透明的红萝卜 英文版 Radish - Mo Yan

MoYan

Radish

ChapterOne

Anautumnmorning,theairthicklyhumid,alayeroftransparentdewdropsclungtobladesofgrassandrooftiles.Leavesonthescholartreehadbeguntoturnyellow;arustyironbellhangingfromabranchwasalsodewladen.Theproductionteamleader,apaddedjacketdrapedoverhisshoulders,ambledtowardthebell,carryingasorghumflatbreadinonehandandclutchingathick-peeledleekintheother.Bythetimehereachedthebell,hishandswereempty,buthischeekswerepuffedoutlikeafieldmousescurryingawaywithautumnprovisions.Heyankedtheclapperagainstthesideofthebell,whichrangoutloudly—clang,clang,clang.Peopleyoungandoldstreamedoutofthelanestoconvergebeneaththebell,eyesfixedontheteamleader,likeacrowdofmarionettes.Heswallowedhard,andwipedhisstubble-ringedmouthonhissleeve.Alleyeswatchedthatmouthasitopened—tospitoutastreamofcurses:‘I’llbefuckedifthosestupidcommunepricksaren’ttakingtwoofourstonemasonsonedayandtwocarpentersthenext.Heturnedtoatall,broad-shoulderedyoungman.‘They’rebreakingupourworkforce.Thecommuneplanstowidenthefloodgatebehindthevillage,mason,’hesaidtohim.‘Everyteamhastosendthemamasonandanunskilledlabourer.Itmightaswellbeyou.’

Thehandsomeyoungmasonhadblackeyebrowsandwhiteteeth,thecontrastlendinghimaheroicbearing.Agentleshakeofhisheadsentbackalockofhairthathadfallenoverhisforehead.Speakingwithaslightstammer,heaskedwhotheunskilledlabourerwouldbe.

Theteamleaderfoldedhisarms,asiftofightoffthecold,androlledhiseyeslikepinwheels.‘Awomanmakesthemostsense,’herasped,‘butweneedthemforpickingcotton,andsendingamanwouldbeawasteofmanpower.’Helookedaroundandhisgazefellonthewall.Aboyoftenorsostoodinacorner.Hewasbarefootandstrippedtothewaist,wearingonlyapairoflong,baggy,green-stripedwhiteshortsthatwerestainedbygrassanddriedblood.Theshortsendedathisknees,abovecalvesshinywithscars.

‘Iseeyou’restillwithus,Hei-hai,youlittleshit!’theteamleadersaidashestudiedtheboy’sjuttingbreast-bone.‘Ithoughtyou’dgonedowntomeettheKingofHell.Areyouovertheshakes?’

Theboydidn’trespond,justkepthisbrightblackeyesfixedontheteamleader.Hehadabigheadandaskinnyneckthatseemedindangerofsnappingfromtheloaditcarried.

‘Feellikeearningafewworkpoints?ThoughIdon’tknowwhatapitifullittlethinglikeyoucouldpossiblydo.Afartwouldknockyouoffyourfeet.Gowiththemasontothefloodgate,how’sthat?Butfirstrunhomeandgetahammer,thenyoucansitupthereandsmashrocks,asmanyasyoufeellike,orasfew.Ifhistory’sanyjudge,thesecommunejobsarejustbusyworkmeanttofooltheforeigndevils.’

Theboyshuffleduptothemasonandtuggedathisjacket.Hewasrewardedwithafriendlypatonhisshavedgourdofahead.‘Gohomeandaskyourstepmotherforahammer,andI’llmeetyouatthebridgehead.’

Theboytookoff.Hehadalltheappearanceofrunning,hisrail-thinarmsflailinglikeascarecrowinthewind,butnoneofthespeed.Alleyeswereonhim,andastheylookedathisbareback,theysuddenlyfeltthecold.Theteamleadertuggedathisjacket.‘Whenyougethome,’heshouted,‘tellyourstepmothertogiveyouashirt,youpoorlittlebeggar!’

