CHAPTER III
The Degraded Persistence of the Effete Ming-shu
At about the same gong-stroke as before, Kai Lung again stood at theopen shutter, and to him presently came the maiden Hwa-mei, bearing inher hands a gift of fruit.
"The story of the much-harassed merchant Wong Ts'in and of theassiduous youth Wei Chang has reached this person's ears by a deviousroad, and though it doubtless lost some of the subtler qualities inthe telling, the ultimate tragedy had a convincing tone," she remarkedpleasantly.
"It is scarcely to be expected that one who has spent his life beneathan official umbrella should have at his command the finer analogies oflight and shade," tolerantly replied Kai Lung. "Though by no meanscomparable with the unapproachable history of the Princess Taik andthe minstrel Ch'eng as a means for conveying the unexpressedaspirations of the one who relates towards the one who is receptive,there are many passages even in the behaviour of Wei Chang into whichthis person could infuse an unmistakable stress of significance werehe but given the opportunity."
"The day of that opportunity has not yet dawned," replied the GoldenMouse; "nor has the night preceding it yet run its gloomy course.Foiled in his first attempt, the vindictive Ming-shu now creepstowards his end by a more tortuous path. Whether or not dimlysuspecting something of the strategy by which your imperishable lifewas preserved to-day, it is no part of his depraved scheme that youshould be given a like opportunity again. To-morrow another will beled to judgment, one Cho-kow, a tribesman of the barbarian land ofKhim."
"With him I have already conversed and shared rice," interposed KaiLung. "Proceed, elegance."
"Accused of plundering mountain tombs and of other crimes now held indisrepute, he will be offered a comparatively painless death if hewill implicate his fellows, of whom you will be held to be the chief.By this ignoble artifice you will be condemned on his testimony inyour absence, nor will you have any warning of your fate until you areled forth to suffer."
Then replied Kai Lung, after a space of thought: "Not ineptly is itwritten: 'When the leading carriage is upset the next one is morecareful,' and Ming-shu has taken the proverb to his heart. Tocounteract his detestable plot will not be easy, but it should not bebeyond our united power, backed by a reasonable activity on the partof our protecting ancestors."
"The devotional side of the emergency has had this one's early care,"remarked Hwa-mei. "From daybreak to-morrow six zealous anddeep-throated monks will curse Ming-shu and all his ways unceasingly,while a like number will invoke blessings and success upon yourenlightened head. In the matter of noise and illumination everythingthat can contribute has been suitably prepared."
"It is difficult to conjecture what more could be done in thatdirection," confessed Kai Lung gratefully.
"Yet as regards a more material effort--?" suggested the maiden, amida cloud of involving doubt.
"If there is a subject in which the imagination of the Mandarin ShanTien can be again enmeshed it might be yet accomplished," replied KaiLung. "Have you a knowledge of any such deep concern?"
"Truly there is a matter that disturbs his peace of late. He hasdreamed a dream three times, and its meaning is beyond the skill ofany man to solve. Yet how shall this avail you who are no geomancer?"
"What is the nature of the dream?" inquired Kai Lung. "For remember,'Though Shen-fi has but one gate, many roads lead to it.'"
"The substance of the dream is this: that herein he who sleeps walksfreely in the ways of men wearing no robe or covering of any kind, yetsuffering no concern or indignity therefrom; that the secret andhidden things of the earth are revealed to his seeing eyes; and thathe can float in space and project himself upon the air at will. Thesethree things are alien to his nature, and being three times repeated,the uncertainty assails his ease."
"Let it, under your persistent care, assail him more and thatunceasingly," exclaimed Kai Lung, with renewed lightness in his voice."Breathe on the surface of his self-repose as a summer breeze movesthe smooth water of a mountain lake--not deeply, but never quite atrest. Be assured: it is no longer possible to doubt that powerfulBeings are interested in our cause."
"I go, oppressed one," replied Hwa-mei. "May this period of yourignoble trial be brought to a distinguished close."
On the following day at the appointed hour Cho-kow was led before theMandarin Shan Tien, and the nature of his crimes having been explainedto him by the contemptible Ming-shu, he was bidden to implicate KaiLung and thus come to an earlier and less painful end.
"All-powerful," he replied, addressing himself to the Mandarin, "thewords that have been spoken are bent to a deceptive end. They of ourcommunity are a simple race and doubtless in the past their ways werethus and thus. But, as it is truly said, 'Tian went bare, his eyescould pierce the earth and his body float in space, but they of hisseed do but dream the dream.' We, being but the puny descendants--"
"You have spoken of one Tian whose attributes were such, and of thosewho dream thereof," interrupted the Mandarin, as one who performs areluctant duty. "That which you adduce to uphold your cause must bearthe full light of day."
"Alas, omnipotence," replied Cho-kow, "this concerns the doing of thegods and those who share their line. Now I am but an ill-conditionedoutcast from the obscure land of Khim, and possess no lore beyond whathappens there. Haply the gods that rule in Khim have a differentmanner of behaving from those in the Upper Air above Yu-ping, and thisperson's narration would avoid the semblance of the things that areand he himself would thereby be brought to disrepute."
"Suffer not that apprehension to retard your impending eloquence,"replied Shan Tien affably. "Be assured that the gods have exactly thesame manner of behaving in every land."
