ericlustbader.the ninja-第18节
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even the slightest movement of the old man caused its surface to pick up and reflect the fitful light in a most marvelous way。
'Look here；' the old man said； thrusting the glass at the Colonel。 'Look to the storm； Colonel； and tell me what you see。'
The Colonel took the polished brass spyglass； closed one eye and peered through it with the other。 Now within the elevation of So…Peng's eyrie； he felt the first tentative touches of the storm they had earlier observed； the wind was rising。
Within the confined circle of his extended vision； he saw the bloom of the clouds； now purple…black like bruises； and； too； the colour of the sky behind the storm had changed。 The solid…seeming yellow tinge had been struck through with tendrils of a pale green； such a hue the land…bound world could never produce。 Deep…throated rumblings could be heard now and again； rolling over the earth like an invisible tsunami； a tidal wave。 Dutifully； the Colonel related all he saw。
'And that is all you see；' said So…Peng。 There was no hint of an interrogative in his inflection。
Yes； the Colonel was about to say； that is all I can see。 But he checked himself at the last moment； certain that there was something out there that the old man wished him to see。
For long moments he moved the eye of the glass over the terrain an inch at a time but he saw nothing new to report。 Still； it nagged at him and he moved the glass upwards； scanning。 Nothing。 Then downwards towards the earth。 Below the on…rushing storm； he saw the women in the rice paddies； the flat wet fields without the protection of a single tree or even a makeshift lean…to。 Almost in concert； the women bent to their tasks； leaning over； reaching for and pulling at the growing rice。 Their skirts were pulled up in the centre； tied in huge knots between their bent legs； woven sacks encircled their backs so that they had the aspect of beasts of burden； water covered their bare feet to the ankle。
'The women are still working；' the Colonel said； 'as if the storm wasn't there。'
'Ah！' So…Peng said； nodding。 'And what does this tell you； Colonel？'
The Colonel took the glass from his eye； lowering it to his side； looking at So…Peng； at his yellow hairless head； the grey wisp of his beard hanging straight down from the ultimate point of his chin； the dark serene eyes regarding him coolly as if from some other age。
'Hmmm；' So…Peng murmured and nothing more。 He was fully aware。
'They know something we don't；' the Colonel said。
By that 'we' the Colonel had meant； however implicitly； Westerners。 Yet So…Peng now had to make up his mind whether the Colonel was being serious or merely condescending。 So…Peng； not unlike every Asian on the continent； had had far more experience with people expressing the latter sentiment。 Yet he did not dismiss the Colonel summarily as he very easily might have； so that even at this early stage he must have had an instinctive reaction to this man。
For his part； the Colonel knew only too well that he had e to a crucial nexus in his relationship with Cheong。 This man's blessing was imperative for her。 Why it had not been necessary at her marriage he could not understand。 Yet he…knew that for her to depart from Singapore； So…Peng had to bee an active agent。
That this house； this town were so isolated； so totally unknown to the Western population； made the Colonel all the more apprehensive。 He was painfully aware that many Chinese had no great love for Westerners； those barbarian giants from across the sea。 That this dislike … indeed this enmity … was； at its core； mostly justifiable； made no difference to him at this moment。
But the Colonel had a great love for these people； for their life； their history； religion and customs； and it was this knowledge； chiefly； which heartened him now； which prompted him to say； 'There is no doubt； sir； that we have much to learn here but； I feel too； that the most advantageous of situations involves an exchange； initially； of information but； more important； leads from there to an exchange of … confidences。'
So…Peng's hands were inside the wide sleeves of his robe as he crossed his arms over his thin chest。 'Confidences；' he said meditatively as if the word were some new and exotic flavour he was testing on his palate。 'Well； now； Colonel； 〃confidences〃 may have many meanings … inflections and contextual placings determine that。 Whereby； my boy； I might be led to believe that you had meant by it； secrets。'
'That may not be very far from the mark； sir；' the Colonel replied。
