predicting /
LI QUN
It won’t. No need to question the process.
ASIGEN
Got it. One step at a time. How long do you think it will be before I can go to Yong Le Island?
LI QUN
Soon, I daresay. Very soon.
Asigen holds his proposal high. Both men simultaneously look up at it. Lights fade. Final spot on the proposal. A moment’s pause. Blackout.
Image © NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
