XiaoXiao was the constant worrier, if it wasn't Xiao, it was her son-in-law or daughter and now she discovered a small piece of paper in Chung's, pocket-a small piece of paper that could forever destroy the Feng family and ruin everyone's lives forever.

"Dearest, meet me tonight at midnight."

This letter isn't in Fengxia's handwriting. It must be from Ce-Ce. I must do something about this dreadful woman.

XiaoXiao had dealt with her son-in-law before. I'll wait until Fengxia falls asleep, then I'll watch Chung like a chicken and when he sneaks out of the house-even if it's midnight-I'll follow him and confront him just before he enters that whore's house. I'll let him know this is my home and I'm in charge. He's not going to spend the night with a whore!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Xiao and Jiang spent the rest of the day trying to force the gold door open, but nothing worked; the harder they pushed, the more it resisted. "It isn't budging; this door is the most stubborn thing I've ever seen."

"As stubborn as me?" Xiao asked quasi-jokingly.

"No one is as stubborn as you," Jiang laughed as he hugged Xiao-"except me," and the two boys fell on the floor giggling like schoolboys.

Jiang kissed Xiao and hung on to him for several long wonderful happy minutes before slowly allowing himself the privilege of letting go. "But we still have to get you to safety." Then Jiang helped Xiao up and hugged him closely," You're part of me, Xiao, I'll never let you go."

Xiao was elated to know that Jiang was willing to make such a stand; his fate, like Xiao's, was now in the balance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At a quarter before midnight, Chong moved silently, sliding out of bed, tugged on his trousers, as he moved swiftly toward the door. Within a moment he was outside scurrying to Ce-Ce's house, dreaming of her legs . . . her thighs . . . her sweet pussy.

XiaoXiao was on his heels, however, stalking him, much as she had done when he was a teenage boy courting her daughter when he was a mere lad of fourteen. XiaoXiao hoped he would never forget that night when he came tapping on her walls looking for Fengxia and XIaoXiao had dashed out of the house, grabbed a switch and beaten him halfway through the village before he hightailed it back to his home. The entire village heard and applauded XiaoXiao's strength and for months thereafter, Chong lived in a shallow nightmare world, wondering what other debilitating thing his future mother-in-law would discover about him, wondering when she would switch him again.

I'm not going to raise a storm in the middle of the night unless I have to, but I have my reputation to consider. Either I'll talk him into going back home to Fengxia or I'll cut a switch and whip his ass right here in the middle of the village.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At midnight, Jiang and Xiao slept together, arm in arm, and just as Xiao's butterfly mole started to throb, the boys shared the same dream; as the goddess came to them and touched them both at the same instant. The boys dreamt they heard groaning from the other side of the door and that the door opened and skeletons emerged into the cave. Then the bones picked up the magic bowls and flesh grew on their bones, muscles appeared on their arms, and color came to their cheeks as each one became a virile young man again. Then one of the spirits spoke, My name is Fan Xiliang and these are the workmen who died with me while building the Great Wall. We did not escape because they were afraid to go through the door, but you must be brave enough to meet your fate on the other side. We'll teach you how to open the door, but you're not ready to enter yet. There are things you must learn about yourselves. If you discover them, you'll make it to the other side, but if you take too long, the evil surrounding this place will overpower you. Be diligent and you'll be free. In the meantime . . . The voices began to fade. Listen to the clues . . . listen to the clues . . . listen . . .

After their dream, the boys slept well but when they awoke, they looked in each other's eyes and shouted simultaneously, "I had a dream."

"We're The Great Walls in China. . .the force, and the power that has held our nation together for all eterenity-"

"-and we must find a way to escape through that door-"

"-so we can tell the world know what's happening in China-"

"-We need to let the world know that our leaders want to destroy those of us whose only crime is love."

