would take my son’s place there. But I will soon be laid to rest, and can only wait here, one tormenting day after another, until I see my son pass by. But then, I am afraid that I will already be in my grave and, if he walks past, I’ll not be able to see him!’
The effect of the words ‘Great Swallow Mountain’ on the people was for a moment like rubbing flint in their eyes; but the sparks were soon extinguished by thewind. Binu alone was willing to travel to Great Swallow Mountain, and even the frog’s tears lacked the power to persuade the others into travelling with her. For them, waiting by the side of the road was the better choice. The sluggish crowd had abandoned all but the act of waiting. When the mountain women began to weep and wail, the winds from the mountain pass turned unbearably cold, and Binu knew more clearly than anything that, in this forlorn people market, only she held out a bit of hope. She was destined to be alone.
The fancily dressed embroidery sisters asked about their fate, and for each of them it was one of anguish, one of longing and worries, never one of health and happiness; their faces told of their displeasure, and they began to doubt and question the truth of the frog’s tears and Binu’s sorcery. They left the people market, making their way noisily to their homes in the nearby valley. The destitute and homeless mountain women also left, dragging their weary bodies back to hastily dug burrows that offered meagre protection from the elements. After peeling back the dead branches that covered the openings, they crawled in like rodents. But, before she entered her burrow, the woman in black turned and waved to Binu, warmly inviting her to bed down with her for the night. Binu graciously declined the offer. These womenhad grown used to living like rodents, content in their burrows, but not Binu. She was used to walking above ground during the daytime and, when the moon and stars shone through the darkness, she was not afraid to walk at night.
Binu stood alone in the wind, gazing down the mountain road, which blurred into darkness. She heard the tinkle of a bell in the distance, and a moment later saw the familiar carter, the one who drove with his feet. His cart cut through the darkness towards her from the mountain pass, but was slowed by Binu’s abrupt move to the centre of the road. Wuzhang lashed out with his whip to get her to move, but to no avail; he was forced to stop.
‘You haven’t managed to get yourself sold, I see,’ he said. ‘Try again tomorrow. But for now get out of my way. Our new retainer was late. We have already missed Lord Hengming’s party.’
Without a word in response, Binu stood her ground and reached into her bundle to take out a shiny sabre coin, which she held out towards the man’s feet.
‘Have you really become a mute? Say something. Just where do you want to go?’
‘I cannot stop, Elder Brother, I must keep going. Be a good man and take me part of the way. So long as I’m heading north, I’ll go as far as you’ll take me.’
He reached down with his foot and deftly picked up the coin with his toes. He raised his other foot and shook it up and down. Binu did not know what that meant. She paused for a moment, but then took out another coin and placed it between his toes. Her hand trembled visibly. ‘I’ve never spent so much money before,’ she said. ‘If Qiliang knew, he’d scold me severely. All that just for a ride. But I have been on the road for three days and nights, and tonight I cannot walk another step.’
‘You think I’ve asked for too much? Don’t you realize whose cart this is?’ The carter turned to look at the new retainer seated behind him, who answered his gaze with a small movement of his head. ‘This brother is a kind man. Without a nod from him, I could not take you anywhere. Hurry up and thank him, for you will be riding in Lord Hengming’s cart, and for only two sabre coins. Few people have that good
The effect of the words ‘Great Swallow Mountain’ on the people was for a moment like rubbing flint in their eyes; but the sparks were soon extinguished by thewind. Binu alone was willing to travel to Great Swallow Mountain, and even the frog’s tears lacked the power to persuade the others into travelling with her. For them, waiting by the side of the road was the better choice. The sluggish crowd had abandoned all but the act of waiting. When the mountain women began to weep and wail, the winds from the mountain pass turned unbearably cold, and Binu knew more clearly than anything that, in this forlorn people market, only she held out a bit of hope. She was destined to be alone.
The fancily dressed embroidery sisters asked about their fate, and for each of them it was one of anguish, one of longing and worries, never one of health and happiness; their faces told of their displeasure, and they began to doubt and question the truth of the frog’s tears and Binu’s sorcery. They left the people market, making their way noisily to their homes in the nearby valley. The destitute and homeless mountain women also left, dragging their weary bodies back to hastily dug burrows that offered meagre protection from the elements. After peeling back the dead branches that covered the openings, they crawled in like rodents. But, before she entered her burrow, the woman in black turned and waved to Binu, warmly inviting her to bed down with her for the night. Binu graciously declined the offer. These womenhad grown used to living like rodents, content in their burrows, but not Binu. She was used to walking above ground during the daytime and, when the moon and stars shone through the darkness, she was not afraid to walk at night.
Binu stood alone in the wind, gazing down the mountain road, which blurred into darkness. She heard the tinkle of a bell in the distance, and a moment later saw the familiar carter, the one who drove with his feet. His cart cut through the darkness towards her from the mountain pass, but was slowed by Binu’s abrupt move to the centre of the road. Wuzhang lashed out with his whip to get her to move, but to no avail; he was forced to stop.
‘You haven’t managed to get yourself sold, I see,’ he said. ‘Try again tomorrow. But for now get out of my way. Our new retainer was late. We have already missed Lord Hengming’s party.’
Without a word in response, Binu stood her ground and reached into her bundle to take out a shiny sabre coin, which she held out towards the man’s feet.
‘Have you really become a mute? Say something. Just where do you want to go?’
‘I cannot stop, Elder Brother, I must keep going. Be a good man and take me part of the way. So long as I’m heading north, I’ll go as far as you’ll take me.’
He reached down with his foot and deftly picked up the coin with his toes. He raised his other foot and shook it up and down. Binu did not know what that meant. She paused for a moment, but then took out another coin and placed it between his toes. Her hand trembled visibly. ‘I’ve never spent so much money before,’ she said. ‘If Qiliang knew, he’d scold me severely. All that just for a ride. But I have been on the road for three days and nights, and tonight I cannot walk another step.’
‘You think I’ve asked for too much? Don’t you realize whose cart this is?’ The carter turned to look at the new retainer seated behind him, who answered his gaze with a small movement of his head. ‘This brother is a kind man. Without a nod from him, I could not take you anywhere. Hurry up and thank him, for you will be riding in Lord Hengming’s cart, and for only two sabre coins. Few people have that good
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