Chapter Twenty-one
JTALY SURRENDERED and in the Pacific the Imperial Japanese Navy retreated from point to point.The Japanese in Peiping were each ordered to make ten Chinese friends.
The Japanese in house Number Three of the Little Sheep Fold,like the other Japanese of Peiping,began to come out to make “friends.” In the past they and their Chinese neighbors had had no social intercourse,but now even the expressions on their faces must be changed according to order.
Fourth Mistress Li was the first to reject their friendship.She loved everybody but she could not love the people who had kicked her old mate to death.Although she knew that those who had kicked her old mate to death were not the people from Number Three,still Japanese were after all Japanese — and she was not willing to distinguish too clearly between them?
The old widow's mouth was not at all what a widow's should be.She used all the vile words she knew.The Japanese did not know the dictionary in which her words could be found and could only listen with smiles.They thought she was speaking nicely to them.They had come to make friends with her — how could she be reviling them?
Cheng Chang Shun almost quarreled with his grandmother.Old Widow Ma,holding to her philosophy of amiability,wanted to receive the Japanese and not offend them.She knew they were to be feared and hated,but since they had come to her she felt that at least she should give them a cup of tea and should not absolutely drive them away.
Chang Shun decided to lock the gate from the inside.He could not receive “friends” of that kind.
In the Little Sheep Fold everyone felt that this business of killing people and then making friends was a jest,and a hateful one. Without consultation and as one man,they paid no attention to the Japanese.
John Ting was the only exception.
In the past when he had been working in the English Palace,John Ting had despised the Japanese more than anyone.Now he had had no work for a long time and his hope of going back to the English Palace faded more and more.He had to have a foreign master for his heart to be at peace.He had become accustomed to being a slave to the foreigners.
After he became Head of the Li he had been able to play some tricks and had obtained some coal.This coal made it possible for him to have some income every day.He had built a small stove in his courtyard and begun to sell fire.The neighbors who had no coal to make a fire could come to him and boil their tea water or cook their food.He watched the big clock and charged according to the time.
The Japanese in Number Three could not understand why the Chinese were so unfeeling and unreasonable as not to be friendly with them.Only when John Ting repaid their call did they begin to feel happy.They had feared that if they did not make a single friend they would be punished.They were thinking of going to house Number One to ask the old lady there how she had become so friendly with all the neighbors,and if the old lady would not tell them they would threaten her,and perhaps make up accusations and secretly harm her.Fortunately John Ting,Head of the Little Sheep Fold Li,was willing to make friends with them.They must hold him tightly in the way they invaded others' countries — first to hold one place and then gradually move forward like silk worms eating mulberry leaves.
John Ting,like other foreign slaves,wanted there to be still more foreign slaves so that he could be their prophet and leader.He boasted to the Japanese in house Number Three,“I am Head of the Li,I can give orders for them all to be your friends.” When he came out of house Number Three,John Ting's back was straight again,and he had almost the air he had had when in the English Palace.
He went to find Sergeant Pai.He practically ordered Sergeant Pai to help him notify the neighbors that they must show good feeling toward the Japanese.
Sergeant Pai was a practical man,but practical according to reason and according to the right emotions.He never lost his head and he was able to take advantage of an opportunity,but he would not because of this lose his love for his country and for his own people.He die not agree with John Ting.
“Just one word is enough,”he said to John Ting.“If the Japanese want to make friends with us,is it not the same as the weasel taking New Year's Greetings to the chicken?”
John Ting was annoyed.He was the child of the national humiliation of the last hundred years.The air he breathed was that of the national shame.His highest ideal was to beg the foreigners to lift their honorable hands and not to strike him,but to let him lead his life as a foreign slave.According to what he thought,England could be defeated by Japan but Japan could never be defeated by the Chinese.Even if Japan should unfortunately be defeated,would not England and America become strong again and again be his masters?Never could the Chinese alone get their backs straight and walk shoulder to shoulder together as brothers with the English and the Americans.He did not want to talk any more with Sergeant Pai.
