The Fish Merchant — Tobias S. Buckell

Li Hao-Chang lives a humble life in Macau as a street vendor. But his life is about to get turned upside down by the realization that alien life will soon contact Earth.

As shadowy operatives play a dangerous game in Li's streets in the days leading up to the event, Li will find he has an important part to play in the shadows of one of the greatest events in human history.

This story was originally published in the magazine Science Fiction Age in 2000. It features the first appearance of Pepper, who is also featured in the novels Crystal Rain, Ragamuffin, and Sly Mongoose.