As Xi approaches, the thick line of men moves into a formation. They create an impenetrable dividing line between his dressing room and ours, one that stretches all the way down the hall to the entrance. A human Chinese wall. President Xi is so obscured that he doesn’t even have to risk making eye contact with Mark. The troops are now still and silent enough that we can hear Xi’s footsteps as he goes by. Soon he’s safely ensconced in his dressing room and the door is shut, and the