John Ting went to see Rey Shuan.Rey Shuan had eaten the food of the English Palace — he would certainly understand.
If this had happened some time before Rey Shuan would have smiled a little and said something slightly ironic to send John Ting away.Now,however,he decided to tell John Ting in detail what he knew about the world situation,whether John Ting understood or not,or whether he wanted to hear or not.Rey Shuan must take every opportunity to do his duty in spreading his propaganda.After a long speech he said to John Ting,“Sergeant Pai and the neighbors are right.It is your thinking that is wrong.”
John Ting chewed the cud of Rey Shuan's words and began to see some light.“Oh,I understand now.You are saying that America and England will certainly be victorious and that you and I will go back again to work in the English Palace.That will be wonderful,be wonderful.”
Rey Shuan wanted to spit in John Ting's face but he controlled himself.“You are still wrong.We should not be dependent on anyone.We should be our own masters.”
John Ting said no more but very politely took his leave.He could not understand what Rey Shuan meant.
He went again to see the people in house Number Three and told them that Sergeant Pai was unwilling to co-operate.He had no desire to harm Sergeant Pai behind his back but he must make the Japanese understand how ardently he had tried to get friends for them.If the Japanese should,unfortunately,hate Sergeant Pai that could not be helped.
The Japanese immediately hated Sergeant Pai.Their hatred came more quickly than friendly love.
They would not tell the high Japanese officials about this small matter but wrote a letter to Sergeant Pai's superiors,who were also Chinese,and accused him of neglecting his duty.
Sergeant Pai's superiors were afraid of losing their jobs and starving to death.For the sake of their own rice bowls they dared not protect Sergeant Pai.They dismissed him.
Sergeant Pai's best years had passed.He had experience,ideas,and the affection of the people,but he had no savings and no prospects.All his life he had used all he had.Heng!If he had had only cunning and deceit and had had no kindness of heart,perhaps in these years of tumult and disturbance he might not have been discharged.
Well,since a good heart and good conduct could not save him,why not take up his hands and kill and burn?The Japanese were those who killed and set fires and they had become the masters of Peiping.He decided to kill John Ting.Who cared whether it was good or bad to kill?The greatest revelation of the war was to show people who had never killed before how to kill.
On second thought — if one was to kill,why not kill a Japanese?
He did not tell his family that he had been discharged,but stuck the kitchen chopper inside his coat,and went out.
He went toward the Little Sheep Fold.There were Japanese on every street,but without thinking and from habit,he walked toward the Little Sheep Fold.He was used to the place,and most likely,those who had informed on him were from house Number Three.Well — they would do for a start to try out his kitchen chopper.
His long face was deadly pale; beads of sweat stood out on his forehead; his back was very straight; his eyes looked straight ahead but he saw nothing.He was no longer Sergeant Pai;he was only a spirit of death,gloomy and cold as (a life-demanding ghost) death,about 5 or 6 feet tall.He had lost his past and his future;he had lost his cunning and his good heart.He had lost everything,and thought only of burying his chopper in flesh and then to pass it across his own throat.
When he saw the spirit screen of house Number Three he stood still.It was as though he had suddenly awakened.He had been about to do a thing that was entirely contrary to the ideals of his whole life.He stood in a daze.
Rey Shuan came out of his gate.
A large portion of Sergeant Pai's will to kill evaporated when he saw Rey Shuan.His shoulders sagged and his hands and feet began to tremble.
“What's the matter,Sergeant Pai?” Rey Shuan asked.
Sergeant Pai's hands went to the place where the chopper was hidden as if he were afraid that Rey Shuan would search him.
Rey Shuan saw that something was wrong.Taking Sergeant Pai's arm he said,“Come and sit with me awhile in my house.”
Without knowing what to do Sergeant Pai went with Rey Shuan,but when he had crossed the threshold he seemed to forget the killing of people and returned to his original courteous ways.“Mr.Chi,I — I will not go in.” He really did not want to go in and talk with Rey Shuan.He felt that to kill was shameful,even to kill a Japanese who had made him lose his job.
