Coach Luo Cong counseled Wu Jiang as he walked him home, assuring him that he'ld always be there for the boy while tacitly reminding him that he must stop visiting Feng Xiao.

Little did Luo Cong remember the ways of boys, because as soon as he left to check on his other swimmers, Jiang snuck out of his house and hurried back to the river toward the cave where Xiao was hiding.

I don't know how much more time I have. I don't know if Sung Li is going to send me away or not, but I have to see Xiao. All this time I thought I was in love with Mei, but the moment Sung Li started questioning me, I knew I liked Xiao as a man, as a friend, and as the guy I want to be with Xiao forever-because it's only Jiang that I love-he's the only person I've ever truly loved.

Meanwhile, Xiao had hidden in the deepest parts of the cavern, studying the door, trying to find a way to open it, knowing it offered his only opportunity to be free. Xiao cried as he worked, knowing he'd never see Jiang again, I hope he and Mei have many children, and I pray she knows how sweet a man he is. Xiao wiped away his tears, stood to his full one hundred thirty-two-centimeter height and struggled with the door. Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him, It's Sung Li; he's discovered me. I must open this door; I must escape.

Then he heard Wu Jiang's purposeful strutting walk and Xiao glowed, praying to Kuan Yin that it was, in fact, Jiang and not a spirit lurking in the main chamber, "Jiang?" he whispered. "Is that you? Jiang?"

Jiang hurried forward, grabbed Xiao by the shoulders and dragged him to his chest, hugging him and covering his body with kisses. "Yes, it's me; I'll never abandon you again. I want to be with you for all eternity!"

After a few moments of passion, Jiang realized they'd need far more supplies if they wanted to survive together in the cave. "Meng Jiangnu's bowls provide us with enough food and water to live forever, but we're going to need more than that if we want to hunker down here."

"We've always made do with what we had. If we don't have something, we'll survive without it."

"Even medical supplies?" Jiang looked at Xiao's cuts and bruises, wondering how long it would be before they became infected.

"The goddess has always provided-"

"Perhaps you rely too heavily on the gods."

"Each time I mention Kuan Yin's name, my butterfly mole vibrates and each time we've been in trouble she's saved us. Yes, I believe in her; I believe very strongly in her."

"So, are we going to stay here forever?" Jiang wondered if Xiao was making the right decision.

"Until the goddess shows us a way out, yes, and remember we still have to figure out what's behind the door. It leads to safety, I'm convinced of that, and when we open it, we'll be free, but first, we must defend ourselves. We have to make sure Sung Li will never find us here alive."

Jiang wondered if Xiao was talking about a suicide pact, but he knew Xiao well enough to know that was furthest thought from his mind. He just wants to cover our tracks; Xiao would never be stupid enough to seal us up in a cavern without an escape route.

Xiao and Jiang spent the rest of the day and most of the evening dragging huge boulders and piling them on the ledges around the entrance. "If anyone tries to enter the cave, they'll step here, or here, or here, and they'll start an avalanche. Once this ledge caves in, the whole mountain will come crashing down; then we'll be safe inside and no one will find us. We can live here until we figure out how to escape through the magic door."

"You put more faith in that door than I do," Jiang said.

"Perhaps that's the reason why we can't open it," Xiao shouted in a fit of passion, "if you believed the door was our means of salvation, it would open. Perhaps all it takes is faith. Can you believe in the power of the door, Jiang, can you believe that the goddess is helping us and the door will lead us to safety?"

"I can try."

"Kuan Yin will need more than that-you have to believe!" He was frustrated now-more frustrated than he had ever thought he could be, if you could just trust in powers above you-out of your sight-out of your mind-just trust and obey!

Although it was nearly midnight, the boys decided to take one more swim before facing the terror of being barricaded inside the cavern. Jiang had been swimming all his life and had no fear of the river at any time of day or night, and after Xiao's escape from Sung Li, he was just as valiant. No matter what the temperature or conditions, both boys knew they'd always be safe in the water.

The boys stripped off their clothes and tossed them at the mouth of the cavern as they raced toward the edge of the river. Xiao won the footrace for the first time in his life, although he wondered if Jiang had let him win.

Xiao quickly plunged into the river and swam to the other side. There were no rapids, so they were both safe. Jiang jumped in and touched the opposite shore moments before Xiao. "You beat me in the footrace, but you know you can never beat me swimming!"

The boys played for about twenty minutes and then swam back to the opposite shore. "We'd better get some sleep; we need to be fresh in the morning because we have to keep our guard up listening for Sung Li and his men."

Xiao took Jiang's hand as they started up the hill but a few meters from the entrance, he saw something wild and fuzzy-something warm and playful.

"A rabbit," Xiao screamed as he dashed after the bunny.

