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The Last Free Soul by Scot Walker Chapter Twenty-Seven Tao September 15, 1969-The Year of the Cock Back to Twenty-Six More Clues On to Chapter Twenty-Eight The Face of the Rapist Complete Chapter List The Scot Walker Story Page
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"The Tao symbolizes life and death; good and bad; happiness and sorrow and it's here because this cave represents life."
"But life began millions of years ago, not during the reign of Emperor Qin."
"Perhaps this cave's been here before time existed. Perhaps it holds the secrets of life and death."
"We were talking about reincarnation, not a way to avoid death.
"The door's a portal. We heard the voices on the other side, we smelled something but?"
"But?"
"We still can't open the damned thing."
Jiang was less a believer than Xiao but he wanted to believe there was something everlasting behind the door-something that would guarantee their safety and provide them with an eternity to stay together. "Look, here's something we missed. Do you remember this?"
"There are words here now. Where did they come from?"
Meng Jiangnu has part of the puzzle; I have the other and until the two are united, we will never gain entrance.
"This is the first time I realized Xiliang and Jiangnu didn't make it through the door-"
"Or did they? We haven't found any bones, so I bet they both made it."
"But we've found everything else-including the jade hairpin-we have everything else."
"And that," Xiao gloated, "is the problem. Remember the legend says Meng Jiangnu and Fan Xiliang each had half the jade hairpin, unless they met each other and reunited, the jade would never have been restored but-"
"We have an unbroken hairpin!"
"Xiliang and Jiangnu were reunited!"
"Right here, in this cavern, by this door-and-oh my God . . . "
"They went through the door-"
"-together." Both boys whispered the word together at the same instant as they touched hands and stared at the door, wondering how they would be able to open it, yet knowing that, somehow, they held the key.
XiaoXiao sat at home crying softly for her grandson, wishing he was with her, knowing she would never see him again. "He's gone-just like Meng Jiangnu went off to find Xiliang. I pray the goddess grants him peace and helps him in his quest." XiaoXiao lit a stick of incense and burned it in front of her makeshift altar and, even though she knew she'd be severely disciplined if she were discovered, she didn't care. At her age, XiaoXiao had seen so much hatred, so much cruelty, so much evil, that she no longer considered it illegal to worship the ancient gods. Heavenly Kuan Yin, many believe you are nothing but the shade of a distant memory. Others don't believe in you at all. But I know you are alive and watching my household. Help Xiao in this time of distress. Find him, feed him from the magic bowls; help him stay alive. XiaoXiao grinned at the tiny altar of her goddess. Perhaps you really are nothing but a memory, but at least you're my memory, and I shall worship whom I choose.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jiang and Xiao headed back into the main cavern where there was more light. Xiao lifted both bowls simultaneously and wished for food and water.
The first bowl overflowed with chrysanthemum tea and the second bowl filled with rice, vegetables and beef.
"It's beef!" Jiang screamed as he bit into the food; I hardly remember the taste of beef, I haven't eaten it in months."
Xiao, too, was delighted to see such wholesome food. "I told you the goddess is watching over us. She knows we're going on an adventure; she must be filling our bellies for our trip."
The boys kissed as they ate. Food, kiss, food, kiss, food, kiss, feeling like children again-playing their boyhood games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
XiaoXiao heard footsteps outside her door and quickly blew out the incense. I must not take chances with the police, besides the goddess knows I love her.
Fengxia entered the house quickly. "What have you been doing? Are you burning incense to that stupid goddess again? Don't you know you'll get us all sent away?"
"I know what I know," XiaoXiao said, as she hurried from the house. "I must get water for dinner; I must leave now."
"Every time I warn you, you hurry off. Be careful, mother, anything can happen. I don't-" but Fengxia didn't have time to finish, XiaoXiao had slipped away silently on her old shoes as she slid down the path heading to the river. She knew what she must do . . . just as Xiao knew what he must do . . . just as Sung Li knew what he must do. Fate controlled all their lives now and only the gods knew the outcome.
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After eating, Xiao and Jiang went back to the portal. "Fate is telling us what to do; we must look for more clues; we must find a way to open the door."
"We've looked ten thousand times in ten thousand places; how many more places can we look?"
"These clues all seem worthless-"
"Or perhaps there's a major piece missing-"
"We must search more, otherwise we may never solve this mystery."
As if Kuan Yin was listening, another clue instantly appeared on the door:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Transported? I thought we were going to be reincarnated."
"Kuan Yin knows we are already the reincarnated souls of Fan Xiliang and Meng Jiangnu, but perhaps we're not going to die, perhaps she's showing us another way."
"Then why doesn't she just open the door for us?"
"Shhh, don't insult the goddess."
Jiang was offended; he didn't intend to insult Xiao or the goddess and Xiao should have known that.
Xiao read the rest of the message:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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"Reborn?" Both boys screamed in unison.
"Is death waiting for us behind the door?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The voices on the other side of the door were not happy sounds; neither were they sad. Xiao stared at Jiang, wondering what they should do next.
The Tao is the only way
To open this door,
Believe in the Tao,
And you will be transported.
Herein lies your passport to freedom.
Hold the jade hairpin in four hands.
Imagine yourself free and you will be reborn.
On to Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Face of the Rapist
Back to Twenty-Six
More Clues
Complete Chapter List
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