"Furthermore," continued Cho-kow, with patient craft, "I am a man ofbarbarian tongue, the full half of my speech being foreign to yourear. The history of the much-accomplished Tian and the meaning of thedreams that mark those of his race require for a full understandingthe subtle analogies of an acquired style. Now that same Kai Lung whomyou have implicated to my band--"
"Excellence!" protested Ming-shu, with a sudden apprehension in histhroat, "yesterday our labours dissolved in air through the verydoubtful precedent of allowing one to testify what he had had theintention to relate. Now we are asked to allow a tomb-haunter to calla parricide to disclose that which he himself is ignorant of. Pressdown your autocratic thumb--"
"Alas, instructor," interposed Shan Tien compassionately, "thesympathetic concern of my mind overflows upon the spectacle of yourill-used forbearance, yet you having banded together the two in acommon infamy, it is the ancient privilege of this one to call theother to his cause. We are but the feeble mouthpieces of a benevolentscheme of all-embracing justice and greatly do I fear that we mustagain submit."
With these well-timed words the broad-minded personage settled himselfmore reposefully among his cushions and signified that Kai Lung shouldbe led forward and begin.
The Story of Ning, the Captive God, and the Dreams that mark his Race
i. THE MALICE OF THE DEMON, LEOU
When Sun Wei definitely understood that the deities were against him(for on every occasion his enemies prospered and the voice of his ownauthority grew less), he looked this way and that with awell-considering mind.
He did nothing hastily, but when once a decision was reached it was asunbending as iron and as smoothly finished as polished jade. At aboutthe evening hour when others were preparing to offer sacrifice he tookthe images and the altars of his Rites down from their honourablepositions and cast them into a heap on a waste expanse beyond hiscourtyard. Then with an axe he unceremoniously detached theirincomparable limbs from their sublime bodies and flung the parts intoa fire that he had prepared.
"It is better," declared Sun Wei, standing beside the pile, his handsburied within his sleeves--"it is better to be struck down at once,rather than to wither away slowly like a half-uproot
ed cassia-tree."
When this act of defiance was reported in the Upper World the air grewthick with the cries of indignation of the lesser deities, and thesound of their passage as they projected themselves across vastregions of space and into the presence of the supreme N'guk was likethe continuous rending of innumerable pieces of the finest silk.
In his musk-scented heaven, however, N'guk slept, as his habit was atthe close of each celestial day. It was with some difficulty that hecould be aroused and made to understand the nature of Sun Wei'sprofanity, for his mind was dull with the smoke of never-endingincense.
"To-morrow," he promised, with a benignant gesture, turning over againon his crystal throne, "some time to-morrow impartial justice shall bedone. In the meanwhile--courteous dismissal attend your opportunefootsteps."
"He is becoming old and obese," murmured the less respectful of thedemons. "He is not the god he was, even ten thousand cycles ago. Itwere well--"
"But, omnipotence," protested certain conciliatory spirits, pressingto the front, "consider, if but for a short breath of time. A day hereis as threescore of their years as these mortals live. By to-morrownight not only Sun Wei, but most of those now dwelling down below,will have Passed Beyond. But the story of his unpunished infamy willlive. We shall become discredited and our altar fires extinct.Sacrifice of either food or raiment will cease to reach us. The Seasonof White Rain is approaching and will find us ill provided. We whospeak are but Beings of small part--"
"Peace!" commanded N'guk, now thoroughly disturbed, for the voices ofthe few had grown into a tumult; "how is it possible to consider witha torrent like the Hoang-Ho in flood pouring through my very ordinaryears? Your omniscient but quite inadequate Chief would think."
At this rebuke the uproar ceased. So deep became the nature of N'guk'sprofound thoughts that they could be heard rolling like thunder amongthe caverns of his gigantic brain. To aid the process, female slaveson either side fanned his fiery head with celestial lotus leaves. Onthe earth, far beneath, cyclones, sand-storms and sweepingwater-spouts were forced into being.
"Hear the contemptible wisdom of my ill-formed mouth," said N'guk atlength. "If we at once put forth our strength, the degraded Wun Sei isground--"
"Sun Wei, All-knowing One," murmured an attending spirit beneath hisbreath.
"--the unmentionable outcast whom we are discussing is immediatelyground into powder," continued the Highest, looking fixedly at adistant spot situated directly beyond his painstaking attendant. "Butwhat follows? Henceforth no man can be allowed to whisper ill of usbut we must at once seek him out and destroy him, or the obtuse andsuperficial will exclaim: 'It was not so in the days of--of So-and-So.Behold'"--here the Great One bent a look of sudden resentment on theband of those who would have reproached him--"'behold the gods becomeold and obese. They are not the Powers they were. It would be betterto address ourselves to other altars.'"
At this prospect many of the more venerable spirits began to losetheir enthusiasm. If every mortal who spoke ill of them was to bepursued what leisure for dignified seclusion would remain?
"If, however," continued the dispassionate Being, "the profaner isleft to himself he will, sooner or later, in the ordinary course ofhuman intelligence, become involved in some disaster of his owncontriving. Then they who dwell around will say: 'He destroyed thealters! Truly the hands of the Unseen are slow to close, but theirarms are very long. Lo, we have this day ourselves beheld it. Come,let us burn incense lest some forgotten misdeed from the past lurk inour path.'"
When he had finished speaking all the more reputable of those presentextolled his judgment. Some still whispered together, however,whereupon the sagacious N'guk opened his mouth more fully and shotforth tongues of consuming fire among the murmurers so that they fledhowling from his presence.
Now among the spirits who had stood before the Pearly Ruler withouttaking any share in the decision were two who at this point are drawninto the narration, Leou and Ning. Leou was a revengeful demon, everat enmity with one or another of the gods and striving how he mightenmesh his feet in destruction. Ning was a better-class deity,voluptuous but well-meaning, and little able to cope with Leou'ssubtlety. Thus it came about that the latter one, seeing in theoutcome a chance to achieve his end, at once dropped headlong down toearth and sought out Sun Wei.
Sun Wei was reclining at his evening rice when Leou found him.Becoming invisible, the demon entered a date that Sun Wei held in hishand and took the form of a stone. Sun Wei recognized the doubtfulnature of the stone as it passed between his teeth, and he would havespat it forth again, but Leou had the questionable agility of theserpent and slipped down the other's throat. He was thus able toconverse familiarly with Sun Wei without fear of interruption.
