Chapter Thirteen
The handbook of the strategist has said:
‘Do not invite the fight, accept it instead,’
‘Better a foot behind than an inch too far ahead,’
Which means—
Look a man straight in the face and make no move,
Roll up your sleeve and clench no fist,
Open your hand and show no weapon,
Bare your breast and find no foe.
But as long as there be a foe, value him,
Respect him, measure him, be humble toward him;
Let him not strip from you, however strong he be,
Compassion, the one wealth which can afford him.
—Lao Tzu
The words of the sage rose in Jie’s mind as he put his arm across Megan’s shoulders and walked toward the doorway where Danny stood. The lang rens were back and it was obvious to everyone involved that Meg was the woman they were looking for. From the moment th
