A Barber And His Wife

The forty four year old woman walked towards Zuko and then just passed right by him towards Rion. She was still hunched over. She then started to beg by singing.

Alms, alms for a miserable woman, on a miserable chilly mornin!

Rion gave the beggar woman some money.

Thank ya sir, thank ya...

The woman then jabbed at Rion and Rion walked closer towards Zuko.

How would ya like a little muff,

dear a little jig-jig,

a little bounce around the bush!

Wouldn't ya like to push me parsley?

It looks to me, dear like you've got plenty there to push!

The woman then walked towards Zuko glaring at him. She then continued he song of begging.

Alms, alms for a pitiful woman...

What's got wandering wits?

Hey! Don't I know you, mister?

Zuko just looked at the woman angrily.

"Must you glare at me, woman?", asked Zuko. "Off with you! Off I say!"

The woman only continued her song.

Then how would ya like to split me muff?

Mister, we'll go jig-jig!

A little...

"Off I said!", said Zuko. "To the ethos with you!"

Fire daggers came from Zuko's hand and he held them up to the woman's face. The woman ran off screaming and walked into an alley and continued her song once again.

Alms, alms for a pitiful woman!



Rion stared at Zuko.

"Pardon me, sir, but there's no need to fear the likes of her, she's only a half crazed beggar woman... Ba Sing Se's full of them."", stated Rion.

Zuko turned to the sailor.

"I beg your indulgence, boy, my mind is far from easy.", begged Zuko. "For in these once familiar streets I feel a chill of ghostly shadows everywhere. Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive.", said Rion.

Zuko looked at Rion.

"Farewell, Rion.", said Zuko.

Zuko started to walked away until Rion raised his hand.

"Mr. Zuko, before we part...", started Rion.

"What is it?", asked Zuko.

Rion gulped and then replied.

"I have honoured my promise never to question you.", replied Rion. "Whatever brought you to that sorry shipwreck is your affair and yet, over many weeks of our voyage home, I've come to think of you as a friend, and if trouble lies ahead for you in Ba Sing Se, if you need any help... or money."

"No!", replied Zuko immediately.

There's a hole in the world like a great black pit

And the vermin of the world inhabit it

And it's morals aren't worse what a komodo rhino can spit

And it goes by the name of Ba Sing Se.

At the top of the world sits the previlaged few

Macking mock of the vermin in the lonely zoo

Turning beauty into filth and greed...

I too have sailed the world and seen its wonders,

For the cruelty of men is as wonderous as Rados

But there's no place like Ba Sing Se.



There was a barber and his wife

and she was beautiful...

a foolish barber and his wife.

Zuko remembered fifteen years ago. A vision of a flower market. Zuko wore a red coat and next to him was his wife, Mai. She had ribbons in her hair. In Mai's arms was their baby girl, Kara.


She was his reason for his life...

and she was beautiful, and she was virtuous.

And he was naive.

Zuko gave Mai a flower. Mai smiled and kissed Zuko on the cheek.

There was another man who saw

that she was beautiful...

A pious vulture of the law

who, with a gesture of his claw

removed the barber from his plate!

A man in black with a grey hair wearing a judge hat. His name was Frollo. He saw Mai and looked on lovingly and then Chieftain Tartarus came up next to Frollo

And there was nothing but to wait!

Frollo gave a signal to Tartarus and the brute gathered some Dai Li and arrested Zuko.

And she would fall!

Mai gasped and watched as her husband was dragged away.

So soft!

So young!

So lost and oh so beautiful!

Rion blinked after Zuko's story was over.

"And the lady sir, did she succumb?", asked Rion.

Oh that was many years ago...

I doubt if anyone would know.



"Now leave me, Rion.", ordered Zuko. "There is somewhere I must go, something I must find out. Now, and alone."

"But surely we will meet again before I'm off to Dakor?", asked Rion.

"If you want you may find me around Yin street. I wouldn't wonder.", replied Zuko.

"Until then my friend.", said Rion offering his hand for Zuko to shake.

Zuko shook the hand. Zuko walked towards Yin street.

There's a hole in the like a great black pit

And it's filled with people who are filled with shit!

And the vermin of the world inhabit it!