Hestoleinquietlythroughthegate.Asnot-nosedlittleboywithapushed-infacewassittingintheyard,playingintheurine-wettedmud.Helookedupandthrewopenhisarms:‘Bro…bro…pickup…’Hei-haibentdown,pickedupalightredapricotleaftowipehisstepbrother’snose,thenslappedthesnottyleafontothewalllikealeaflet.Hewavedtheboyoffandslippedintothehouse,wherehepickedupaclawhammerfromacornerandslippedbackoutside.Thelittleboycalledoutagain,soHei-haisnatchedupafallenbranch,drewawidecirclearoundhisstepbrotherontheground,thentossedthebranchawayandspedtotherearofthevillage,whereamedium-sizedriverflowed,spannedbyastonebridgewithninearchedopenings.Owingtosummerfloods,thetrunksofweepingwillows

growinginprofusionontheleveewerecoveredwithredfibrousroots.Nowthatthewaterhadreceded,therootshaddriedout.Thewillowleaveshadyellowedandfallenintotheriver,tobecarriedslowlydownstream.Ducksglidingneartheriverbankquackedastheydugtheirredbeaksintoaquaticgrassesinsearchoffood,thoughwhoknewiftheyfoundany.

Theboywaswheezingbythetimehereachedthelevee.Hisjuttingbreastboneseemedtocontainacluckinghen.

‘Hurryup,Hei-hai!’themasonshoutedfromthebridgehead.

Hei-hai,stillappearingtoberunning,madehiswayovertothemason.‘Aren’tyoucold?’themasonaskedashelookedhimover.

Hei-haijustgapedathim.Themasonwasinworkclothes—pantsandjacketoveraredathleticshirt,itsdazzlingcollarturnedupflamboyantly.Theboystaredatthatcollarasifitwereabonfire.

‘Whatareyoulookingat?’themasonasked,rubbingtheboy’shead,whichrockedbackandforthlikeadrumrattle.‘You,’hesaid,‘yourstepmotherhasknockedthesenserightoutofyou.’

Themasonwhistledatune,rappinghisfingersontheboy’sheadastheywalkedontothebridge.Theboysteppedcarefullytokeephisheadwherethemasoncouldrapitwiththickknucklesthatwerehardaslittleclubs.Ithurt,butheboreitsilently,withonlyaslightwince.Themasoncouldwhistlejustaboutanythingwithhismoist,redlips.Puckeringthemupandspreadingthemabit,hemimickedthecrisp,melodicnotesofameadowlarkandsentthemsoaringintothesky.

Theycrossedthebridge,climbedtheleveeandheadedwesttothefloodgate,abouthalfaliaway.Thefloodgatewasalsoabridgeofsorts,thedifferencebeingaflashboardthatheldbackthewaterwhenitwasdownandreleaseditwhenitwasraised.Thelevee’sgentleslope,denselycoveredwithfeatheryriverlocusts,gaveoutontoawide,spongysandbankwherewildgrasswasalreadytakingrootinthewakeofthesummerflood.Richopencountryspreadoutbeyondtheleveeasfarastheeyecouldsee,

saturatedfromtheannualfloodswithsiltdepositsthatturnedoncehardblackearthintofertilesoil.Themostrecentfloodhadbeenlightenoughtosparethelevee,sothegatehadremainedshut.ThefloodplainwassodenselyplantedwithBengalesejuteitwaslikeavirginforest.Alightmistshroudedthefieldonthatearlymorning,lendingitanoceanicquality.

ThemasonandHei-haistrolleduptothefloodgate,wheretwoteamswaitedonthesandyground.Menmadeuponeteam,womentheother,likeapairofrivalcamps.Acommunecadre,notebookinhand,stoodbetweentheteamsandgesturedashespoketothem,raisingandloweringhisarms.ThemasonledHei-haialongthefloodgate’sconcretestepsandwalkeduptotheman.‘Reportinginfromourvillage,DeputyDirectorLiu,’hesaid.Hehadoftenbeentemporarilyassignedtothecommune,whereDirectorLiuwasfrequentlyinchargeofprojects,sotheyalreadykneweachother.

Hei-haiwasstaringatDirectorLiu’sbroadmouth.Whenthepurplelipsthatformedthatmouthcametogethertheyproducedastringofsounds:‘Youagain,youslipperydevil.Thatdamnedvillageofyourssureknowshowtomeetquotas.They’vesentmeamanwhocouldslipthroughthe

holesofanystrainer.Justmyluck.Where’syourhelper?’

