Jiang and Xiao awoke in each other's arms, sweaty from their nightly workout.

"Remember, we must never tell anyone about the treasures; let's make it our pact."

"May the spirit of the souls living here kill us if we ever tell."

Jiang thought he heard whispering behind him, an acknowledging sound, coming from the tunnel, but he didn't want to alarm Xiao, so he said nothing. It's better to be safe than to worry him.

"Do you think we could go to Shanghai together and then escape to Hong Kong?"

"I didn't want to tell you, but the coach is already making plans for me to swim in Shanghai. He thinks I'll win-all the boys think I'll win."

"But-" Feng stammered, knowing that his lover had neglected to share his good news with him for a reason, "I won't be able to come with you . . . is that it?"

"The whole countryside is looking for you, Xiao. If anyone finds you, God knows what'll happen; they might castrate you or send you to the re-education camp."

"But then how can I escape?"

"I have an idea." Jiang paused, unsure of himself. If I spend too much time helping Xiao, I might jeopardize my career and lose everything, but I want to help Xiao, I can't just leave him here-alone. "If you can raft down the river to Shanghai, we can stowaway to Hong Kong or Sydney and once we're out of China, we'll be free."

"And just how are we going to find a ship?"

"We have to take risks, even if we can't travel to Shanghai together, we'll meet up later-and we'll both be free."

"Do you want me to build a raft and sale a thousand kilometers to Shanghai?"

Jiang slapped Xiao hard across his face. He had never thought of hurting his lover, but now he slapped Xiao hard. Then he stepped back and gazed into Xiao's deep brown eyes, "I love you, Xiao. Don't ever forget that." Jiang stepped forward, grabbed Xiao's shoulders and hugged him fiercely as both boys wept. "We will escape."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At home, Sung Li was corralled into telling his children another story.

"This is the story of the bright pearl, there's a surprise at the end, so listen closely."

All five children settled on the floor at their daddy's feet as Sung Li began reciting another of his favorite stories.

"Long, long ago a snow-white Jade Dragon lived in a rocky cave on the eastern bank of the Celestial River and in the great forest across the river there lived a Golden Phoenix."

"Each morning, the dragon and phoenix met each other before going their different ways. One flew in the sky, while the other swam in the Celestial River."

"Which one flew, Daddy?" Eleven-year-old Sung Tao shouted.

"Both flew, but Daddy's talking about the phoenix," eight-year-old Chin-Yi said, "be quiet, I want to hear the rest of the story."

Sung Li smiled at his children, thinking how handsome they were, how soon they would be married-and of how many grandsons they would produce.

"One day both came to a fairy island, where they found a shining pebble of unsurpassed beauty."

"'Look at this beautiful pebble,' Golden Phoenix told Jade Dragon."

"'Let's carve it into a pearl,' said Jade Dragon."

"Golden Phoenix flapped her wings in agreement and soon they worked as one, carving the pebble day after day, month after month, year after year, until they finally made it into a perfect round ball. In high spirits Golden Phoenix flew to the sacred mountain to gather dewdrops and Jade Dragon carried tons of crystal-clear water from the Celestial River. They sprinkled and washed the ball with dew and water until, gradually, it turned into a dazzling pearl."

"After spending so many years together, Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix became great friends and decided to live together on the fairy island guarding their pearl forever."

"Now, you must hear this: the pearl was a magical pearl and wherever it shone, everything prospered."

"One day, the Queen Mother of Heaven left her palace and saw brilliant rays shining from the beautiful magic pearl. Overwhelmed by the sight, she coveted it, so she sent her fiercest guard to steal it in the middle of the night when its guardians were fast asleep."

"Who were the guardians, Daddy?"

"Jade Dragon and the Golden Phoenix, pay attention and be quiet! Daddy won't finish the story if you keep interrupting."

Sung Li tickled his young son on his chin and continued: "The Queen Mother was so astonished by the pearl's beauty that she decided to keep it hidden inside her palace in the safest place in her realm-behind nine bronze doors."

"When Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix awoke, they discovered the pearl was gone and they searched for it frantically. Jade Dragon looked into every nook and cranny at the bottom of the Celestial River while Golden Phoenix searched everywhere on the sacred mountain, but neither ever found the pearl."

"On the Queen Mother's birthday, all the gods and goddesses came to her palace to offer their congratulations. She prepared a grand feast, entertaining her guests with nectar and peaches, the fruit of immortality, and the gods said, 'May your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Southern Mountain!'"

"Queen Mother was overwhelmed with excitement and declared, 'My dear friends, I want to show you a precious pearl that can be found neither in heaven nor on earth.'"

"She quickly unfastened nine keys from the hem of her dress and unlocked the nine doors one after the other. From the innermost room of her palace she took out the bright pearl, placed it on a golden tray and carried it carefully to the center of the banquet hall, which was instantly lit by the pearl."

"Meanwhile, Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix continued their fruitless search. Suddenly Golden Phoenix saw a bright light high up in the sky. She called Jade Dragon, 'Isn't that the light from our pearl?'"