"Sun Wei," said the voice of Leou inwardly, "the position you havechosen is a desperate one, and we of the Upper Air who are welldisposed towards you find the path of assistance fringed withtwo-edged swords."
"It is well said: 'He who lacks a single tael sees many bargains,'"replied Sun Wei, a refined bitterness weighing the import of hiswords. "Truly this person's friends in the Upper Air are anever-failing lantern behind his back."
At this justly-barbed reproach Leou began to shake with disturbedgravity until he remembered that the motion might not be pleasing toSun Wei's inner feelings.
"It is not that the well-disposed are slow to urge your claims, butthat your enemies number some of the most influential demons in allthe Nine Spaces," he declared, speaking with a false smoothness thatmarked all his detestable plans. "Assuredly in the past you must haveled a very abandoned life, Sun Wei, to come within the circle of theirmalignity."
"By no means," replied Sun Wei. "Until driven to despair this personnot only duly observed the Rites and Ceremonies, but he even avoidedthe Six Offences. He remained by the side of his parents while theylived, provided an adequate posterity, forbore to tread on any of thebenevolent insects, safeguarded all printed paper, did not consume themeat of the industrious ox, and was charitable towards the needs ofhungry and homeless ghosts."
"These observances are well enough," admitted Leou, restraining hisnarrow-minded impatience; "and with an ordinary number of writtencharms worn about the head and body they would doubtless carry youthrough the lesser contingencies of existence. But by, as it were,extending contempt, you have invited the retaliatory propulsion of thesandal of authority."
"To one who has been pushed over the edge of a precipice, a rut acrossthe path is devoid of menace; nor do the destitute tremble at thedeparting watchman's cry: 'Sleep warily; robbers are about.'"
"As regards bodily suffering and material extortion, it is possible toattain such a limit as no longer to excite the cupidity of even themost rapacious deity," admitted Leou. "Other forms of flattening-out atransgressor's self-content remain however. For instance, it has comewithin the knowledge of the controlling Powers that seven generationsof your distinguished ancestors occupy positions of dignifiedseclusion in the Upper Air."
For the first time Sun Wei's attitude was not entirely devoid of anemotion of concern.
"They would not--?"
"To mark their sense of your really unsupportable behaviour it hasbeen decided that all seven shall return to the humiliating scenes oftheir former existences in admittedly objectionable forms," repliedthe outrageous Leou. "Sun Chen, your venerated sire, will become anagile grasshopper; your incomparable grandfather, Yuen, will have thesimilitude of a yellow goat; as a tortoise your leisurely-mindedancestor Huang, the high public official--"
"Forbear!" exclaimed the conscience-stricken Sun Wei; "rather wouldthis person suffer every imaginable form of torture than that thespirit of one of his revered ancestors should be submitted to sointolerable a bondage. Is there no amiable form of compromise wherebythe ancestors of some less devoted and liberally-inspired son might beimperceptibly, as it were, substituted?"
"In ordinary cases some such arrangement is generally possible,"conceded Leou; "but not idly is it written: 'There i
s a time tosilence an adversary with the honey of logical persuasion, and thereis a time to silence him with the argument of a heavily-directedclub.' In your extremity a hostage is the only efficient safeguard.Seize the person of one of the gods themselves and raise a strong wallaround your destiny by holding him to ransom."
"'Ho Tai, requiring a light for his pipe, stretched out his handtowards the great sky-lantern,'" quoted Sun Wei.
"'Do not despise Ching To because his armour is invisible,'" retortedLeou, with equal point. "Your friends in the Above are neither feeblenor inept. Do as I shall instruct you and no less a Being than Ningwill be delivered into your hand."
Then replied Sun Wei dubiously: "A spreading mango-tree affords apleasant shade within one's courtyard, and a captive god might for aseason undoubtedly confer an enviable distinction. But presently thetree's encroaching roots may disturb the foundation of the house sothat the walls fall and crush those who are within, and the head of arestrained god would in the end certainly displace my very inadequateroof-tree."
"A too-prolific root can be pruned back," replied Leou, "and theactivities of a bondaged god may be efficiently curtailed. How thisshall be accomplished will be revealed to you in a dream: take heedthat you do not fail by the deviation of a single hair."
Having thus prepared his discreditable plot, Leou twice struck thewalls enclosing him, so that Sun Wei coughed violently. The demon wasthereby enabled to escape, and he never actually appeared in atangible form again, although he frequently communicated, by means ofsigns and omens, with those whom he wished to involve in his sinisterdesigns.
ii. THE PART PLAYED BY THE SLAVE-GIRL, HIA
Among the remaining possessions that the hostility of the deitiesstill left to Sun Wei at the time of these happenings was a youngslave of many-sided attraction. The name of Hia had been given to her,but she was generally known as Tsing-ai on account of the extremelyaffectionate gladness of her nature.
On the day following that in which Sun Wei and the demon Leou hadconversed together, Hia was disporting herself in the dark shades of asecluded pool, as her custom was after the heat of her labours, when aphoenix, flying across the glade, dropped a pearl of unusual size andlustre into the stream. Possessing herself of the jewel and placing itin her mouth, so that it should not impede the action of her hands,Hia sought the bank and would have drawn herself up when she becameaware of the presence of one having the guise of a noble commander. Hewas regarding her with a look in which well-expressed admiration wasblended with a delicate intimation that owing to the unparalleledbrilliance of her eyes he was unable to perceive any other detail ofher appearance, and was, indeed, under the impression that she wasdevoid of ordinary outline. At the same time, without permitting herglance to be in any but an entirely opposite direction, Hia was ableto satisfy herself that the stranger was a person on whom she mightprudently lavish the full depths of her regard if the necessity arose.His apparel was rich, voluminous and of colours then unknown within theEmpire; his hair long and abundant; his face placid but sincere. Hecarried no weapons, but wherever he trod there came a yellow flamefrom below his right foot and a white vapour from beneath his left.His insignia were those of a royal prince, and when he spoke his voiceresembled the noise of arrows passing through the upper branches of aprickly forest. His long and pointed nails indicated the high anddignified nature of all his occupations; each nail was protected by asolid sheath, there being amethyst, ruby, topaz, ivory, emerald, whitejade, iron, chalcedony, gold and malachite.