Jiang sat on a boulder near the entrance and watched his naked lover running helter skelter trying to catch the baby rabbit. What does he think he's going to do when he catches it? Take it into the cavern with us? Jiang laughed uproariously as he watched Xiao slip and slide along the muddy rocks, but suddenly the rabbit stopped just like the rabbit that froze in its tracks so many years before. I hope it's not afraid of me; I hope I can get near it.

Xiao crept slowly toward the rabbit, extending his right hand as he walked, wanting to pet it, even if it was the last thing he ever did. He swatted down near the cowering animal and rubbed it gently on its pelt. Then he touched its ears and rubbed it gently under its chin and within moments, the rabbit was tame, responding to Xiao's love, feeling love, perhaps, for the first time in its life. The goddess put me here for a reason, Xiao thought, she knows I'm good with animals. Perhaps, when Jiang and I escape, we can find a place where I can work with animals, perhaps that's my mission in this life.

And the goddess, Kuan Yin stood over Feng Xiao, smiling down at the reincarnation of Fan Xiliang, knowing that this boy was The Great Wall in China-the nation's soul and spirit-strong-mighty-powerful-and knew that this boy would ultimately save the world.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"There, look there!" Man-Ho whispered to Sung Li. "That dirt falling down the cliff didn't happen by itself; there's someone there."

Man-Ho handed the binoculars to Sung Li who raised them to the horizon just as the full moon lit the sky, revealing all movement along the Great Wall, and Sung Li, noticed the tiny landslide Xiao had started when he approached the rabbit.

"We've got him! Quick, hurry!"

Just as Sung Li set his course for the falling rocks, he spotted something unusual: he saw a row of boulders overhanging a dark area just below the wall, a cave . . . so that's where they've been? Hiding in a cave under the Great Wall. I've got them now.

Xiao played with the rabbit as Jiang, who was beginning to shiver, dressed. Even though he was excited watching his naked lover run up and down the hills, he knew it was time to quit for the night. As soon as Jiang tied his shoes, however, he sat bolt upright. Something was wrong. He sensed it-there were sounds coming from the distance, further away from Xiao but heading his way, thumping sounds, crashing sounds. Something was coming their way. Jiang took several steps forward, moving away from the cave, and then he saw Sung Li and his assistant lunging out of the bushes, two ugly masses, rushing toward Xiao. I must save Xiao: he's the one Sung Li wants. Naked and vulnerable, Jiang knew Xiao would never be able to avoid the men; they were approaching him rapidly now and they would be upon him in an instant. Without thinking, Jiang ran diagonally down the mountain, away from the cave, just misleading the men enough to alert Xiao to be careful. Jiang screamed, "Run, Xiao, run!" And then Jiang raced faster than he ever had in his life. I know Xiao can outrun them. He's fast but he has to start now. "Run, Xiao, run." Jiang screamed as he raced toward the men, darting more and more obliquely away from Xiao-hoping Sung Li would chase China's prize athlete and leave the local criminal alone.

In the darkness, both Sung Li and Man-Ho took the bait and started chasing Jiang as Xiao sped back to the cavern. It was then that Jiang realized his mistake, by running toward the men: he wouldn't be able to turn back to the cave. He changed directions, hoping to keep the distance between himself and the men as far as possible, hoping to veer back to the cavern to meet Xiao.

At first Xiao thought it was a game of hide and seek, but when he looked around and saw Sung Li, he ran like hell back to the cavern. Xiao stumbled on a rock, running naked and barefoot on rocky terrain was not the wisest thing he had ever done and now he was running, bleeding and running as quickly as he had the night he'd first run from Sung Li, running for his life back to the entrance of the cave, praying to Kuan Yin that he and Jiang would never be taken alive. Xiao glanced over his shoulder and noticed Sung Li was nowhere to be seen. Man-Ho was chasing Jiang now and he was closing in on him.

Jiang didn't plan on giving up easily, but he knew if he were captured, Sung Li would be much easier on him than on Xiao. I have to help Xiao. It's okay if they capture me; they won't harm me-at least not until the swimming competition ends. Jiang slowed down, looking over his shoulder, realizing Xiao was almost at the mouth of the cave, just as Sung Li cut him off and flung him to the ground.

Knocking the air out of the boy, Sung Li sat with his full weight on him, "Get the other one, go to the cave, now!"

Xiao reached the entrance to the cave, but his foot slipped and he struck the loose boulder on the ledge. Xiao's heart sank as he slid down the ramp to the bottom of the cave and heard the mountain crashing down around him as the entrance was covered with a million tons of rocks. Jiang, what have I done? Xiao sobbed. He was alone now and he knew his only salvation lay behind the gold door.

