Page 191 - SpontaneousSuccessFINAL6

SPONTANEOUS SUCCESS
from the Walled City of Kowloon, British Hong Kong's
most notorious district. They called it the City of
Darkness; it was the most densely crowded place on
earth and the home of the local triad gangs.”
"Wow, Tomaz,” Frankie interrupted. ”Sounds
terrifying?"
“Indeed it was. Early one morning, I’m in a teashop,
making notes in shorthand, and minding my own
business when the security police grabbed me,
confiscated this very journal, carted me off and accused
me of being a spy.”
“What’s shorthand?” Paul asked.
Thomas turned the book to face Paul and pointed to
the page. “This is.”
"Back in my journalism days, we didn't have
recorders or smartphones. Shorthand was our go-to trick
for taking notes and capturing quotes. But the Hong
Kong authorities thought I was using some secret spy
language. Sound familiar?
Paul nodded and shrugged.
“I couldn't believe what was happening. I’d just been
enjoying a cup of Jasmine tea and asking a few
questions.”
“And did they buy it?”
191