133 Landings

 Hao looked downstream. He was both gladdened and saddened. Gladdened he was on home territory once again but saddened, because he knew the land was all but destroyed for the furtherance of another tribe's greed. He worried too. How were the advanced party, or should he think, parties? He was with a group of fifty men from Shipao, Liú and Chen. They were all good fighters, but not invested as the Chen men who would see their beloved country destroyed.

Staring out, he realised they had a strength of detachment. This was not their land so they could go about the business of clearing with a ruthless objectivity, something which would be lost to the Chen soldiers. They would see their fight through a haze of emotional investment and perhaps lose their sharpness of focus. 'Need to think on this. Use the objectivity and emotional involvement to its best advantage.'

Hao was just about to turn away from the river when he heard the sound he had been unconsciously waiting for, come across the water.

"P-e-e-e-w w-i-t,  P-e-e-e-w w-i-t" (We're here, we're here). 

He recognised it as Băo.

"P-e-e-e-w, P-e-e-e-w," (here, here) 

Hao replied without thinking, a smile widening on his face. 

Then another, "P-e-e-e-w, P-e-e-e-w", both groups had landed. 

Băo and Zŭmò had made it in good time.

Wolfie raised his head and listened. In the distance he heard something which was out of place. He cocked his head and listened closely, yes, it was man but who? Checking, Wolfie looked toward Xin. She was busy and appeared unaffected by the noise. He looked at the others. None seemed perturbed. He lowered his head and continued to dose, one eye open and ears fully alert.

I'd reached overload; too many people. I was okay with a unit of eight, I was fine in the garrison because I had a room I could escape to, but here..... the women cowered to varying degrees. Some had gained enough spirit to begin working for the group, but many just sat and wallowed in their pitiful state, whilst others sat silently rocking backwards and forwards. None of this would get them through the ordeals they had been through. They needed action. 

I breathed deeply. "Xin, I'm going to the river. I need space to think."

She nodded and continued working with the women, cajoling them into doing things, getting involved, baking breads, collecting wood, hunting for various roots, cleaning skins; household stuff which married in with their lives before the attacks. She was good at this. 

I wasn't.

She nodded, "See you in a while," smiling, she said in a quiet voice, "take your time, you need to find the centre of the stream, don't you?" She knew.

I nodded, and collecting my casting net, wash gear and comb, I walked with a lightening heart toward the water.

 Sitting at the water's edge, I looked out over the top end of the lake. It was quiet. The marsh grasses were at their fullest and gave one the false impression of solid ground. Small clusters of lotus plants grew in the more open areas where the mud was thick and the waters, shallow. 

'Beautiful mud. Perfect for my hair.' I removed my outer garments and boots and piled them to one side of the small beach. Removing the bindings from my chest I swilled them in the water and hung them over the shrubbery to dry. Only then did I drop myself into the stinging waters and feel the soft, velvety mud between my toes. 

I was home.

My first action? Mud, and plenty of it. Scrub my skin and condition my hair. I looked around and found the nearest lotus patch and reaching down, scooped up the fine silt from around the tubers; a perfect hair tonic. Slowly, my head relaxed and all thoughts of past events left me. I was free once more to live in the present. The Past was complete and the Future was still preparing. All I had was Now and that was my present to me, from the universe around.

Combing the silt into my hair, I watched the fish as they swam near my feet. I had disturbed the surface and small scraps were surfacing. This was a perfect opportunity for the fish to feed. It took me to a time when Xin and I had been doing exactly this, it must have been well over two years ago. I remember saying, "we gather the silt to cleanse ourselves and freshen our hair. As we comb, the lice and the eggs drop off into the water feeding the fish around. Everything is balanced and as long as we take part in a balanced way, then all will be well."

I smiled to myself, things were very much out of balance at the moment and what was, will never be again. I carried on combing, feeding the fish who swam round me.

Two was thinking. He'd vague recollections of this area, but didn't know it too well. He had sat round the camp fire with Băo and listened to some of his stories about growing up on the marshes. A small remembrance seeped into Two's consciousness, there were small hamlets around and from what he could remember, there was one further north from here.

'If there's a hamlet, then there are buildings. We could use these.' He carried on ruminating, poking the fire with a stick.

Standing up, he called over Three and Five. "I want to go up the edge of the bank here, heading north. If I remember right, from something Băo said one evening, there is a hamlet or at least a collection of buildings up there. If that's the case, it could solve a problem." He looked at the women then continued. "I would like it if you two would come with me. We could hunt at the same time as see whether we can find this hamlet? What do you think?"

Both nodded and letting everyone in on their plans, they collected hunting gear and took off. 

Unusually, Wolfie got up and quietly followed them.

Xin watched him. 'He's picked something up,' but before she could formulate her ideas, she was distracted by the little boy who had managed to fall over and cut his head.

Băo and his small band, set up their campsite and prepared everything, ready for sleep. He knew exactly where he was; about four kilometres from the hamlet of Yú Zuǐ (Fish Mouth). Zŭmò and his group were about two kilometres further south on the other side of the river. They had to contend with the main thoroughfare which ran along the river as well as being closer to the sight line of the hamlet. 'I trust him. He will do well over there,' Băo mused to himself, 'let's hope he can make a push toward Lanhua Shichang (Orchid Market) and stop any movement north.'

Turning back to the group, " time to do some checking. I want one unit to go out and hunt. Whilst out there, check and see if there are any vermin about. Exterminate them on sight."

"Sir," and with that they silently departed.

"Next unit, stay with the camp and check the surrounding river bank. I don't want any surprises during the night."

"Sir."

"Last group, with me." With that he turned south and headed towards the hamlet.

 

I swam out into the lake, vaguely heading north but at an angle, taking me further out and well away from the bank. I wanted to see if I could spot the cluster of buildings. I really wasn't sure how close they'd be to the river, but if there were any people, I might spot a smoke rise or something.

Nothing. Maybe it was too early but not to see anything.....

Deserted?

A movement caught my eye. It was in the distance but there was certainly activity. 

Staying low, I watched. 

Men, in two groups, both heading towards the hamlet. 

They disappeared into the undergrowth.

I lost sight of them. 

Swimming back, I knew we had to be careful around our camp. 

Friend or foe? My mind raced and the hackles on the back of my neck stood on end. 'This is all too close, too close.'

Holding my ears wide open I listened to the sounds off the surface of the water.

Nothing. It was too far away.

My curiosity was too great. I had to take a look for myself, so kicking back out, I began slowly making my way up the river's edge.

 

 

Four looked at Xin as she continued to cajole the women into action. His admiration for her just grew and grew. He knew she was Băo's woman but, even so, he could feel his heart fill with a deep love for her. She was two women; kind, sweet, loving, funny and caring on the one hand, but could turn into a fighting hell-cat when needed. Her strikes were always deadly and she did it with such a smile. They called it the smile of the mountain cat. She was that indeed.

He smiled. "Anything I can do Xin?"

"Go down to the river and see if Niao has finished. I want to let her know about the three who've taken off up north. She needs to know."

Four got up and started making his way toward the river.

On arriving he saw her clothing, her bindings, but no Niao. He was just about to go back and tell Xin when he spotted her. She was swimming steadily up north holding her gaze on a particular spot.