When the distinguished-looking personage had thus regarded Hia forsome moments he drew an instrument of hollow tubes from a fold of hisgarment and began to sing of two who, as the outcome of a romanticencounter similar to that then existing, had professed an agreeableattachment for one another and had, without unnecessary delay, enteredupon a period of incomparable felicity. Doubtless Hia would haveuttered words of high-minded rebuke at some of the more detailedanalogies of the recital had not the pearl deprived her of the powerof expressing herself clearly on any subject whatever, nor did it seempracticable to her to remove it without withdrawing her hands from themodest attitudes into which she had at once distributed them. Thuspositioned, she was compelled to listen to the stranger'swell-considered flattery, and this (together with the increasingcoldness of the stream as the evening deepened) convincingly explainsher ultimate acquiescence to his questionable offers.
Yet it cannot be denied that Ning (as he may now fittingly berevealed) conducted the enterprise with a seemly liberality; for uponreceiving from Hia a glance not expressive of discouragement he atonce caused the appearance of a suitably-furnished tent, a train ofNubian slaves offering rich viands, rare wine and costly perfumes,companies of expert dancers and musicians, a retinue of discreetelderly women to robe her and to attend her movements, a carpet ofgolden silk stretching from the water's edge to the tent, and all theaccessories of a high-class profligacy.
When the night was advanced and Hia and Ning, after partaking of amany-coursed feast, were reclining on an ebony couch, the Being freelyexpressed the delight that he discovered in her amiable society,incautiously adding: "Demand any recompense that is within the powerof this one to grant, O most delectable of water-nymphs, and itsaccomplishment will be written by a flash of lightning." In this,however, he merely spoke as the treacherous Leou (who had enticed himinto the adventure) had assured him was usual in similarcircumstances, he himself being privately of the opinion that theexpenditure already incurred was more than adequate to the occasion.
Then replied Hia, as she had been fully instructed against theemergency: "The word has been spoken. But what is precious metal afterlistening to the pure gold of thy lips, or who shall again esteem gemswhile gazing upon the full round radiance of thy moon-like face? Onething only remains: remove the various sheaths from off thy hands, forthey not only conceal the undoubted perfection of the nails within,but their massive angularity renders the affectionate ardour of yourembrace almost intolerable."
At this very ordinary request a sudden flatness overspread Ning'smanner and he began to describe the many much more profitable rewardsthat Hia might fittingly demand. As none of these appeared to enticeher imagination, he went on to rebuke her want of foresight, and,still later, having unsuccessfully pointed out to her the inevitablepenury and degradation in which her thriftless perversity wouldinvolve her later years, to kick the less substantial appointmentsacross the tent.
"The night thickens, with every indication of a storm," remarked Hiapleasantly. "Yet that same impending flash of promised lightningtarries somewhat."
"Truly is it written: 'A gracious woman will cause more strife thantwelve armed men can quell,'" retorted Ning bitterly.
"Not, perchance, if one of them bares his nails?" Thus she lightlymocked him, but always with a set intent, as a poised dragon-fly sipswater yet does not wet his wings. Whereupon, finally, Ning tore thesheaths from off his fingers and cast them passionately about herfeet, immediately afterwards sinking into a profound sleep, for boththe measure and the potency of the wine he had consumed exceeded hisusual custom. Otherwise he would scarcely have acted in this incapablemanner, for each sheath was inscribed with one symbol of a magic charmand in the possession of the complete sentence resided the whole ofthe Being's authority and power.
Then Hia, seeing that he could no longer control her movements, andthat the end to which she had been bending was attained, gatheredtogether the fruits of her conscientious strategy and fled.
When Ning returned to the condition of ordinary perceptions he waslying alone in the field by the river-side. The great sky-fire made nopretence of averting its rays from his uncovered head, and the lessercreatures of the ground did not hesitate to walk over his once sacredform. The tent and all the other circumstances of the quest of Hia hadpassed into a state of no-existence, for with a somewhat narrow-mindedeconomy the deity had called them into being with the expressprovision that they need only be of such a quality as would last for asingle ni
ght.
With this recollection, other details began to assail his mind. Hisirreplaceable nail-sheaths--there was no trace of one of them. Helooked again. Alas! his incomparable nails were also gone, shorn offto the level of his finger-ends. For all their evidence he might beone who had passed his days in discreditable industry. Each moment afresh point of degradation met his benumbed vision. His profuse andornamental locks were reduced to a single roughly-plaited coil; hissandals were inelegant and harsh; in place of his many-colouredflowing robes a scanty blue gown clothed his form. He who had been agod was undistinguishable from the labourers of the fields. Only inone thing did the resemblance fail: about his neck he found a weightyblock of wood controlled by an iron ring: while they at least werefree he was a captive slave.