Rey Shuan saw that Sergeant Pai must be in trouble.“If you don't want to come in,suppose we talk here.” He closed the gate of the compound.
Sergeant Pai not only regretted that he had wanted to kill,he also regretted that he had not had the courage to kill.All he could do was to tell what was in his heart,and let Rey Shuan be the judge.Very quickly,and without leaving out any details,he told Rey Shuan everything.
When he had heard the story Rey Shuan said nothing for a long time.Sergeant Pai's story and his psychology were the same as Rey Shuan's and that of many,many Peiping people.The people were all unwilling to be conquered by the Japanese,all wanted to fight,yet the peacefulness and lawabidingness assimilated over many thousand years made them wish to do things but unable to do them.
Rey Shuan understood what was in Sergeant Pai's mind so he wanted to encourage him not to kill the Japanese,but to join the group and do underground work.But could he tell Sergeant Pai about Mr.Chien and Old Three?He must be careful and first tell about himself without mentioning Mr.Chien and Old Three.
Rey Shuan spoke with hesitation and Sergeant Pai listened carefully.After a while Sergeant Pai interrupted,“Mr.Chi,what you have to say — say out.I am not one to be a running dog and sell my friends.I am already a man without a way to live.I am one who has already thought of killing the Japanese and then myself.I could not — for a few dollars — sell my friends.If you want me to swear,I will swear.”
Rey Shuan was satisfied and began to tell the truth.“Sergeant Pai,the two of us should certainly be able to do more than Mr.Chien.If Mr.Chien can do so much,could not the two of us accomplish something?Shall we not co-operate?I know that you have no income and no way to live,but what I can share with you I will certainly share with you — that goes without saying.Old Three also will perhaps be able to think of something for you.If we work together today,and tomorrow unfortunately we are arrested,will we not have earned good names for ourselves,for after our death?”
“Tell me what shall I do first?”Sergeant Pai asked without the slightest hesitation.
“It has been quite a few days since I lost contact with Old Three and Mr.Chien.I dare not go to the little temple.I suspect Wang the Third.He came suddenly to see me the other day.If Mr.Chien has been arrested again,the Japanese would certainly keep the monk,Clear Moon,in the temple as a decoy to catch Old Three and others.So I dare not go to the temple.Would you dare to go?”
“Look,” Sergeant Pai smiled sadly and took the chopper out from under his coat.“I had prepared to die.Of what should I be afraid?”
“There will be no need for a chopper.”Rey Shuan also smiled.“I think it is most suitable for you to go to the temple.You have eyes,and with a glance will be able to see the situation,and to know whether you should go in or not.The monk,Clear Moon,does not know you,and that is another advantage.If you do not know each other there can be no expression which would inadvertently let out information.When you get there you will decide whether to go in or not.If you go in — ten thousand — you must not talk with the monk.You must pose as a man seeking to know the future from the gods,and you must act truly.You must pray,saying that you have lost your job,and when you have shaken out the fortune stick,and go to the rack for your fortune sheet,you must take the bottom one of the pile.The news we want will be on that.If you can but get that sheet of paper I will know why I have lost touch with Old Three.But you — ten thousand — must not bring that paper to me directly.I will meer you at the fair in the White Dagoba Temple.We must look for places where there are crowds — places where they have shows of magic,or the stands for selling secondhand clothing.We will meet in some place like that.”
“These are things that I can do.” Sergeant Pai began to look cheerful.
“I know.And you must,besides,have some business even if it is only to sell peanuts so that John Ting will not suspect you.You should go to see him often,and talk nonsense to him,and praise his Christian virtues.In short you must humor him and not let him — out of suspicion — inform again on you.”
“All right,Mr.Chi.I have come to life again,and if I live only two or three more days I will certainly be grateful to you.”Sergeant Pai again hid the knife and started to open the gate to go out.
“If you are arrested,even if they break your bones to pieces,you must not tell about anyone else,” Rey Shuan warned him in a low voice.