"Jade Dragon pulled his head from the Celestial River and looked up, 'Yes,' he said, 'there's no doubt about it; that's our pearl, let's get it.'"

"The guardians flew towards the light, which led them to the heavenly palace of the Queen Mother. When they landed, they found the immortals crowding around the pearl, praising it and rubbing their food-stained hands all over it. Pushing through the crowd, Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix shouted together, 'This is our pearl, give it back.'"

"Queen Mother was so enraged by their claim that she shouted, 'I am the mother of the Heavenly Emperor; everything belongs to me! Leave my palace at once!'"

Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix were infuriated by the Queen Mother's remarks and protested, 'Heaven didn't give birth to this pearl, nor was it grown on earth. We spent seven years carving and polishing it; it belongs to us!'"

"Shamed and angry, Queen Mother clutched the pearl and ordered her guards to toss Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix from her palace, but they fought their way back, determined to regain their pearl. The gods and the beasts struggled over the pearl until it slipped off the tray, rolled to the edge of the stairs and sank into the clouds."

"Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix rushed out of the palace, trying to save the pearl from being dashed to pieces. They flew beside the falling pearl, until it slowly landed but when it touched the earth, the pearl turned into a clear, green lake. Jade Dragon and Golden Phoenix could not bear to part from it, so they changed themselves into two mountains, remaining forever by the side of their precious lake. And ever since that time, Jade Dragon Mountain and Golden Phoenix Mountain have quietly stood beside Pearl Lake, protecting her from all enemies."

"That is our lake," Chin-Yi screamed in delight.

"Those are our mountains," Tao screeched.

And is this the first time you've heard this story? Sung Genji wondered to herself as her husband finished re-telling the story for the fiftieth time. Sometimes I think my husband's more of a child than his children. I wonder if that explains his midnight movements; I wonder if that explains why he tosses and turns in his sleep all night long. Is he still living in a child's world? Is he still a child?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hon-Kee braved a kiss. It was his first kiss and he couldn't resist Deng An any longer. It was just a simple peck, but within moments, Deng Soo-Ting, An's mother, caught them and boxed Hon-Kee across his right ear.

"Thank the gods I caught you before my husband did," Soo-Ting screamed. Then she paused for a moment, reflecting her own adolescence, remembering the first time she had kissed a boy. "Scoot boy, we don't want An's father to find out about this, okay?" She winked at her daughter and future son-in-law, "And for the time being I'll pretend I didn't see anything. Now, go home." Soo-Ting grinned broadly, giggling more from her own memories than because of her daughter's infatuation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Xiao and Jiang broke their hug. "Nothing could be worse than living without you, Jiang, nothing."

"I agree," Jiang whispered tenderly, "if we escape, we can live together forever, but if we stay in China, we'll have to marry women." As soon as he closed his mouth, he was sorry. He didn't want to hurt Xiao, but he knew it was true, even though Xiao would never accept it, he knew it was true.

Jiang broke down, hugging the only person he ever wanted, praying he could be with Xiao forever, but knowing he could not. "Oh, God, why do I love you so? Why do I think about you all night long? Even when I'm with Mei, I think of you. It's not normal, it's just not normal."

Xiao grabbed Jiang and hugged him tightly. "Maybe it is normal, Jiang, maybe for some of us loving another man is a perfectly normal." Feng Xiao kissed Jiang gently on his lips, hugging him, holding him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Far away, in Feng Xiao's village, XiaoXiao slept fitfully. She saw the spirit of Meng Jiangnu searching for her husband, Wan Xiliang, and in Jiangnu's hand were two bowls, one heaped high with food, the other overflowed with water. Meng sang as she hurried to find Xiliang, even though her shoes were broken and her feet bled, she seemed happy because she knew she would find her husband. Jiangnu thanked the gods for the food and water, knowing it would be sufficient to sustain them both on their journey home. Meng sang joyously as her voice rippled up and down Jade and Phoenix Mountains.


My husband, my love, my lover, my man,
I come for you, I come for you.
Be patient my dearest one,
I come for you, I come for you.
With a bowl of never-ending water,
I come for you, I come for you.
With a bowl of unending food,
I come for you, I come for you.

Meng cried tears of happiness as she hurried to find her husband. The goddess had been kind to her by providing her with the magic bowls so, in her joy, Meng sang a song to the goddess who had helped her on her way, knowing her husband, knowing she and Xiliang would soon be free.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

XiaoXiao awoke refreshed from her nap. She knew Xiao would be safe now. No matter what happened, no matter what the police might do, he would be safe.

XiaoXiao fell back to sleep and dreamt she saw her grandson eating and drinking from the magic bowls and a soft sweet smile consumed her; Xiao was safe; the gods would protect him just as they had protected Meng Jiangnu.


On to Chapter Nineteen
Follow the Leader
Back to Chapter Seventeen
The Last Free Soul
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