Hei-haifeltthemason’sknucklesonhishead.

‘Him?’DirectorLiuwrappedhishandaroundtheboy’sneckandwobbledhisheadbackandforth.Hei-hai’sheelsnearlylefttheground.‘Whysendmethisskinnylittlemonkey?’hesnarled.‘Canheevenliftahammer?’

‘Allrightnow,DirectorLiuTaiyang,’themasonsaidashepriedtheman’shandfromHei-hai’sneck.‘Thegloryofsocialismisthateveryoneeats.Hei-haicomesfromthreegenerationsofpoorpeasants.Ifsocialismwon’ttakecareofhim,whowill?Besides,hismother’sgone,andheliveswithastepmother.Hisdaddywentofftothenorth-eastlikeamanpossessedandhasn’tbeenhomeforthreeyears.Hemightbebearfoodbynoworlyinginthebelliesofwolves.Where’syourclasssentiment,DirectorLiuTaiyang?’Thishesaidpartlyinjest.

Hei-haiwaslightheadedfromtheshaking.He’dbeencloseenoughtothedirectortosmellthealcoholonhisbreath,anditmadehimsick.Itwaswhathisstepmothersmelledlikemuchofthetime.Afterhisfatherleft,sheoftensenthimtothecanteentobarterdriedyamsforalcohol,andshedidn’tstopdrinkingtillshewasdrunk.Thatwaswhenthebeatingandthepinchingandthebitingstarted.

‘Askinnylittlemonkey!’DirectorLiuspatout,thenturnedandcontinuedlecturingtheothers.

Hammerinhand,Hei-haiscamperedontothefloodgate,aboutahundredmetreslongandadozenormoremetrestall,andfrontedonthenorthbyarectangulartrough,thesamelengthasthefloodgateitself.Itcontainedtheremnantsofthesummerfloodwaters.Theboystoodatopthefloodgate,grippingthestonerailingashegazeddownatthewater,wherescrawnyblackfishswamclumsilybetweentherocks.Bothendsofthegatebuttedupagainstthetoweringlevee,whichwaspartoftheroadtothecountytown.Therewerestonerailings,halfametrehigh,ateachendofthefive-metre-widegate.Afewyearsearlier,apassinghorsecarthadknockedanumberofcyclistsovertheside,leadingtobrokenlegsandhipsandevenafatality.He’dbeenyoungerthen,ofcourse,andhadhadalotmoremeatonhisbones.Hisfatherhadn’tleftforthenorth-eastandhisstepmotherhadn’tstarteddrinking.Heranovertoseewhatwasgoingon,butarrivedtoolate,afterthecyclistshadbeentakenaway,andallthatremainedinthetroughwasmuddywaterstainedred.Hisnosewaskeenenoughtodetectthestinkofbloodfloatingupfromthewater.

Grippingthecoldwhitestonerailingwithonehand,herappeditwithhishammer,causingbothrailingandhammertoringout.Andashelistenedintentlytothesound,scenesfromthepastflittedinandoutofhiseyesbeforedisappearing.Abrightsunshonedownonthejutefieldbeyondthelevee,andhewatchedafinemistskitteramongtheplants.Thefieldsweretoodenselyplanted:lowtothegroundthereweregapsbetweenthestalks,buttheupperbranchesandleafytopscametogether,dampandglistening.Helethiseyesdriftwestward,pastthejutefieldtoapatchofsweetpotatoes,wherethefleshypurpleleavesgleamed.Hei-haiknewthey

