residents of China [2.]. But just as China fears independent Taiwanese women, Australia fears independent Chinese women [3.], but perhaps our power simply isn't soft enough. In Britain people drink too much hard liquor [4.], so why should they be called powerful when they're weak as fuck? We can do better. Independence can be a nationality, my state a heaven: power softer than ever like hands flowers unfolding like olive branches you only need put a single finger on, and that's for greater good than a simple metal ring for a desperate "leftover woman [5.]". So when will our time come for independence, with fingers crossed second hands that play with time like the only material goods (strongly impressive ticking material) with real value? Is time wet? Soft itself? Our time has come. Crosses are for religious stimulation through careful penetration with acceptable penetrating deliberation.
'Hesitation is dependence on conformity. If soft power's weak at the knees, I'm here to promote the weak majority. Maybe the promotion of soft power can be built around the promotion of soft drugs, as gateway drugs to complete recovery, on the search for the softest substance of treaties imaginable: words on love and acceptance. But Chinese luminaries are ordered to be emotionless when confronted with evidence of persistent Chinese autocracy and human rights violations [1.]. Drugs may be necessary, so that they can be happy and free and understanding, but only until they find love because love is the best drug. And they mustn't drink so much that they get depressed or angry, they just need to be tipsy and talkative.
'The Chinese and British both need soft drugs, and dealers need to meet halfway in Russia: the "leftover women [5.]", the Chinese luminaries, and up-and-coming young and independent and furtive Brits looking to China for an alternative to alcohol and the iPhone, looking for soft whispers, and a new, mystical, enigmatic, and fantastical eastern atmosphere that stretches for over eleven leftover roads and tracks, for heaven's sake (that's better figurative saké), as she rises in the morning to rule over a new, pulsating, soft world. But how can Russia be a safe bridge when ice is slippery when vodka?
'What is the right soft drug for rebellion? The Brits and Chinese all need it. What can make them talk? And what about productivity? What more can the Brits and Chinese accomplish in Russia Twenty Twenty? What about summit tourism, so unofficial summits can be held by average people so long as some Chinese luminaries are in attendance? It's unofficial (like products made in China) so being powerful is not too hard (it's not callous if you guide, say, Indian undergrounds to China with soft hands rather than ruling India with an iron fist). It can be emotional instead. Take drugs; points; notes; note. Many pregnant women in developing countries need just a little more iron. But just a little. Not the fist. Now, again, what drug is soft enough to form an inviting vacuum, to suck in people from all reaches of the globe, creeds, and Chinese luminaries' fame, without hardening their hearts? How can people thrive on discussion rather than superiority? And work for pleasure better than they travel. Where are the leftover drugs? The forgotten drugs? The hidden, underground, roots of all affection? Some people get it. And good momentary abstractions born of attraction of powers that be shouldn't be all there is for the rest of us. We need deep sleep [7.], both independent and sober, to be really deeply woke. Dreams to really live. Soft, beautiful, wet vulvae to sink into, satisfactorily, gracefully, fluidly, slowly, moments more than momentary, momentum, mindful madness, measurable in moans, memorable, monolithic magnetism to meet the electricity (making multiferroic material [6.] of substance). Find just the right amount of iron. Ohhh! Got it! Ohhhh!' - Gao is touching herself.
Matt has been speechless forever.
Gao opens her eyes.
'Breath,' Matt says, watching her eyes from several metres away. 'Natural breath is the answer.'
'To what?' Gao asks.
Matt smiles and sighs.
'You asked a question in your sleep,' Matt says. 'It was the longest, most powerful, and profoundly beautiful question I'd ever heard posed.'
'Did you record it?'
Matt shakes his head.
They both look up.
_____________________
References
1 Wall Street Journal, China Has a Soft-Power Problem, https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-has-a-soft-power-problem-11567696212, ["This year, authorities prevented most Chinese movies from showing at festivals abroad, because in 2018 at Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Horse Film Festival for Chinese-language productions, a documentary award winner extolled Taiwanese independence. Mainland luminaries in attendance got texts ordering them to show no emotion, avoid the parties and return home at once."]
2 QUARTZ, In one metric of diversity, China comes in dead last, https://qz.com/1163632/china-still-has-the-smallest-share-of-incoming-migrants-in-the-world/, ["...only about 10,000 foreigners have been granted the Chinese “green cards,” which allow permanent stay."; "...an aging population will mean pressure to open up."]
3 Financial Review, The problem with China’s soft power: it doesn't have any, https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/the-problem-with-china-s-soft-power-it-doesn-t-have-any-20190716-p527ld, ["The engagement of agents of influence, bribery, co-opting patriotic students, is sharp power. That these are the main instruments at hand for the Chinese state operating in Australia suggests that China’s soft power is badly wanting."; "Australia should for its own cultural enrichment embrace Chinese traditional soft power and contemporary arts. It need not fear state-sponsored intimidation, propaganda and attempts to interfere with academic freedom. Australia’s institutions are strong and its people sensible enough to resist."]
4 The Economist, Drinking is going out of style, https://worldin.economist.com/edition/2020/article/17315/drinking-going-out-style, ["In a generation or two, drinking in rich countries could look démodé. Until then, alcohol will remain one of the most expensive public-health and productivity problems. Official estimates reckon that alcohol shaves 1.3-2.7% off Britain’s GDP."]
5 BBC News, Emotional advert about China's 'leftover women' goes viral, https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-35994366
6 New Scientist, Exotic super magnets could shake up medicine, cosmology and computing, https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432580-500-exotic-super-magnets-could-shake-up-medicine-cosmology-and-computing/
7 Canadian Living, Sleep, Missing Out on Sleep is No Joke. Here's How it Affects Your Body, https://www.canadianliving.com/health/sleep/article/missing-out-on-sleep-is-no-joke-here-s-how-it-affects-your-body
8 Vera Blue - Lady Powers ft. Kodie Shane, https://youtu.be/SX9nvO8wL2g
9 Stacie Orrico - (There's Gotta Be) More To Life [Official Video], https://youtu.be/wUOcQnWbk_U
10 Niall Horan - Slow Hands (Lyric Video), https://youtu.be/nBmNcLBaPUE
Back Again
Gao puts on a mouth mask as she simultaneously removes her eye mask. Only half her face is ever visible at once.
'You think that the smell of bad breath is a drug?' Gao asks. 'What if it smells like the Rafflesia [1.] flower of Indonesia?'
Matt shrugs: 'So long as it's breath and not an actual rotting corpse then I think that would be nice.'
'I almost feel like my head's in two pieces, the way only half is visible at once,' Gao says. 'So maybe my breath smells like divisiveness, but I can begin to mentally see the beauty of an open mouth if I close my eyes.' - Gao laughs.
'You had a nice sleep then?' Matt asks.
'That's