The rocks continued to cascade down the mountain; it felt as if that entire section of the Great Wall was falling on him as Xiao scurried further back into the cave. Xiao screamed, wondering if the avalanche had killed his archenemy. "Sung Li's dead, he's dead," Xiao shouted, weeping with joy, "he's dead and I'm free now-I'm free forever."

The only thing that saved the three men outside was that they stood to the far right of the landslide.

Inside the cavern, Xiao turned his head, blocking out the noise of the last of the falling rocks, turning his head in several different directions, wondering, searching. No, the screams aren't coming from outside, they're coming from inside-they're coming from the other side of the door. I must open that door-it must lead to freedom and since Jiang didn't believe, my belief must be strong enough for two.

As Xiao neared the rear of the cave, he realized the screaming was more like screams of joy than that of terror. It sounded as if the voices on the other side were welcoming Xiao into a new life, into paradise.

It's the men behind the door. They can save me.

Xiao put his ear to the door, straining to hear what was on the other side, I hear singing, joyous singing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Sung Li and Man-Ho shook the stones from their legs, then they dragged Jiang to his feet and cuffed him. All three men had had the wind knocked out of them, yet, miraculously, as if Kuan Yin had protected everyone around Jiang, they remained unscathed. "That is one for the books," Sung Li shouted, "I was within a hare's grasp of that faggot Xiao and now he's gone. The mountain has eaten him alive."

"Do you want me to help you with the report? Should we let the government know that Xiao was eaten alive by the mountain?"

"Yes, we must tell the truth. That's what happened and you, Jiang, can back us up. We didn't have time to save him; the mountain took him.

"Thank heavens Jiang survived; he can save our reputation by-" Man-Ho wanted to add more, but he realized Sung Li had already handcuffed Jiang, and he wondered, with Jiang as their prisoner, how he could save China and become the greatest hero in China's history.

As if reading Man-Ho's mind, Sung Li added, "Our hopes for the future all hinge on this boy. If he wins the championship, we'll all be famous . . . but if he loses, he will lose more than his honor, I'll see to that," Sung Li smirked as he glanced at Jiang's heavy package and suppressed a smile. It's all or nothing, boy: China's future or no future for any of us, but either way you're going to lose your nuts.

Sung Li walked proudly back to the village with Jiang in tow. Man-Ho trailed, unsure of his status, unwilling to stand too close to Sung Li, knowing that if this were Sung Li's downfall, he, too, would fall, racing like a flaming meteor across the sky. He lost Xiao; if Jiang doesn't win, Sung Li will be finished and if I can distance myself from Li, I'll be the new police chief, laughing when they cart his fat ass away.

Sung Li stopped and motioned for Man-Ho to come forward, "It was a natural calamity; Xiao's dead, but Jiang must still win the race." Sung Li uncuffed Jiang. "Your bad influence is gone forever, Jiang; you're at a crossroad now, you can make a new life and I can help you . . . if you cooperate." Sung Li glared at Jiang's trousers, "and I'm sure you know what I mean. Cooperate and you will survive, fight and you'll answer in ways you could never imagine. Now go, run back to the coach and tell him you're ready to train in earnest."

Jiang didn't need a second invitation, he hurried off to the village, knowing time was short, I must win for Xiao's sake. Deep down in the recesses of his heart, Jiang knew Xiao was safe and that he'd find a way to escape. Without me, he'll have enough confidence to open that door. Without me, his belief will be stronger.

Sung Li turned to Man-Ho, "I'll inform Xiao's parents . . . and XiaoXiao," Sung Li smirked, "they'll be devastated to learn what just happened-absolutely devastated!" Li's laughter filled the valley and echoed from the Great Wall to the Great Sea.

Man-Ho didn't sense the irony in Sung Li's voice; there were so many things about Sung Li he couldn't understand, so many enigmas, so many puzzles, even though, of all the people in the village, including Sung Genji, no one knew Sung Li's cruel, insidious nature, half as well as he.

"Beijing doesn't like scandals or loose ends; the government will never understand why Xiao was hiding in a cave, so the less we say, the better, okay?"

"But what about Jiang?"

"Jiang won't say a word; he's only interested in victory."

"It looks like nature tied up all the loose ends, so we have nothing to worry about." Man-Ho added as Sung Li ogled Man-Ho's ass and whistled gaily for the first time since he had raped Xiao in the forest so many years before.

And Sung Li ogled both boy's asses, and his cock nearly exploded.


On to Chapter Thirty-Three
A True Love's Scream
Back to Thirty-One
The Premonition
Complete Chapter List

The Scot Walker Story Page

Tarheel Writer Home Page

I'd love to hear what you think!  Leave me a comment on our contact us page.