wereanewvariety,shortvinesheavilyladenwithpotatoesbiggerandsweeterthanmost,withwhiteskinsandredpulp;theyburstopenwhencooked.Avegetableplotborderedthesweetpotatopatchtothenorth.Nowthatallprivatelandhadrevertedtothecommune,thisiswhereproductionbrigademembersplantedvegetables.Hei-haiknewthatboththevegetableplotandthesweetpotatopatchbelongedtoavillagefiveliaway.Itwasoneoftherichervillages.Thevegetableplotwasplantedwithcabbagesandradishes,whoselong,lushtasselsweresuchadeepgreentheywerenearlyblack.Alonelytwo-roomshedinthecentreoftheplotwashometoalonelyoldman.Theboyknewallthis.Juteplantsasfarastheeyecouldseespreadoutnorthofthefield.Thesamewastruetothewest.Withjuteonthreesidesandtheleveeonthefourth,thesweet-potatoplotandvegetablefieldlookedlikeabigsquarewell.Astheboy’sthoughtswandered,thepurpleandgreenleavesturnedintoautumnwellwater,andthenthejutebecamewater,whilesparrowsskimmingthetipsofthejuteplantsweretransformedintogreenkingfisherssnappinguptinyshrimpfromthewater’ssurface.

DeputyDirectorLiuwasstilllecturing.Hereiswhathesaid:IfagricultureistofollowtheDazhaiCommunemodel,irrigationwillbeitslifeblood.That’soneofthepointsoftheEightPointCharterforAgriculture.Agriculturewithoutirrigationislikeachildwithnomother.Orachildwithamotherwithnobreasts.Orit’sachildwithamotherwithbreastsbutnomilk.Withoutmilkthechildwilldie,orifitlives,it’llturnoutlikethislittlemonkey(DirectorLiupointedtoHei-hai,uponthefloodgate.Theboyhadhisbacktothepeopleandtheycouldseetwosun-illuminatedscarsstreakingdownhisbacklikejaggedlightningbolts).Andbesides,thegateissonarrowitclaimsliveseveryyear.Thecommune’srevolutionarycommitteetakesthisveryseriously,andafterstudyingtheproblemfromallangles,we’vedecidedtowidenthegate.Togetthejobdone,we’vemobilisedlabourersfromallbrigades,morethantwohundredofyou.Thisisthefirststage:girlsandmarriedwomen,youngandold,plusthelittlemonkey(hepointedasecondtimetoHei-haiuponthegatewhosescarsnowshonelikemirrors)willbreakupalltherockswithinfivehundredsquaremetrestothesizeofrestorativepillsoreggyolks.Masonswillthenshapethepiecesofstoneappropriately.Theseareourtwo

blacksmiths(hepointedtoapairofdeeply-tannedmen,onetall,theothershort,oneold,theotheryoung),whowillrepairchiselsthemasonshavedulled.Thoseofyouwholiveclosebywillreturntoyourvillagesformeals,theotherswilleatinthevillageupahead,wherewe’vesetupafieldkitchen.Thesameforsleeping:thosewholivefartherawaywillspendthenightsunderthebridgeopenings(hepointedtothearchedopeningsbelowthefloodgate).Thewomenwillsleepfromeasttowest,themenfromwesttoeast.Strawwillbespreadoutonthegroundforsleeping,fluffyasspringmattresses,toofuckingcomfyforthelikesofyou.

‘Areyougoingtosleepunderone,DirectorLiu?’

‘I’mincharge,I’vegotabicycle,andit’snoneofyourbusinesswhereIplantosleep,sodon’tgetyourgutsinastew.Dosoldiersridehorsesjustbecausetheirofficerdoes?Nowgetyourassestowork.You’llgetplentyofworkpoints,andI’llthrowinameasureofwaterconservationgrainandtwentywaterconservationcents.Anyonewhodoesn’twanttoworkcanfuckoff.Eventhelittlemonkeywillgetmoneyandrations,andbythetimeworkonthegateisfinishedhe’llhaveputonweight,youcanbetonit.’

Hei-haididn’thearawordDirectorLiusaid.Hehaddrapedhisskinnyarmsovertherailingandwasholdinghishammerinbothhands.Heheardmusiclikebirdsongandthechirpsofautumninsectsfromthejutefield.Theretreatingmistseemedtothunderasitcaromedoffjuteleavesandbothdeepredandlightgreenstalks.Thesoundofgrasshoppersrubbinglegsagainstforewingswaslikeatraincrossinganironbridge.He’donceseenatraininadream,aone-eyedmonsterrunningatacrouch,fasterthanahorse.Whatifithadrunstandingupinstead?Thetrainhadjuststoodupinhisdreamwhenhewasawakenedbyaswatfromhisstepmother’shearthbroom.Shetoldhimtofetchwaterfromtheriver.Theswatdidn’thurt,thatwasjustablastofheat,butthesoundwaslikesomeonefarawayclubbingajutesackfilledwithcotton.Withthecarryingpoleoverhisshoulder,hehookedonthefullbucketsofwater;theybarelyclearedtheground,andhecouldhearhisbonescreak.Hisribspushedagainsthishipbones.Holdingtheswayingpolewithbothhands,heclimbedthesteepleveeontoapathtwistedbywillowtrees,whosetrunksseemedfittedwithmagnets;they

