Read Online Dreams of the Red Phoenix by Virginia Pye - Free Book Online Page B

fellow over there. I’ve just finished extracting a bullet from his leg.”
    Reverend Wells looked across to the young man on the sofa. “I see,” he said and smiled politely.
    Wells was a nervous man, easily overwhelmed, though an un natural calm came over him when he rose to the pulpit. Shirley admired his sermons, which were quite erudite. She had often wished that she and Reverend Wells could sit down and parse the Bible, or Chinese culture, or any topic together, but she was relegated to the women’s conversations instead. The lady mis sionaries were a dear bunch, but none of them, except perhaps Kathryn, was a serious thinker.
    Wells glanced out at the crowded compound through the screened window. “We’ve estimated close to five thousand have arrived. Can you imagine? The most we’ve ever had at Christ mas service was five hundred. We finally had to shut the gates. I hated to do it, but we had no choice.”
    â€œMy, I would never have guessed such an enormous number. Whatever will we do with them?”
    Wells’s lips trembled slightly. Shirley realized the terrible iro ny for him: for years, he had avoided the missionary trail, prefer ring to stay in his library rather than go out, as Caleb had, to meet the actual Chinese in town and countryside. But now they had come en masse to him anyway.
    â€œI gather,” she offered, “that the Eighth Route Army of the Reds is somewhere about and intends to help as best they can.”
    â€œWe’re not supposed to get involved with the Communists, although they do seem to have a good touch with the local people and better success against the Japanese. But the American board in Boston has sent strict orders for us not to become entangled in Chinese internal politics. That is the policy.”
    Shirley straightened her spine. “Policy or no, our Amer ican board is in America, Reverend. They can’t possibly un derstand the situation here when we can hardly understand it ourselves.”
    As she spoke, Reverend Wells seemed to duck into his collar, and his face turned a soft and lovely pink. Shirley could imagine her husband whispering frantically in her ear that not everyone was accustomed to what he politely called her straightforwardness when what he really meant was her bossiness . Ladies, and most especially ministers’ wives—in Shirley’s opinion an all-too-often simpering and milquetoast bunch—were not meant to speak that way.
    She pressed on in a more measured tone. “I just don’t think we can follow directives from afar, given the changing circum stances. Don’t you agree, Reverend?”
    â€œYes, of course, you’re right. Absolutely right,” he said, head bobbing.
    Shirley waited for him to continue, but when he did not, she asked, “And so, what do you plan to do?”
    His eyes darted out the window again. “The Eighth Route Army, you say?”
    â€œI must introduce you to Captain Hsu.”
    â€œWhy, yes, Captain Hsu,” Reverend Wells said, his voice ris ing in confidence again. “There’s an excellent fellow. He used to stop by our Bible study group from time to time.”
    â€œIs that so?” she asked. “I was sure the Communists are against religion. Isn’t that one of their central tenets?”
    â€œHe’s not a believer. He came to the study group out of respect for your husband, whom he greatly admired. They developed a friendship of sorts. Caleb was always keen to know the Chinese on their own terms, and he took that experiment to its furthest extent with Hsu. But the captain has a fine mind.” Reverend Wells tapped a finger to his thinning hair. “A top-notch intellect. I think Caleb genuinely enjoyed his company. But I’m sure you know all about that.”
    Shirley nodded pleasantly and did her best to hide her dis belief. How had Caleb developed such a full-blown friendship with someone whom she had