Chang cleared his throat nervously, suppressing the urge to hawk and 
spit—an activity Judge Fang had barred in his courtroom. He turned 
sideways and backed up one step, allowing Judge Fang to view one of the 
spectators: a young girl, perhaps four years old, sitting with her feet up on 
the chair so that her face was blocked by her knees. Judge Fang heard the sound 
of a page turning and realized that the girl was reading a book propped up on 
her thighs. She cocked her head this way and that, talking to the book in a 
tiny voice.