pulledthetinplatebucketsawayfromhim.Onehitatreeandsloshedwaterontothepath,turningitsoslipperyitwaslikesteppingonmelonrinds.Hefellawkwardly,andthewatersoakedhimlikeawaterfall.Hisfacesmackedintotheground,flatteninghisnose,whichwasscoredbyagrassystalk.Bloodranfromhisnoseintohismouth.Hespitoutonemouthful,swallowedthenext.Hisbucketssangmerrilyastheyrolleddowntotheriver.Heclamberedupandranafterthem.Onerestedatanangleinriverbankreeds,theotherwasbeingcarrieddownstream.Hechaseditdowntheriverbank,runningonfour-spinedstarthistlethatheandtheotherkidscalleddog-turdgrass.Hetriedtogriptheburrswithhistoes,butstillslippedintotheriver.Itwaswarmandnearlyreachedhisnavel.Hisshortsbillowedoutandwrappedaroundhiswaistlikeajellyfish.Nowwading,hesloshedafterhisbucket,andwhenhecaughtit,heturnedandheadedbackupstream,holdingupthebucketinonehandandpaddlingwiththeother.Theriverranhard,makinghimstumbleasheleanedforwardandthrusthisneckout.Itfelttohimasifaschooloftinyfishhadencircledhislegs,andbegannibblinggently.Hestopped,tryingtocapturethesensation,butitvanished.Theriverdarkened,asifthefishwerefleeinginpanic.Butthepleasantsensationreturnedoncehestartedwalkingagain.Thefishwereback,itseemed.Thistimehedidn’tstop,justkeptforgingahead,eyeshalfshut,movingforward.

‘Hei-hai!’

‘Hei-hai!’

Hesnappedoutofhisreverieandopenedhiseyes.Thefishvanished.Thehammerslippedoutofhishandsanddroppedintothegreenwaterbelowthegate,sprayingawaterychrysanthemumintotheair.

‘Thatlittlemonkey’snotallthere,’DirectorLiusaidasheclimbedontothegateandgrabbedtheboybytheear.‘Goon,gobreakrockswiththewomenandseeifyoucanfindamotherwho’lltakeyouin.’

Themasonalsocameupontothegateandrubbedtheboy’scoldscalp.‘Goon,’hesaid,‘gofindyourhammer.Breakasmuchrockasyoucan.

Thenyoucangoplay.’

‘IfIcatchyouloafingonthejob,I’llcutyourearoffasasnacktogowithmydrink,’DirectorLiuthundered.

Hei-haitrembled.Heslippedthroughthehandrail,grabbedthebaseofapillarwithbothhandsandhungthere.

‘You’llkillyourselfdoingthat!’themasonshoutedinalarmashereacheddowntograbtheboy’shand.ButHei-haipulledaway,clungtoabulgeinoneofthebridgepylonsandsliddownnimbly.Pressingupagainstthestonelikeawalllizard,helethimselfdownintothetrough,scoopeduphishammer,climbedoutanddisappearedunderabridgeopening.

‘Thatdamnedlittlemonkey!’DirectorLiusaid,strokinghischin.‘He’sjustagoddamnedlittlemonkey!’

Hei-haiemergedfromunderthebridgeandtimidlymadehiswaytothewomen,whoweretalkingandlaughing.Theyoungwomenblushedredascoxcombs,wantingtolistentothedirtytalk,butafraidtohearit.Whentheboyappeareddarklyintheirmidst,thewomen’smouthsclampedshut.Amomentlater,therewasabitofwhispering,andwhentheysawthathedidnotreact,theirvoicesgrewlouder.

‘Wouldyoulookatthatsorrylittlekid!Theylethimgohalfnakedinthisweather!’

