Bin slept fitfully in Jiang's arms, dreaming of his life with his lover, dreaming of escaping through the magical door until his dream turned into a nightmare and he was back in the forest on that horrible night. Bin gasped for breath, struggling to be free, struggling to rid himself of the woolly bear humping his back. He could feel the monster's sweat dripping down his back, he could smell the stench, and feel the trusts that turned him from an innocent boy into a victim and then, just as things seemed hopeless, Bin felt his butterfly birthmark throbbing and knew the goddess, Kuan Yin, was protecting him; he knew the goddess had been with him that night and, in a sudden epiphany, he knew that was the sole reason he had survived. Bin felt the beast slide out of him as the air pulsating against his ears and the monster drew back its paws aiming to throttle him and, again, Bin felt the loving presence of Kuan Yin and he watched as the goddess twisted back the monster's hands, keeping them from beating him. And then, in an instance, Bin knew why the monster had fled and he understood the significance of the butterfly birthmark; it was his protecting aegis-his shield that was a part of the ancient legend. The monster will never bother me again, Kuan Yin will protect me, but why . . . why did she allow it to happen? (Had Bin known that Sung Li still lusted after him and would continue stalking him for the rest of his life, he would have dug himself deeply into the tunnel and waited for death.) But then, for an instant, still lost in the safety of his dream, Bin had a fleeting glimpse of the monster's face jutting out above its bulk, overpowering him with its stare. He saw the monster's nose, its eyes, its chin and Bin slowly saw the face of

Sung Li morphing from the monster's face. My rapist was Sung Li-that's why he's after me. But why? Why? Sung Li raped me. . . the goddess protected me and I know she'll protect me again, but I must save face, I never tell anyone about Sung Li. . . . not even Jiang. I must tell no one. It is too horrible to share.

Bin awoke screaming, flailing his arms and legs trying to escape the rapist who was attacking him in his nightmare. And as he awoke, Bin sensed for one horrible second, that the beast had mesmerized him forever; he felt as if he had been overtaken and that the monster would never ever let him go.

"What's the matter? What did you dream? Did you hear the dogs barking again? Did you hear them coming for you?"

"Yes," Bin lied. "It was the dogs. I saw them chasing me, I heard their yelps, I smelled their breath, they were closing in on me and I had to jump off the parapet. It was the chase scene all over again; I was swimming and the dogs were barking at my heels and I heard the gun shots and-"

"You're safe now, sweetie, you're with me, no matter who attacks you, I'll be here for you," Jiang kissed Bin gently on the lips as he cradled him in his arms. "But remember, the dogs are in the past; they'll never bother you again."

"How can you be so sure?" Bin wanted to be stronger, he wanted to survive without Jiang, but for now, he was trapped in his boy body-wishing he could be with Kuan Yin and escape.

"The dogs drowned in the river and Sung Li's lost the confidence of the villagers; he'll never bother you again."

"So it's safe to go home?"

"No," Jiang sighed, praying that he and Bin could find a way out, "If you go home, Sung Li will find something . . ." Jiang cleared his throat, "pleasurable to do to you, you know how he is."

"Yes, I do, but I want to see my parents again; I want to see Binbin again."

"You will, someday perhaps, but you can't now, not while-" Jiang's voice trailed off. It was unnecessary for either boy to complete the thought.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Binbin, too, had a dream and in her dream, she dreamt a butterfly jumped on a bear's back and bit him in the shoulder. The bear brushed the butterfly aside and kept attacking the young boy beneath him but the butterfly grew as large as a melon and bit him again-then it grew as large as a woman and scratched at the monster ravaging the little boy. Finally, the bear stopped attacking the boy and turned to look at the butterfly, which was glowing and shining in the darkness. The butterfly had become Kuan Yin who waved her arms at the bear and gritted her teeth as the monster backed off-leaving the boy, leaving Bin, alone. Then the goddess approached Bin, wrapped her arms around him, and touched the butterfly mole on his shoulder. You belong to me no matter what happens, no matter where you go or who you meet, I'll be there to protect and guide you; that's why I placed my mark on you ten thousand years ago. That's why I stood by you-because you first protected me in those ancient days when men didn't believe, when men laughed at the gods, you were there to defend me.

Binbin awoke with a start, almost awakening her daughter and son-in-law in the process, I must remember this dream; I must tell Bin why he is protected by the goddess. I must remember this dream.

Binbin fell back to sleep and awoke the next morning refreshed; she knew something good had happened during the night, but she was unable to remember no matter how hard she tried to think.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kuan Yin went from Bin to Binbin during the night, watching over both, sharing her secret, knowing most earthlings were unable to remember dreams, but knowing she must tell the ones she loved that she was there to protect them because of the sacrifice Bin made ten thousand years before.

My dear one will be with me soon; then she'll know everything. I only hope her final days are - but the goddess didn't have time to think about Binbin, she knew Sung Li was closing in. It's only a matter of hours before Sung Li captures Bin and this round of reincarnation will never be completed. It will take another five hundred years before Jiang and Bin have the chance to reunite as Fan Xiliang and Meng Jiangnu. It will take another five hundred years and by then the earth may have forgotten me, by then it may be too late.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sung Li was alone now. He had been alone for many days, yet he had not given up on his quest. I will have Bin; I will find that boy. Sung Li mapped out the area around the village and explored a new section each day. I know the boy is hiding somewhere near the river at the base of the wall; he's probably hiding in a cave or in the mountains. Perhaps he's living on the wall. The area between the river and the Great Wall is very small, very small indeed, it's only a matter of time before I find him.

Today, Sung Li headed north by northwest; he had scoured the land south of the wall, where he checked every corner of the wall. He had looked behind every rock and searched for every clue. He had even attempted to follow Wu Jiang. Bin's ass is mine; it's only a matter of time. Sung Li's cock grew as he thought of the boy's ass, and of the victory he had when he ravaged him. I'm in charge of my own fate; I will find the boy.


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The Spirits of the Dead
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