A shadow on the grass caused him to turn. Sun Wei approached, aknotted thong in one hand, in the other a hoe. He pointed to anunweeded rice-field and with many ceremonious bows pressed the hoeupon Ning as one who confers high honours. As Ning hesitated, Sun Weipressed the knotted thong upon him until it would have been obtuse todisregard his meaning. Then Ning definitely understood that he hadbecome involved in the workings of very powerful forces, hostile tohimself, and picking up the hoe he bent his submissive footsteps inthe direction of the laborious rice-field.
iii. THE IN-COMING OF THE YOUTH, TIAN
It was dawn in the High Heaven and the illimitable N'guk, waking tohis labours for the day, looked graciously around on the assembledmyriads who were there to carry his word through boundless space. Notwanting are they who speak two-sided words of the Venerable One frombehind fan-like hands, but when his voice takes upon it the authorityof a brazen drum knees become flaccid.
"There is a void in the unanimity of our council," remarked theSupreme, his eye resting like a flash of lightning on a vacant place."Wherefore tarries Ning, the son of Shin, the Seed-sower?"
For a moment there was an edging of N'guk's inquiring glance from eachBeing to his neighbour. Then Leou stood audaciously forth.
"He is reported to be engaged on a private family matter," he repliedgravely. "Haply his feet have become entangled in a mesh of hair."
N'guk turned his benevolent gaze upon another--one higher inauthority.
"Perchance," admitted the superior Being tolerantly. "Such things are.How comes it else that among the earth-creatures we find the faces ofthe deities--both the good and the bad?"
"How long has he been absent from our paths?"
They pressed another forward--keeper of the Outer Path of the WestExpanses, he.
"He went, High Excellence, in the fifteenth of the earth-ruler Chun,whom your enlightened tolerance has allowed to occupy the lower dragonthrone for twoscore years, as these earthlings count. Thus and thus--"
"Enough!" exclaimed the Supreme. "Hear my iron word. When thebuffoon-witted Ning rises from his congenial slough this shall be hislot: for sixty thousand ages he shall fail to find the path of hisreturn, but shall, instead, thread an aimless flight among the frozenambits of the outer stars, carrying a tormenting rain of fire at histail. And Leou, the Whisperer," added the Divining One, with theinscrutable wisdom that marked even his most opaque moments, "Leoushall meanwhile perform Ning's neglected task." *
For five and twenty years Ning had laboured in the fields of Sun Weiwith a wooden collar girt about his neck, and Sun Wei had prospered.Yet it is to be doubted whether this last detail deliberately hingedon the policy of Leou or whether Sun Wei had not rather been drawninto some wider sphere of destiny and among converging lines ofpurpose. The ways of the gods are deep and sombre, and water oncepoured out will flow as freely to the north as to the south. The wisekowtows acquiescently whatever happens and thus his face is to theground. "Respect the deities," says the imperishable Sage, "but do notbecome familiar with them." Sun Wei was clearly wrong.
To Ning, however, standing on a grassy space on the edge of a flowingriver, such thoughts do not extend. He is now a little hairy man ofgnarled appearance, and his skin of a colour and texture like a ripelo-quat. As he stands there, something in the outline of the vistastirs the retentive tablets of his mind: it was on this spot that hefirst encountered Hia, and from that involvement began the cycle ofhis unending ill.
As he stood thus, implicated with his own inner emotions, a figureemerged from the river at its nearest point and, crossing theintervening sward, approached. He had the aspect of being a young manof high and dignified manner, and walked with the air of oneaccustomed to a silk umbrella, but when Ning looked more closely, tosee by his insignia what amount of reverence he should pay, hediscovered that the youth was destitute of the meagrest garment.
"Rise, venerable," said the stranger affably, for Ning had prostratedhimself as being more prudent in the circumstances. "The one beforeyou is only Tian, of obscure birth, and himself of no particular meritor attainment. You, doubtless, are of considerably more honourablelineage?"
"Far from that being the case," replied Ning, "the one who speaksbears now the commonplace name of Lieu, and is branded with the brandof Sun Wei. Formerly, indeed, he was a god, moving in the Upper Spaceand known to the devout as Ning, but now deposed by treachery."
"Unless the subject is one that has painful associations," remarkedTian considerately, "it is one on which this person would willinglylearn somewhat deeper. What, in short, are the various differencesexisting between gods and men?"
"The gods are gods; men are men," replied Ning. "There is no otherdifference."
"Yet why do not the gods now exert their strength and raise from yourpresent admittedly inferior position one who is of their band?"
"Behind their barrier the gods laugh at all men. How much more, then,is their gravity removed at the sight of one of themselves who hasfallen lower than mankind?"
"Your plight would certainly seem to be an ill-destined one," admittedTian, "for, as the Verses say: 'Gold sinks deeper than dross.' Isthere anything that an ordinary person can do to alleviate yoursubjection?"
"The offer is a gracious one," replied Ning, "and such an occasionundoubtedly exists. Some time ago a pearl of unusual size and lustreslipped from its setting about this spot. I have looked for it invain, but your acuter eyes, perchance--"
Thus urged, the youth Tian searched the ground, but to no avail. Thenchancing to look upwards, he exclaimed:
"Among the higher branches of the tallest bamboo there is an ancientphoenix nest, and concealed within its wall is a pearl such as youdescribe."
"That manifestly is what I seek," said Ning. "But it might as well beat the bottom of its native sea, for no ladder could reach to such aheight nor would the slender branch support a living form."
"Yet the emergency is one easily disposed of." With these opportunewords the amiable person rose from the ground without any appearanceof effort or conscious movement, and floating upward through the airhe procured the jewel and restored it to Ning.
When Ning had thus learned that Tian possessed these three attainmentswhich are united in the gods alone--that he could stand naked beforeothers without consciousness of shame, that his eyes were able topenetrate matter impervious to those of ordinary persons, and that hecontrolled the power of rising through the air unaided--he understoodthat the one before him was a deity of some degree. He thereforequestioned him closely about his history, the various omens connectedwith his life and the position of the planets at his birth. Findingthat these presented no element of conflict, and that, furthermore,the youth's mother was a slave, formerly known as Hia, Ning declaredhimself more fully and greeted Tian as his undoubted son.
