Kai Lungs Golden Hours | Page 7

banners of the 'Spreading Lotus' and the 'Avenging Knife' are
already raised and pressing nearer every day, while the signs and
passwords are so widely flung that every man speaks slowly and with a
double tongue. Lately there have been slicings and other forms of
vigorous justice no farther distant than Loo-chow, and now the
Mandarin Shan Tien comes to Yu-ping to flatten any signs of
discontent. The occupation of this person is that of a maker of sandals
and coverings for the head, but very soon there will be more wooden
feet required than leather sandals in Yu-ping, and artificial ears will be
greater in demand than hats. For this reason he has got together all his
goods, sold the more burdensome, and now ventures on an untried
way."
"Prosperity attend your goings. Yet, as one who has set his face
towards Yu-ping, is it not possible for an ordinary person of simple life
and unassuming aims to escape persecution under this same Shan
Tien?"

"Of the Mandarin himself those who know speak with vague lips. What
is done is done by the pressing hand of one Ming-shu, who takes down
his spoken word; of whom it is truly said that he has little resemblance
to a man and still less to an angel."
"Yet," protested the story-teller hopefully, "it is wisely written: 'He who
never opens his mouth in strife can always close his eyes in peace.'"
"Doubtless," assented the other. "He can close his eyes assuredly.
Whether he will ever again open them is another matter."
With this timely warning the sandal-maker rose and prepared to resume
his journey. Nor did he again take up the burden of his task until he had
satisfied himself that the westward road was destitute of traffic.
"A tranquil life and a painless death," was his farewell parting. "Jung,
of the line of Hai, wishes you well." Then, with many imprecations on
the relentless sun above, the inexorable road beneath, and on every
detail of the evilly-balanced load before him, he passed out on his way.
It would have been well for Kai Lung had he also forced his reluctant
feet to raise the dust, but his body clung to the moist umbrage of his
couch, and his mind made reassurance that perchance the maiden
would return. Thus it fell that when two others, who looked from side
to side as they hastened on the road, turned as at a venture to the wood
they found him still there.
"Restrain your greetings," said the leader of the two harshly, in the
midst of Kai Lung's courteous obeisance; "and do not presume to
disparage yourself as if in equality with the one who stands before you.
Have two of the inner chamber, attired thus and thus, passed this way?
Speak, and that to a narrow edge."
"The road lies beyond the perception of my incapable vision, chiefest,"
replied Kai lung submissively. "Furthermore, I have slept."
"Unless you would sleep more deeply, shape your stubborn tongue to a
specific point," commanded the other, touching a meaning sword.

"Who are you who loiter here, and for what purpose do you lurk?
Speak fully, and be assured that your word will be put to a corroding
test."
Thus encouraged, Kai Lung freely disclosed his name and ancestry, the
means whereby he earned a frugal sustenance and the nature of his
journey. In addition, he professed a willingness to relate his most
recently-acquired story, that entitled "Wu-yong: or The Politely
Inquiring Stranger", but the offer was thrust ungracefully aside.
"Everything you say deepens the suspicion which your
criminal-looking face naturally provokes," said the questioner, putting
away his tablets on which he had recorded the replies. "At Yu-ping the
matter will be probed with a very definite result. You, Li-loe, remain
about this spot in case she whom we seek should pass. I return to speak
of our unceasing effort."
"I obey," replied the dog-like Li-loe. "What men can do we have done.
We are no demons to see through solid matter."
When they were alone, Li-loe drew nearer to Kai Lung and, allowing
his face to assume a more pacific bend, he cast himself down by the
story-teller's side.
"The account which you gave of yourself was ill contrived," he said.
"Being put to the test, its falsity cannot fail to be discovered."
"Yet," protested Kai Lung earnestly, "in no single detail did it deviate
from the iron line of truth."
"Then your case is even more desperate than before," exclaimed Li-loe.
"Know now that the repulsive-featured despot who has just left us is
Ming-shu, he who takes down the Mandarin Shan Tien's spoken word.
By admitting that you are from Loo-chow, where disaffection reigns,
you have noosed a rope about your neck, and by proclaiming yourself
as