160 New wind blows

It had been so long. Days, weeks, months and when she thought about it, it was almost five years since she had fled from her bed, fires raging, men screaming, women.... yes, women. 

She looked around at all the 'fallen' women who through courage, determination and a large dose of spite, had remained alive. 

She looked at the children, homeless, parent less. She wanted to cry, to shout out, 'woe is me', but it would achieve nothing. 

Madam Min wiped her eyes and put on a smile. "Come on, children, let's see what the water gods have given us today."

Children cheered as they ran and played tag around her. They were young and maliable, adapting to any situation as long as they had food in their bellies, warm places to sleep, and safety around them.

The waters were different today. In fact, they'd been different for a few days now. Instead of bounty, there were just floating, bloated bodies of men who had drowned, or been drowned.

"Come little ones, it's not a good water God playing today, let the men see to it. Come on, let's go back and check the traps. Who's going to bring back the first rabbit? Remember, reset the trap."

The choruses of happy laughter filled the clearing as young feet ran into the bushes with all the confidence of mountain children.

Madam Min looked toward the men. "Somethings changed." It wasn't a question, more a statement of fact. One of them nodded. "We've been monitoring it for a while now. Someone has gone up river toward Chenxi."

Madam Min nodded. "Let me know as soon as they get back. If I didn't know better, I'd say Chenxi has fallen to the Chen once more."

They nodded. Wading out into the water, men grabbed at bodies, pulled them out toward the marshy ground and pierced their bellies. The rush of gas and purification seeped into the air. 

Madam Min turned away, "come on children, find the rabbits, let's have a nice, thick stew tonight." She grabbed the front of her skirts and made her way up the slope.

Yiran was starting to look less like a moving skeleton but she was still painfully thin, with little energy and no stamina. The terrain was harsh.

The floor was covered in a thick layer of pine needles which slipped and slid under your feet. They hid protruding rocks, unyielding in their presence. Yiran had stumbled numerous times. Her legs, hands, forearms covered in drying blood, covering the scrapes and bruises she was collecting. She didn't complain. In fact, she didn't speak, cry out or express pain. She was numb.

"Hao, we can't keep going like this. We haven't got to the steepest part yet and that'll be treacherous. It's bad enough for us, but Yiran......" I looked at her. She wasn't there. Her body was, but her spirit? 

Hao looked at her and nodded. " Stay here. Let me go ahead and see if there is anything, anywhere we can stop. We can't continue, I agree. Let's find somewhere, settle in, find some herbs and let her heal. She's got to cry. Properly."

He smiled at me, stroking my arm and looking into my eyes. "If I'd lost you, I would have been the same." He leant forward and kissed me on my forehead. " Stay here, let me scout out a ledge, a rock face, something and I'll collect the pair of you."

I nodded and with that he was gone. I could still feel the tingle of his touch. The caress of his lips. I smiled. Yes, it would be a singular life without him.

Turning I went to Yiran and explained what we were going to do. She nodded but her gaze, although aimed in my direction, failed to see me at all.

"Sir, there is a large contingent of men ahead. It looks like the prisoner convoy."

Second Master frowned. 'Why are they here? Why have they not been returned yet?' Speaking aloud, " you've seen Twin Hammer banners?" The Sargeant at Arms nodded, "Sir, I also recognise them as Hammers, Sir, same platoon as mine."

" Then we ride."

The three men rode forward, raising the banner for ease of recognition. 'If it's a trap we'll soon know', and with that thought, he rode forward. 

"Sir, Sir, three men approaching. Twin Hammer banner is flying. Sir, it looks like Commander Chen and his two Sargeant at Arms."

The ripple went out. Men talking between themselves, prisoners bracing themselves for the iron fist to return. "Do you think he'll listen to our requests?" one prisoner said to another. "Don't know, but we can but hope. This war was a scam. The men were sent away so Mu could destroy. If we go back we're dead. We're too well fed, too well cared for and to be honest, from what I've seen of these men, we've been fighting the wrong war, on the wrong side." Conversations rippled through the camp. Theories began surfacing, some far-fetched, others farcical but some were closer to the truth than they realised.

"Sir!" The Hammers saluted as Second Master reached the men.

"Good to see you Sir."

"And you Corporal. Question. You are all together. Still. Why is that? Is there a problem with the hand over?" 

The Corporal looked nervous, but, looking over to the prisoners, "May I ask one of the prisoners to explain the predicament we find ourselves in?"

Second Master nodded, and one of the prisoners stepped forward to explain.

"So," Second Master repeated, "you do not want to be repatriated. You want to stay this side of the border? Am I correct?"

 "Yes Sir. It's clear we have been sent to cause trouble for you whilst those who have invaded your lands have destroyed it. I am at a loss what this feud is about, but I believe we have been pawns in this matter and to be honest, Sir, having seen what they have done, I really cannot go back. Then there is the matter of us looking far too healthy, fit and well, Sir. If we go back we will be seen as traitors and we and all our families will be killed. I'd rather stay dead, Sir, and live a better life elsewhere. We all agree Sir."

The chorus went around the majority of the men. Few wanted return.

"Then, let me tell you a story gentlemen. You are all entitled to hear and understand its ramifications and how you have unwittingly taken part in that story."

Second Master retold the whole story of his father, mother, brother, Commander Zhang and of course, the Mu family.

"So, gentlemen, there you have it. This war has all been caused by the drunken exploits of one man and the consequences which resulted from it. I will say he was always oblivious to his crimes, but he was informed before he finally died. He is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Shipao I believe." He looked around the faces. Some standing in shock, others in awe of a man who had just told a family secret which did not stand well in polite society. Others laughed, then considered their positions.

"I think we all need to think this through, so let's have a good meal and we shall speak of decisions tomorrow." With that he turned to his Sargeant at Arms, "Find out exactly why we have stopped here. Why there is a rope across the river and why there are two men sitting on the other side looking dejected and lost"

"Sir." 

 

"I think I may have found somewhere. It's not perfect but its sheltered, the rains will miss us, the ground is dry and flat. No ants." He grinned at me as I shuddered.

"Water close by, and I saw game in the forest as I came back. It's steep, but worth the climb."

This was one of  the steepest ravines I had traversed since I was a child. Almost vertical, the only way was to hang on to branches, trunks, anything which stayed still and could take your weight as you  carefully climbed down. I looked at Hao and gestured toward Yiran.

"I'll strap her to my back. You take the bundles."

I nodded. "Is it far?" I asked.

"No. But it will still take us best part of the next few hours. We should get there before sundown."

I nodded.

Hao strapped Yiran to his back whist I placed the bundles onto my shoulders and back. Hao tied them inplace so both hands were free. We began the slow, off times scary descent to the scrape.

I was exhausted. Yiran was asleep. Hao was ready to collapse but lowered himself carefully as the two of us uncounted, then lay her down. She didn't stir. 

We looked at each other and giggled. "I'm exhausted!" I admitted, "and parts of me hurt so much from falling on them all the time. Let's make some tea. Anything to chew on in you bundle?"

I untied the restraints and three heavy bundles fell off my torso. Oh, the pain, the muscle ache. "Where's that fresh water source? I'll collapse in the icy waters and ease off at the same time."

He pointed the way and set about creating a small firepit.