‘Youcan’tloveakidthatdoesn’tcomeoutofyou.’

‘Ihearshedoesyou-know-whatathome…’

Hei-haiturnedawayfromthewomenandgazedattheriver.Thesurfacewasredinplaces,greeninothers.Willowtreesonthesouthernbankflutteredlikedragonflies.

AyoungwomaninacrimsonbandanawalkedupbehindHei-haiandsaidsoftly,‘Where’syourvillage,boy?’

Hecockedhisheadandglancedatheroutofthecornerofhiseye.Hespottedafinedustingofyellowfuzzonherupperlip.Shehadbigeyes,butdense,fuzzylashesgaveherasleepylook.

‘What’syourname,boy?’

Hei-haiwasfightingwiththestarthistlesinthesand,pinchingoffsix-andeight-thornedthistleswithhistoes.Thenhesteppedonthem,snappingoffallthethornsandcrushingthemwithfeetashardasamule’shooves.

Shelaughedgaily.‘That’squiteatalent,darklittleboy.Youhavefeetlikehorseshoes.Whydon’tyousaysomething?’Shepokedhimontheshoulderwithtwofingers.‘Didn’tyouhearme?Iaskedyouaquestion.’

Hei-haifeltthetwowarmfingerstraildownfromhisshoulderandstopatoneofthescarsonhisback.

‘Ohmy,wheredidyougetthese?’

Hisearstwitched.Thatcaughtherattention,suchincrediblylongears.

‘So,youcanwiggleyourears,’shesaid.‘Justlikeabunnyrabbit.’

NowthehandhadmoveduptoHei-hai’sear,andhefeltthetwofingerspinchhisdelicatelobe.

‘Tellmeaboutthesescars.’Shegentlytuggedhisearuntilhewasfacingher,levelwithherchest.Ratherthanlookup,hestaredstraightahead,atred-checkedfabricacrosswhichlaythetipofayellowedbraid.‘Dogbites?Boils?Climbingtrees?Youpoorthing.’

Moved,hegazedupathersmooth,roundchin.Hesniffled.

‘Lookingtoadopt,Juzi?’alarge,round-facedwomanshouted.

Hei-hai’seyesrolledintheirsockets,thewhitesflutteredlikemoths.

‘That’sright,myname’sJuzi,’shetoldhim.‘I’mfromavillageupaheadabouttenli.Ifyoufeelliketalking,justcallme“bigsisterJuzi”.’

‘Lookingforahusband,Juzi?Haveyoufoundtheoneyouwant?Howmanyyearswillyouhavetoholdouttillthisducklingisreadytomount?’

‘Stinkingoldcrone!’Juzicursedthefatwoman.‘Nothingbutshitcomesoutofthatmouth.’SheledHei-haiovertothemountainofbrokenrockanddugaroundtofindonewithaflatsurface.‘Sitonthis,’shesaid,‘andstayclosetome.Startbreakingrocks,buttakeiteasy.’Shefoundasmoothrockforherselfandplaceditnearhis.Inamatterofmoments,thesandyareainfrontofthefloodgatewasringingwiththesoundofmetalonstone.WithHei-haiastheirtopic,thewomenexchangedviewsonahardlifeandthereasonsbehindit.Inthis‘women’sphilosophy’eternaltruthsweremixedwithplentyofnonsense.Juzipaidnoattentiontoit—shewasfocusedontheboy.Atfirstheacknowledgedherattentionwithanoccasionalglance,butbeforelonghelookedtobeinatrance,eyeswide,gazingintospace,whileshelookedonanxiously.Hegraspedarockwithhislefthandandraisedthehammerwithhisright.Theeffortseemedtoexhausthim,andthehammerdroppedlikeaheavyobjectinfreefall.Shenearlycriedouteverytimeshesawthehammerdescendingtowardhishand,butnothinghappened—thehammertracedawobblyarcintheair,butalwayslandedontherock.