Sergeant Pai nodded and opened the gate of the compound.
He took the kitchen chopper back home,and went imme-diately to the little temple.
With his head bent he walked by the little temple and looked out of the corners of his eyes.
The gate of the temple was open and no one was visible in the hall or in the courtyard.He passed by thinking that he must buy some incense sticks,that carrying incense in his hands he would look more like a real seeker of knowledge about the future.
Not far beyond the little temple he saw Wang the Third.Sergeant Pai recognized Wang the Third's red nose ang square head.He coughed.Wang the Third jumped.Sergeant Pai smiled very convincingly and said,“How are you,Third Master Wang?”His approach was familiar but not abrupt or startling,and only he who had been a policeman for many years could have been so natural.
“What's the matter?Who are you?”Wang the Third showed his confusion.
“Don't you remember me?” Sergeant Pai pretended to be an old acquaintance.“My name is Pai.I live near the Little Sheep Fold.”
The three words Little Sheep Fold seemed to be a dagger thrust into Wang the Third's heart.
Sergeant Pai began to walk toward the west,and Wang the Third unconsciously walked along with him.
Wang the Third's nose was still red but it did not shine,and his forehead which had always shone was now not only dark but heavily lined.His eyelids were red as though he had not slept for many nights.There was dust not only on his shoes,but even on his shoulders and on his trousers as if he had stood in the street for several days.“Let us find a place where we can sit down awhile,”Sergeant Pai suggested.
Wang the Third nodded his square head.
“Ah?” Wang the Third questioned as soon as they had sat down.It was as if Sergeant Pai had already asked him a question,and his words were so tightly packed in his heart that they were ready to burst forth.If even a dog had wagged its tail to him it was very likely he would have told what was in his mind.“My in-law,my in-law,they have taken him,” he said abruptly.
“Mr.Chien?”said Sergeant Pai,thinking of the time seven years before when Mr.Chien had been arrested.“How do you know?”
“They told me — they,the Japanese.Ha — I am smart!In order to protect my property,in order to provide food and drink for my daughter and my grandson,I have been friendly with the Japanese.Because I peeped at the little temple they went in and stole my in-law away,and then they told me not to worry,that they would not make him suffer.Hum — seven years ago they beat the flesh off his back!I have no face to go home and see my grandson.I have sent his grandfather into the tiger's mouth — what face have I to see that child?” Wang the Third said this over and over,almost as though he were not talking but spewing out the misery in his heart.
“We must think of some way to save Mr.Chien.” Sergeant Pai said this trying to lead Wang the Third's words towards ways for making plans.
“Save him?Of course.” Wang the Third brought a pile of bank notes from inside his clothes.“I have already prepared this money,to move around,and try to buy out my in-law.If this is not enough I can sell my houses.I can spend money,money.What are houses!Whatever happens I must first see my in-law again and tell him that I am a fool,that I am not a man.I know that once I tell him this he will understand me and will forgive me.He is an educated man and an understanding person.If he has been beaten to death by them,and I cannot see him — I really don't know how I will be able to meet him in the regions below.My bones will not stay in the coffin.Help me,help me — pity me,pity me.”
“Surely I will help you.”
“How will you help me?”Wang the Third wanted to give Sergeant Pai some money,but he must first know clearly what was Sergeant Pai's plan before he gave him the money.
“We must first find out where Mr.Chien's friends are and then we will find some way to save him.”
“Where will we go to make inquiries?”
“Inside the little temple.”
“Good,I'll go.” Wang the Third stood up.
“Wait a bit.” Sergeant Pai also stood up and stopped Wang the Third.“I'll go.You stand afar and watch.If,unfortunately,I am caught by them,you can take a message to Rey Shuan.”
“Good.” Color began to appear in Wang the Third's cheeks.Although to save Mr.Chien was still a long way off,he felt that they had started on the path.He gave Sergeant Pai a few bank notes.“Take these.If you don't want them I'm the ‘son of a dog.' You are doing things for my relative,I cannot let you use your own money for eating and drinking.”