This was my idea for NaNoWri but I know I won't be able to write everyday and I don't think this will reach 50,000 words anyway so it's just a WIP. If you enjoy my work, I hope this adds to your holidays - a small gift to you. And thank you for reading.
The Lure of the Lotus
"For nine days I was driven by fierce winds over the teeming sea: but on the tenth we set foot on the shores of the Lotus-eaters, who eat its flowery food. On land we drew water, and my friends ate by the ships. Once we had tasted food and drink, I sent some of the men inland to discover what kind of human beings lived there: selecting two and sending a third as herald. They left at once and came upon the Lotus-eaters, who had no thought of killing my comrades, but gave them lotus to eat. Those who ate the honey-sweet lotus fruit no longer wished to bring back word to us, or sail for home. They wanted to stay with the Lotus-eaters, eating the lotus, forgetting all thoughts of return. I dragged those men back to the shore myself by force, while they wept, and bound them tight in the hollow ships, pushing them under the benches. Then I ordered my men to embark quickly on the fast craft, fearing that others would eat the lotus and forget their homes. They boarded swiftly and took their place on the benches then sitting in their rows struck the grey water with their oars."
From The Odyssey – "The Land of the Lotus Eaters".
1
Although I initially said no, I finally capitulated. It was mainly curiosity that brought about my agreeing to protect and deliver Fang Zhen's new bride to Chinatown here in Virginia City and also the longstanding friendship my father has had with Lee Chang. It certainly wasn't due to vanity as I wasn't sure if Lee Chang had insulted me or not when he made the proposition. But I've experienced enough in my 36 years to let many things go by without comment.
But I should explain the events. I have had to let some time pass, put some distance between myself and what happened so that I can, in the most honest and accurate way, relate matters. And I'll try to be objective but it's going to be difficult.
It was late on Good Friday; we had been to church, had dinner, and Hoss was about to turn in when the door knocker sounded. Pa went pale as Joe was still in town and when Joe was out, Pa always worried that something would happen; Joe had quite the temper. Before leaving town after services, Pa had given Joe enough cash to stay at the Imperial House overnight, but that didn't preclude some furious father from unloading his shotgun into Joe's backside as he scuttled out a window of some girl's room or to be beaten senseless in a saloon because he perceived an insult where there was none – or there was. Hoss looked from one of us to the other and then I volunteered to get it. It was Lee Chang and I almost heard the sigh of relief from my father.
Lee Chang had Americanized his name as some of the Chinese had done who wanted to assimilate into our culture – reversing their first and last names. Lee Chang and many other Chinese found my father a help in explaining American traditions and laws as he didn't make the man feel like an "ignorant barbarian" for asking. That was how Lee Chang once phrased it. Their friendship had developed over the years and it didn't hurt that Hop Sing, who was a respected member of the Tong, was treated as family instead of a menial.
"Come in, Lee Chang," I said, stepping aside so he could enter. Referring to a man by both names was considered respectful as one acknowledged his family line by doing so. He turned his head to look back out into the darkness, and I saw another man standing beyond the porch, holding both horses' reins. Lee Chang spoke curtly in Chinese and the man responded in kind. Then again, smiling at me, Lee Chang dipped his head and walked past me into the light. My father had risen from his chair and met Lee Chang, putting out his hand. Lee Chang made a quick bow and then put out his hand as well.
"It is with many apologies that I visit my good friend, Ben Cartwright, so very late on what is to you, a holy day. Many apologies."
"A friend never has to make apologies. Please… sit. Hop Sing's staying in town with family after the Tong meeting, which I suppose you know." Lee Chang smiled and nodded slightly. "But Hoss can put the kettle on and brew some tea; he's watched Hop Sing do it hundreds of time."
Lee Chang declined with "humble" thanks and so Hoss excused himself for bed. I started to do the same but Lee Chang asked me to stay. It was I he wanted to see.
My curiosity was suddenly roused and I raised my brows at my father who almost imperceptibly shrugged. Lee Chang was my father's friend, my father's age and Joe and Hoss, friends with Jimmy Chang, Lee Chang's only surviving son. I walked the line between those relationships, friendly but not a friend to either Chang. I wondered what business Lee Chang could have with me, so I sat back down and waited.
"Can I offer you some brandy, perhaps? A glass of port?' my father asked.
Lee Chang slightly nodded his head as he sat. "A glass of port may help my words flow more smoothly. I thank you."
My father poured both of them a glass of port – I declined
Lee Chang, took a sip and then turned my way, speaking with carefully chosen words.
"I have come on important business." Lee Chang paused, taking another sip of port and gathering himself. "A beloved niece of Fang Zhen is arriving from China."
"Another niece?" I hoped I sounded as scornful as I felt. "He already has four other nieces of varying ages living with him and his wife, doesn't he?"
I was always suspicious that Fang Zhen, the wealthiest and most powerful man in Chinatown and the highest-ranking Tong member, had a bevy of "nieces" living in his house. Every year or so for the past eight years, another young woman would show up, and now, at 60-plus years, Fang Zhen was welcoming another "niece" into the household.
"Family is most important to Fang Zhen. He often sends for relatives to join him in this fine country."
"Interesting that he has no nephews," I said, and my father cleared his throat in disapproval. Lee Chang merely lowered his eyes. "But what does Fang Zhen expanding his family have to do with me?" I sat forward in my chair; it was the closest I could come to confronting the veracity of what Lee Chang was saying.