"The absence of such a relation is the one thing that has pressedheavily against this person's satisfaction in the past, and thedeficiency is now happily removed," exclaimed Tian. "The distinctionof having a deity for a father outweighs even the present admittedlydistressing condition in which he reveals himself. His word shallhenceforth be my law."
"The sentiment is a dutiful one," admitted Ning, "and it
is possiblethat you are now thus discovered in pursuance of some scheme among mymore influential accomplices in the Upper Air for restoring to me myformer eminence."
"In so meritorious a cause this person is prepared to immerse himselfto any depth," declared Tian readily. "Nothing but the absence ofprecise details restrains his hurrying feet."
"Those will doubtless be communicated to us by means of omens andportents as the requirement becomes more definite. In the meanwhilethe first necessity is to enable this person's nails to grow again;for to present himself thus in the Upper Air would be to cover himwith ridicule. When the Emperor Chow-sin endeavoured to pass himselfoff as a menial by throwing aside his jewelled crown, the rebels whohad taken him replied: 'Omnipotence, you cannot throw away yourknees.' To claim kinship with those Above and at the same time toextend towards them a hand obviously inured to probing among the stonyearth would be to invite the averted face of recognition."
"Let recognition be extended in other directions and the task ofreturning to a forfeited inheritance will be lightened materially,"remarked a significant voice.
"Estimable mother," exclaimed Tian, "this opportune stranger is myvenerated father, whose continuous absence has been an overhangingcloud above my gladness, but now happily revealed and restored to ourdomestic altar."
"Alas!" interposed Ning, "the opening of this enterprise forecasts aquestionable omen. Before this person stands the one who enticed himinto the beginning of all his evil; how then--"
"Let the word remain unspoken," interrupted Hia. "Women do not enticemen--though they admittedly accompany them, with an extreme absence ofreluctance, in any direction. In her youth this person's feetundoubtedly bore her occasionally along a light and fantastic path,for in the nature of spring a leaf is green and pliable, and in thenature of autumn it is brown and austere, and through changeless agesthus and thus. But, as it is truly said: 'Milk by repeated agitationturns to butter,' and for many years it has been this one's ceaselessstudy of the Arts whereby she might avert that which she helped tobring about in her unstable youth."
"The intention is a commendable one, though expressed with unnecessaryverbiage," replied Ning. "To what solution did your incantationstrend?"
"Concealed somewhere within the walled city of Ti-foo are the sacrednail-sheaths on which your power so essentially depends, sent thitherby Sun Wei at the crafty instance of the demon Leou, who hopes at aconvenient time to secure them for himself. To discover these and bearthem forth will be the part allotted to Tian, and to this end has thetraining of his youth been bent. By what means he shall strive to theaccomplishment of the project the unrolling curtain of the futureshall disclose."
"It is as the destinies shall decide and as the omens may direct,"said Tian. "In the meanwhile this person's face is inexorably fixed inthe direction of Ti-foo."
"Proceed with all possible discretion," advised Ning. "In so criticalan undertaking you cannot be too cautious, but at the same time do notsuffer the rice to grow around your advancing feet."
"A moment," counselled Hia. "Tarry yet a moment. Here is one whoserapidly-moving attitude may convey a message."
"It is Lin Fa!" exclaimed Ning, as the one alluded to drew near--"LinFa who guards the coffers of Sun Wei. Some calamity pursues him."
"Hence!" cried Lin Fa, as he caught sight of them, yet scarcelypausing in his flight: "flee to the woods and caves until the time ofthis catastrophe be past. Has not the tiding reached you?"
"We be but dwellers on the farther bounds and no word has reached ourear, O great Lin Fa. Fill in, we pray you, the warning that has beenso suddenly outlined."
"The usurper Ah-tang has lit the torch of swift rebellion and isflattening-down the land that bars his way. Already the villages ofYeng, Leu, Liang-li and the Dwellings by the Three Pure Wells are asdust beneath his trampling feet, and they who stayed there have passedup in smoke. Sun Wei swings from the roof-tree of his own ruinedyamen. Ah-tang now lays siege to walled Ti-foo so that he may possessthe Northern Way. Guard this bag of silver meanwhile, for what I haveis more than I can reasonably bear, and when the land is once again atpeace, assemble to meet me by the Five-Horned Pagoda, ready with astrict account."
"All this is plainly part of an orderly scheme for my advancement,brought about by my friends in the Upper World," remarked Ning, withsome complacency. "Lin Fa has been influenced to the extent ofproviding us with the means for our immediate need; Sun Wei has beenopportunely removed to the end that this person may now retire to ahidden spot and there suffer his dishonoured nails to grow again:Ah-tang has been impelled to raise the banner of insurrection outsideTi-foo so that Tian may make use of the necessities of either side inpursuit of his design. Assuredly the long line of our misfortunes isnow practically at an end."
iv. EVENTS ROUND WALLED TI-FOO
Nevertheless, the alternative forced on Tian was not an alluring one.If he joined the band of Ah-tang and the usurper failed, Tian himselfmight never get inside Ti-foo; if, however, he allied himself with thedefenders of Ti-foo and Ah-tang did not fail, he might never get outof Ti-foo. Doubtless he would have reverently submitted his cause tothe inspired decision of the Sticks, or some other reliable augur, hadhe not, while immersed in the consideration, walked into the camp ofAh-tang. The omen of this occurrence was of too specific a nature notto be regarded as conclusive.