Hei-hai’seyeswerefixedontherocksatfirst,butastrangesounddriftedoverfromtheriver,thinandfaint,likenibblingfishes,nownear,nowfar.Strainingtocaptureitwithbotheyesandears,hesawabrightgassycloudrisingovertheriver,whichseemedtocapturetheoscillatinghumwithin.Hischeeksgrewruddyandanaffectingsmilegatheredatthecornersofhismouth.Hehadlongforgottenwherehewassittingandwhathewasdoing,asifthearmthatmovedupanddownbelongedtosomeoneelse.Thentheindexfingerofhislefthandwentnumb,andthearmjerked.Asoundemergedfromhismouth,somethingbetweenamoanandasigh.Helookeddownandsawthatthenailonthatfingerwascrackedinseveralplaces,andthatbloodwasoozingfromthecracks.

‘Haveyousmashedyourfinger?’thewomanaskedasshejumpedupandsteppedovertocrouchbyhim.‘Ohno,lookwhatyou’vedone!Whoworkslikethat,lettinghisthoughtsflyofftowhoknowswhere?’

Hei-haiscoopedupahandfulofdirtwhileshewasscoldinghimandpresseditontheinjuredfinger.

‘Haveyoulostyourmind,Hei-hai?’Shedraggedhimdowntotheriver.‘There’sfilthystuffinthatdirt.’Thesolesofhisfeetslappedloudlyonthegleamingbanks.Hecroucheddownattheriver’sedge,wherethewomanstuckhisfingerintothewater.Atrickleofdirtyyellowformedinfrontofhisfinger.Oncethedirthadwashedaway,redthreadsofbloodquiveredinthewater.Theboy’sfingernaillookedlikecrackedjade.

‘Doesithurt?’

Hedidn’tmakeasound.Hiseyeswerefixedonrivershrimpatthebottom.Thetransparentcrustaceans’feelersflutteredslowly,exquisitely.

ShetookoutahandkerchiefembroideredwithaChinaroseandwrappeditaroundthefinger,thenledhimbacktotherockpile.‘Sithereandrelax,’shesaid.‘Noonewillbotheryou,youpoorlittledevil.’

Theotherwomenstoppedwhattheyweredoingtocastmistylookstheirway.Silencelayovertherockpile.Patchesofcloudfloatedthroughthebrightblueskylikelambs,castingfleetingshadowsthatenshroudedthepaleriverbankandthestoicwater.Thewomen’sfacesworedrearylooks,likebarrensoilinwhichnothinggrew.Afteralongmomentofindecisiontheywentbacktowork,asifwakingfromadream,themonotonoussoundofmetalonstonecreatinganauraofresignation.

Hei-haisatsilently,staringattheredflowerembroideredonthehandkerchief.Anotherredfloweradornedtheedge,thisonecreatedbybloodfromunderhisfingernail.Thewomenquicklyputhimoutoftheirmindsandwentbacktolaughingandtalking.Hei-haibroughthisinjuredfingertohismouthanduntiedtheknotinthehandkerchiefwithhisteeth,thenpackedthefingerinanotherhandfulofdirt.Juziwasabouttosay

something,butstoppedwhenshesawhimretiethehandkerchiefaroundthefingerusinghisteethandfreehand.Shesighed,raisedherhammerandbroughtitdownhardonadarkredrock.Itsknife-likeedgesemittedenormoussparkswhentheycameincontactwiththehammer,visibleeveninthebrightsunlight.

Atnoon,LiuTaiyangrodeoutfromHei-haiandthemason’svillageonablackbicycle.Standinginfrontofthefloodgate,heblewhiswhistletostopworkandannouncedthatthefieldkitchenwasup,butonlyavailabletothosewholivedfartherthanfiveli.Everyonehurriedlygathereduptheirtools.Theyoungwomanstoodup.Sodidtheboy.

‘Howfarawaydoyoulive,Hei-hai?’

Hei-haiignoredher,turninghisheadthiswayandthat,asifsearchingforsomething.Juzi’sheadfollowed,andwhenhisstoppedswivelling,sodidhers.Lookingstraightahead,hereyesmetthelivelyeyesofthemason,andtheyheldthelookfornearlyaminute.

‘Timetoeat,Hei-hai,’themasonsaid.‘Let’sgohome.Don’tgivemethatlook,itwon’tdoyouanygood.Weliveacoupleoflifromhere,andwe’renotluckyenoughtoeatinthekitchen.’