"I shall explain with your kindest patience." Lee Chang smiled again but it wasn't a smile of pleasure. He took another sip of port. "It was discussed in the meeting tonight that the newest…niece of Fang Zhen will be arriving in San Francisco in almost a week. She is accompanied by a…chaperone, I believe is the word, her maid, Ju. They will need to be accompanied to Virginia City, to be kept safe from anyone who may waylay them and perhaps harm the new niece."
"And?" I waited.
"It was discussed among us as to who would be the best person to accompany the two women and since both you, Adam, and your father are so well-respected by the members of the Tong, it was decided that we would humbly request that you set out to bring the two women, the niece and her chaperone, safely to Fang Zhen's household."
"What about the other 'nieces'? Who escorted them from San Francisco to Virginia City?"
"It is unimportant as the other 'nieces' were not of the same caliber or of the same value as this one and did not require it. This niece…" Lee Chang paused, holding the small glass in his hand. He glanced down at the pale liquid. "This niece seems to inflame a man with her 'virtues". It was agreed many years ago, when she was a mere child, that she would join her most generous, venerable uncle in America. But matters interfered. Revolution broke out in China and it delayed her passage for many years. Once that was resolved, the niece was the center of…well, many men bartered for her hand in marriage so Fang Zhen was pressed to send much money which he gladly did, to bring his niece to him. It was finally agreed upon that the niece would come to America now before something untoward might happen."
"Why not send a Chinese man to escort her?"
"Because none of them are t‵ai ji‵an, what you call a eunuch."
I had to smile at that and glanced at my father who suppressed a laugh.
"Oh," Lee Chang said, flustered, "it is not that we think that you are without…"
I put up my hand. "It's all right," I said. "I think I know what you mean."
"It is believed that a Chinese man would be so bewitched by Wu Lien's beauty that he would want her for himself. It is known that men of your culture do not find women of Chinese birth to be desirable nor their beauty pleasing and then there is the legal matter of miscegenation... It was not meant as any insult to your manhood, Adam."
"No insult has been taken," I said, smiling. I knew what was really behind the elders' choice of me as the escort. For one thing, laws prohibited Chinese men from taking white wives or white men taking Chinese brides and laws were still being pushed that prohibited all interracial marriages. This was actually supported by the Tong members and the Chinese community in general. Hop Sing once revealed to me that there weren't many available Chinese women. Most of the men had left their wives behind in China, intending to return to them but often found that difficult. Any available Chinese woman, even the prostitutes that had been brought over by companies contracted to expand the railroad tracks, were quickly married off. It was not unusual for a Chinese laborer to have a wife both in China and here if possible. It was assumed that white men found no attraction in Chinese women and with the few Chinese women I dealt with in Chinatown shops or in the streets of Virginia City, I could understand why. They weren't even of particular attraction to the Chinese men except that they could cook, wash clothes, bear children and warm a man's bed. It seems that all men want a beautiful woman.
"Nevertheless," I said to Lee Chang, "I have duties here at home. I don't know that I can undertake such a journey so it would be best that you find someone else."
"We had considered Joseph and Hoss going together…"
I laughed then. "Putting the fox in charge of the henhouse, huh?" Nevertheless, I was a bit flattered that they believed that it would take both my brothers to replace me.
"Oh, I see…" Lee Chang said, smiling. "It is known of Joseph's fondness for young women and theirs for him. It is foolish of me to even suggest it. I appeal to you again, Adam. Fang Zhen has sent this money – in silver coins…" Lee Chang rose and pulled a pouch from his pocket, "to compensate you for your trouble. If it is not enough, he will pay more." He held out the pouch.
"Put the money away, Please."
He sat back down. "I did not mean to insult a friend. Compensation for time spent ensuring the safety of the women as they travel is only expected. If there is another way that we can entreat you to accept the request, you need only say. I shall carry it back with me to Fang Zhen and the rest of the Tong members. The matter is of such necessity that no price is too high."
I sat and considered what to say. My father sat back with his port. He and I both knew that a denied request by Fang Zhen who was arrogant, wealthy, and looked down his nose at whites, might be the cause of trouble. Lately, there had been issues with young Chinese youths who looked derisively upon their elders as kow-towing to the white man, striking out against storekeepers and nearby homesteaders.
Initially, it had been mere vandalism – paint tossed on storefronts, cows released from barns. But then it advanced to bricks thrown through windows, hay bales set on fire and chickens with wrung necks. People reported seeing Chinese boys running from the scenes and laughing. Roy Coffee was at wits' end. There was talk of burning down Chinatown, shooting Chinee boys on sight and then to shooting any Chinese on sight. In order to try and find a more peaceful solution, my father and I took Roy to meet the Tong. It was arranged by Hop Sing and the issue was tactfully resolved with no admitted guilt from anyone. I felt we owed the Chinese community a favor.
"Lee Chang," I said, "if I am to do this thing you request, I must know the truth. Who is this Wu – what is her name?"
"Wu Lien. Her name, Lien, means lotus. Her name is fitting from what I have heard. You see, Adam and my friend, Ben, the lotus means perfection and beauty. A woman named such must have both qualities in her heart and mind as well as body."
"She's not actually Fang Zhen's niece is she, Lee Chang, any more than the other women are?"
Lee Chang dropped his eyes. "I am ashamed to have lied to you about such things, my friends." He looked up and met my eye. "No, she is not. Wu Lien is more important than a mere niece."