Ah-tang was one who had neglected the Classics from his youth upwards.For this reason his detestable name is never mentioned in theHistories, and the various catastrophes he wrought are charitablyascribed to the action of earthquakes, thunderbolts and other admittedforces. He himself, with his lamentable absence of literary style, waswont to declare that while confessedly weak in analogies he was strongin holocausts. In the end he drove the sublime emperor from hiscapital and into the Outer Lands; with true refinement the annalistsof the period explain that the condescending monarch made a journey ofinspection among the barbarian tribes on the confines of his Empire.
When Tian, charged with being a hostile spy, was led into the presenceof Ah-tang, it was the youth's intention to relate somewhat of hishistory, but the usurper, excusing himself on the ground of literarydeficiency, merely commanded five of his immediate guard to bear theprisoner away and to return with his head after a fitting interval.Misunderstanding the exact requirement, Tian returned at the appointedtime with the heads of the five who had charge of him and the excusethat in those times of scarcity it was easier to keep one head thanfive. This aptitude so pleased Ah-tang (who had expected at the most afarewell apophthegm) that he at once made Tian captain of a chosenband.
Thus was Tian positioned outside the city of Ti-foo, materiallycontributing to its ultimate surrender by the resourceful courage ofhis arms. For the first time in the history of opposing forces hetamed the strength and swiftness of wild horses to the use of man, andplacing copper loops upon their feet and iron bars between theirteeth, he and his band encircled Ti-foo with an ever-moving shieldthrough which no outside word could reach the town. Cut off in thismanner from all hope of succour, the stomachs of those within thewalls grew very small, and their eyes became weary of watching forthat which never came. On the third day of the third moon of theirencirclement they sent a submissive banner, and one bearing a writtenmessage, into the camp of Ah-tang.
"We are convinced" (it ran) "of the justice of your cause. Let six of your lordly nobles appear unarmed before our ill-kept Lantern Gate at the middle gong-stroke of to-morrow and they will be freely admitted within our midst. Upon receiving a bound assurance safeguarding the limits of our temples, the persons and possessions of our chiefs, and the undepreciated condition of the first wives and virgin daughters of such as be of mandarin rank or literary degree, the inadequate keys of our broken-down defences will be laid at their sumptuous feet.
"With a fervent hand-clasp as of one brother to another, and a passionate assurance of mutual good-will, KO'EN C
HENG, Important Official."
"It is received," replied Ah-tang, when the message had been madeknown to him. "Six captains will attend."
Alas! it is well written: "There is often a space between the fish andthe fish-plate." Mentally inflated at the success of their efforts andthe impending surrender of Ti-foo, Tian's band suffered their energiesto relax. In the dusk of that same evening one disguised in the skinof a goat browsed from bush to bush until he reached the town. There,throwing off all restraint, he declared his errand to Ko'en Cheng.
"Behold!" he exclaimed, "the period of your illustrious suffering isalmost at an end. With an army capable in size and invincible indetermination, the ever-victorious Wu Sien is marching to your aid.Defy the puny Ah-tang for yet three days more and great glory will beyours."
"Doubtless," replied Ko'en Cheng, with velvet bitterness: "but the sunhas long since set and the moon is not yet risen. The appearance of asolitary star yesterday would have been more foot-guiding than theforecast of a meteor next week. This person's thumb-signed word ispassed and to-morrow Ah-tang will hold him to it."
Now there was present among the council one wrapped in a mantle madeof rustling leaves, who spoke in a smooth, low voice, very cunning andpersuasive, with a plan already shaped that seemed to offer well andto safeguard Ko'en Cheng's word. None remembered to have seen himthere before, and for this reason it is now held by some that this wasLeou, the Whisperer, perturbed lest the sacred nail-sheaths of Ningshould pass beyond his grasp. As to this, says not the Wise One: "Whentwo men cannot agree over the price of an onion who shall decide whathappened in the time of Yu?" But the voice of the unknown prevailed,all saying: "At the worst it is but as it will be; perchance it may bebetter."
That night there was much gladness in the camp of Ah-tang, and mensang songs of victory and cups of wine were freely passed, though inthe outer walks a strict watch was kept. When it was dark the word waspassed that an engaging company was approaching from the town, openlyand with lights. These being admitted revealed themselves as a band ofmaidens, bearing gifts of fruit and wine and assurances of theiragreeable behaviour. Distributing themselves impartially about thetents of the chiefs and upper ones, they melted the hours of the nightin graceful accomplishments and by their seemly compliance dispelledall thought of treachery. Having thus gained the esteem of theircompanions, and by the lavish persuasion of bemusing wine dimmed theiralertness, all this band, while it was still dark, crept back to thetown, each secretly carrying with her the arms, robes and insignia ofthe one who had possessed her.
When the morning broke and the sound of trumpets called each man to anappointed spot, direful was the outcry from the tents of all thechiefs, and though many heads were out-thrust in rage of indignation,no single person could be prevailed upon wholly to emerge. Only thelesser warriors, the slaves and the bearers of the loads moved freelyto and fro and from between closed teeth and with fluttering eyelidstossed doubtful jests among themselves.
It was close upon the middle gong-stroke of the day when Ah-tang,himself clad in a shred torn from his tent (for in all the camp theredid not remain a single garment bearing a sign of noble rank), gottogether a council of his chiefs. Some were clad in like attire,others carried a henchman's shield, a paper lantern or a branch offlowers; Tian alone displayed himself without reserve.
"There are moments," said Ah-tang, "when this person's admittedaccomplishment of transfixing three foemen with a single javelin at ascore of measured paces does not seem to provide a possible solution.Undoubtedly we are face to face with a crafty plan, and Ko'en Chenghas surely heard that Wu Sien is marching from the west. If we fail toknock upon the outer gate of Ti-foo at noon to-day Ko'en Cheng willsay: 'My word returns. It is as naught.' If they who go are clad asunderlings, Ko'en Cheng will cry: 'What slaves be these! Do men breakplate with dogs? Our message was for six of noble style. Ah-tang butmocks.'" He sat down again moodily. "Let others speak."
