Comrade Liu Tam-Lin Speaks

 October 24^th, 1970- Today, our regiment was ordered to comb the streets of Nanjing looking for a notorious escaped Black prisoner, who is extremely dangerous to Red families and businesses in the area. After reciting a few poems from the Precious Red Book, we set off from the People’s Civic Centre down Revolution Street, where the convict was rumoured to be. We asked around houses and small businesses for information about his whereabouts. They were helpful for the most part, but I remember there was one store that refused to cooperate. It was a bookseller, of the neutral title Happy Days Books. We would have to inquire about a more Red name after we speak to the owner. We went in and asked to speak to him, in which we were obliged. The owner was a short, chubby man with a Western accent. I asked him if he knew anything about the convict. He said he knew nothing and told us to leave his store. We were aghast. Everyone else we inquired after either gave us useful information or if they didn’t, wished us the best of luck. I, as I was the command leader, ordered him to help us out because we represent and protect the Chinese worker, and the knowledge he gave us would directly improve-or even save- the lives of his peers. Red Guards demand respect, of course. Again, he repeated his order. This was the last straw. Disrespect of an officer of Mao is a serious crime. So we clubbed him a few times with our truncheons and tore through his store, ripping books to pieces. We took his counterrevolutionary sign down, too. Such action is extreme, but it is all necessary if China is to be rid of the Black menace. We did not find the convict today. I pray to Mao we will tomorrow.