Jiang hesitated; he wanted to reaffirm Xiao's thesis, but he knew his place was with Mei; and no matter how much he loved Xiao and wanted to be with him, he knew he must face reality: he knew China would never change; he knew that no matter what he did, he and Xiao would never truly be human-they would be unable to lead normal lives---and they'd not be equal to the rest of their countrymen. Jiang knew that risking his love for Xiao meant risking his career and Jiang just wasn't ready to risk everything-not yet, anyway, "We must keep our dreams secret," Jiang whispered to Xiao, praying for the strength to stand as tall as a man.

"I agree and we mustn't tell anyone the secret of the Tao, either."

"And we must never let anyone know about my sexuality, otherwise they'll never let me compete and if I don't try to win the Gold, we'll never escape." Xiao read between the lines, Jiang wants to be with me, but he knows he's going to be with Mei and he wants us both to stay here-with me in hiding and Mei in the open. I bet he really doesn't even want to go through the portal-he thinks he can rely on himself more than on the will of the gods. He thinks our only escape is through sports, but that's not what the clues are telling us. How can I convince him? What can I do? Does he understand that our mission is to figure out how to escape through this door? Does he really understand? "Is there anyone else who suspects that you love me?" Xiao asked, thinking quickly, backtracking, trying to give Jiang enough time to understand the real problem.

"Coach Luo Cong suspects, but he covered for me before; I don't think he'll be a problem. Other than that, I'm okay, except-"

"-what?

"Did I tell you about the old lady? I stopped at her house one night on the way home and I talked in my sleep, I mentioned my lover . . . I mentioned, you."

"Will she tell?"

"I don't know; she looked at me as if she knew me, but I didn't feel betrayed. It was almost as if she knew me and accepted me . . . but I don't know, Xiao, I just don't know."

"Then, we'd better have an alternate plan. Your idea of going to Hong Kong and winning the gold is good, but if you're discovered, we'll need a back-up plan."

"Like what?"

"Like this cave. If anything happens to you, if anyone discovers your secret, come and stay with me. The bowls will supply everything we need, Sung Li won't be able to find us, and once you're here, we can figure out the puzzle and open this stupid door. Just promise me, Jiang, promise me, okay?"

Jiang nodded as he slid his hand slowly down Xiao's thigh. "You know I will." Jiang paused, almost as if he wanted to believe but was unable to, "I promise, if anything goes wrong, I'll be here for you. I'll stay here in the cave forever-or until the world changes," Jiang smiled, "whichever happens first, I'll be by your side."

Xiao smiled, as well, but for a different reason: he knew Jiang would never give up Mei, but Xiao smiled because he knew it was the best promise he'd ever get from Jiang.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Feng Chung stopped outside Ce-Ce's door, straightened his clothing, and then took one more step forward, just as XiaoXiao hurried up to him. "Stand firm," she whispered as she handed Chung his wedding photograph, "you are not going into that house!" Raising herself to her full one hundred and forty-five centimeters, XiaoXiao stepped between Chung and the prostitute's door. Either Chung would admit his guilt and go home, or he'd have to push XiaoXiao aside and enter the whore's house, forever ending the trust Chung and his family had shared forever.

Chung didn't hesitate. He hugged his mother-in-law and handed the photograph back to her, then he took her hand and, together, they walked back to their house. For the moment, I'll placate XiaoXiao and let her think she's won, but she'll never disgrace me again. I'm the man in this household and I'll do as I like. I will have Ce-Ce and if XiaoXiao thinks my marriage to Fengxia is worthwhile or that my faggot son is a reason for me to stay with her, she has her priorities backwards. I am who I am, not who she wants me to be.

Chung's cock struggled in his trouser legs, rampant and ready . . . but he knew sex with Ce-Ce would have to wait another day. If this son of mine is as worthless as I believe, I must make enough spares to insure my legacy. I'll be like Sung Li; I'll have a dozen children if I have to. My name will live forever, no matter what my mother-in-law says, I will preserve my name!


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Kuan Yin
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The Face of the Rapist
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