"Chieftain"--Tian threw forth his voice--"your word must be asiron--'Six captains shall attend.' There is yet another way."
"Speak on," Ah-tang commanded.
"The quality of Ah-tang's chiefs resides not in a cloak of silk nor ina silver-hilted sword, but in the sinews of their arms and thelightning of their eyes. If they but carry these they proclaim theirrank for all to see. Let six attend taking neither sword nor shield,neither hat nor sandal, nor yet anything between. 'There are sixthousand more,' shall be their taunt, 'but Ko'en Cheng's hospitalitydrew rein at six. He feared lest they might carry arms; behold theyhave come naked. Ti-foo need not tremble."
"It is well," agreed Ah-tang. "At least, nothing better offers. Letfive accompany you."
Seated on a powerful horse Tian led the way. The others, not being ofhis immediate band, had not acquired the necessary control, so thatthey walked in a company. Coming to the Lantern Gate Tian turned hishorse suddenly so that its angry hoof struck the gate. Looking back hesaw the others following, with no great space between, and so passedin.
When the five naked captains reached the open gate they paused. Withinstood a great concourse of the people, these being equally of bothsexes, but they of the inner chambers pressing resolutely to thefront. Through the throng of these their way must lead, and at thesight the hearts of all became as stagnant water in the sun.
"Tarry not for me, O brothers," said the one who led. "A thorn haspierced my foot. Take honourable precedence while I draw it forth."
"Never," declared the second of the band, "never shall it be castabroad that Kang of the House of Ka failed his brother in necessity. Isustain thy shoulder, comrade."
"Alas!" exclaimed the third. "This person broke his fast on rhubarbstewed in fat. Inopportunely--" So he too turned aside.
"Have we considered well," said they who remained, "whether this benot a subtle snare, and while the camp is denuded of its foremostwarriors a strong force--?"
Unconscious of these details, Tian went on alone. In spite of theabsence of gravity on the part of the more explicit portion of thethrong he suffered no embarrassment, partly because of his position,but chiefly through his inability to understand that his conditiondiffered in any degree from theirs; for, owing to the piercing natureof his vision, they were to him as he to them. In this way he came tothe open space known as the Space of the Eight Directions, where Ko'enCheng and his nobles were assembled.
"One comes alone," they cried. "This guise is as a taunt." "Naked to anaked town--the analogy is plain." "Shall the mocker be suffered toreturn?"
Thus the murmur grew. Then one, more impetuous than the rest, swungclear his sword and drew it. For the first time Tian understood thattreachery was afoot. He looked round for any of his band, but foundthat he was as a foam-tossed cork upon a turbulent Whang Hai. Cries ofanger and derision filled the air; threatening arms wavedencouragement to each other to begin. The one with drawn sword raisedit above his head and made a step. Then Tian, recognizing that he wasunarmed, and that a decisive moment had arrived, stooped low and torea copper hoop from off his horse's foot. High he swung its polishedbrightness in the engaging sun, resolutely brought it down, so that itpressed over the sword-warrior's shattered head and hung about hisneck. Having thus effected as much bloodshed as could reasonably beexpected in the circumstances, Tian curved his feet about his horse'ssides and imparting to it the virtue of his own condition they roseinto the air together. When those who stood below were able to exertthemselves a flight of arrows, spears and every kind of weaponfollowed, but horse and rider were by that time beyond their reach,and the only benevolent result attained was that many of their bandwere themselves transfixed by the falling shafts.
In such a manner Tian continued his progress from the town until hecame above the Temple of Fire and Water Forces, where on a high towera strong box of many woods was chained beneath a canopy, guarded by anincantation laid upon it by Leou, that no one should lift it down.Recognizing the contents as the object of his search, Tian brought hishors
e to rest upon the tower, and breaking the chains he bore themagic sheaths away, the charm (owing to Leou's superficial habits)being powerless against one who instead of lifting the box downcarried it up.
In spite of this distinguished achievement it was many moons beforeTian was able to lay the filial tribute of restored power at Ning'sfeet, for with shallow-witted obstinacy Ti-foo continued to hold out,and, scarcely less inept, Ah-tang declined to release Tian even tocarry on so charitable a mission. Yet when the latter one ultimatelyreturned and was, as the reward of his intrepid services, lookingforward to a period of domestic reunion under the benevolent guidanceof an affectionate father, it was but to point the seasoned proverb:"The fuller the cup the sooner the spill," for scarcely had Ning drawnon the recovered sheaths and with incautious joy repeated the magicsentence than he was instantly projected across vast space and intothe trackless confines of the Outer Upper Paths. If this were animagined tale, framed to entice the credulous, herein would itsfalseness cry aloud, but even in this age Ning may still be seen fromtime to time with a tail of fire in his wake, missing the path of hisreturn as N'guk ordained.
Thus bereft, Tian was on the point of giving way to a seemly despairwhen a message concerned with Mu, the only daughter of Ko'en Cheng,reached him. It professed a high-minded regard for his welfare, andadded that although the one who was inspiring the communication hadbeen careful to avoid seeing him on the occasion of his entry intoTi-foo, it was impossible for her not to be impressed by the dignityof his bearing. Ko'en Cheng having become vastly wealthy as the resultof entering into an arrangement with Ah-tang before Ti-foo was sacked,it did not seem unreasonable to Tian that Ning was in some wayinfluencing his destiny from afar. On this understanding he ultimatelymarried Mu, and thereby founded a prolific posterity who inherited agreat degree of his powers. In the course of countless generations theattributes have faded, but even to this day the true descendants ofthe line of Ning are frequently vouchsafed dreams in which they standnaked and without shame, see gems or metals hidden or buried in theearth and float at will through space.