'And what；' said So…Peng； 'makes you think that any such intimacy should be extended to you？'
The Colonel kept his gaze steady； his eyes impaled by those he saw in front of him； and so intense became this look that at
length the other's face seemed to disappear； leaving behind that pair of lights swimming alone in the atmosphere； hovering in lambent conversation。 'There is； firstly； respect； sir。 Then there is knowledge； knowledge sought and assimilated。 There is acceptance； of what is and what was … the understanding of one's role within the matrix。 Then there is the curiosity to learn the unknowable。 And lastly； there is love。' This being said； the Colonel relaxed somewhat； knowing that he had spoken his heart； expressed himself in a manner both pleasing to himself and honouring his wife。 There was naught else to be done now。
Yet when So…Peng next spoke； it was directed not at the Colonel but at his wife。 'Cheong；' he said。 'I believe that Chia Sheng is calling for you。 Her voice drifts up to me in this charged air。'
Without a word； Cheong bowed and departed。
The Colonel stayed where he was； silent。 Beyond their frail enclosure the storm came on。
'Cheong tells me that you are leaving for Japan shortly。'
The Colonel nodded。 'Yes。 Tomorrow。 I have been asked to work with General MacArthur in reconstructing a new Japan。'
'Yes。 There is much prestige in such work。 A place in history； eh； Colonel？'
'I hadn't thought about that； quite frankly。'
'Do you not think；' said So…Peng； 'that this reconstructing； as you put it； is best left for the Japanese people to decide for themselves？'
'That would be the ideal； of course。 But unfortunately certain elements within Japanese society have misdirected them throughout the last two decades。' When the other remained silent； the Colonel continued： 'I am certain you are quite aware of their activities in Manchuria。'
'Manchuria 1' So…Peng scoffed。 'What have I or my people to do with Manchuria？ It is as a slum on the far side of the world to us。 I would just as soon allow the Japanese and the Bolsheviks to fight between themselves for it。 Manchuria； from my point of view； would be no great loss to China as a whole。'
'But the Japanese sought that land as a foothold into the rest of China。 There they would have built their military bases
from which they would expand。'
'Yes。' So…Peng sighed。 'Their imperialist nature saddens me deeply … at least it did when I was a youth。 Yes； then it was like a thorn in my side； for the Japanese way is the way of militarism。 It always has been； it cannot be otherwise。 It is the blood flowing out of the centuries and its imperative cannot be denied； neither by politicians' rhetoric nor by any kind of collective amnesia。 Do you understand me； Colonel？ The Germans deny their racism now。 But how foolish； for how can diey？ Easier to deny that air is the source of one's life。
'China has naught to fear fronj Japan nowadays。 This I tell you as a … confidence； eh？ The pressure now es from the Bolsheviks and they are to be feared more than ever the Japanese were。
'Bushido； Colonel。 Do you understand this concept？'
The Colonel nodded。 'Yes。 I think so。'
'Good。 Then you understand what I mean。' He looked out at the sky； entirely grey now and moving； as if some unseen giant were waving a rippling pennant at them。 'That is a measure of friendship； did you know that？ Good friendship； I am speaking of now … not a friendship as one might find between business associates or neighbourly acquaintances。 In this kind of friendship； which is rarer these days than one might believe； munication no longer bees a problem or； as it most often is； a barrier。 Do you agree with this notion of mine？'
'Yes； sir； most assuredly。'
'Umm。 Something told me that you might。' He laughed softly； not unkindly。 'You know； it was a day just like this one when Cheong first came to me。 She was a very small child； not even three yet； I believe。 Once there had been quite a large family。 I don't know whatever happened to them； apparently no one does； for I made many inquiries over a good many years。 All fruitless。
'After a while it did not seem to matter at all。 This was her family and I could not have loved her more if she were my own daughter。 I have many children and now many grandchildren and great…grandchildren。 My goodness； so many is their number now that I sometimes confuse a name with the wrong face。 But it is excusable。 I am an old man and my mind
is otherwise occupied with numerous matters。
'But I may tell you with all candour that among all my progeny Cheong has a special place。 She is not the fruit of my loins but she most assuredly is the frui
