Jiang ran, sweating back to the pool, screaming to everyone he saw, "Help! Xiao's been trapped inside the mountain. There's been an avalanche, help!"

But the word had already reached the village and Fengxia raced from door to door begging everyone to hurry to the mountain, "Bring your shovels and pitchforks; we don't have much time, hurry."

Meanwhile, XiaoXiao acted as point guard, standing outside her door, ensuring that each volunteer came fully prepared, urging them to bring as many tools as they could carry. "Here, I have an extra shovel, use this, use this." XiaoXiao was best with the small children-the village grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as she organized them into teams. "We'll march to the Great Wall and dig Xiao out before the big people know what's happening." XiaoXiao wasn't much taller than the youngsters around her, but today she was more active than the five-year olds. "You will be the heroes of the day, hurry, hurry." XiaoXiao separated the children according to size, making sure that each boy and girl was dressed property, tied a dozen pair of tiny shoes, and covered six-year-old Kai with one of Xiao's shirts, "We must protect ourselves before we rescue Xiao." Then after preparing the children, XiaoXiao led them from the village, like zealots in the Children's Crusade, marching them rapidly down the road, racing to make them walk faster, her heart palpitating, beating more and more loudly, as she struggled to keep up with her army of diminutive diggers. XiaoXiao clutched her heart and fell along the roadside. All the adults were looking for Xiao; the children were too young to know what was happening. "Rescue Xiao, go to the wall, rescue Xiao." The children raced off to the Great Wall as XiaoXiao struggled to get up. I must get home; I must rest. XiaoXiao slowly stood, her heart racing, her palms sweaty, her head spinning. I must find help for Xiao.

The village was totally empty, except for Feng Chung, who sat outside his house crying. My son died the day he decided to become a faggot. Why should I worry about this stranger trapped inside the mountain? Why should I bother to help this worthless boy?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All day and all night the villagers dug into the pile of rock and dirt, trying to locate the entrance to the cave and, even though Jiang led the way, no one asked why he knew so much about the secret cave because everyone knew even though no one wanted to admit it.

Man-Ho helped, as well. "It's over there, more to the right, dig there, dig there," but he wasn't certain and, after a few hours, all the rocks began to look the same and the dirt was, after all, just dirt. Man-Ho had only seen the entrance for a brief moment, but Sung-Li was more certain; he remembered the pile of rocks that had nearly buried him and his photographic memory could recall every stubby crag and miniscule rock. He was sure he could find the exact pile of rubble once he recognized one rock-once the sun was up-once he regained his strength. "The cavern was further to the left of this pile-it was over here!" Jiang and Sung Li argued for ten worthless minutes as the people stopped and rested. "If they don't know where we're digging, why bother? We cannot dig up the entire mountain."

Fengxia rose quickly and screamed at the villagers. "You are my friends; if you've come here to help me, then dig here, dig here in this spot." She pointed to the place Jiang had identified; she knew what Jiang felt about Xiao and she was certain he knew where to dig."

As one, the people rose and dug, jabbing their shovels into the earth, lifting the rocks, moving the mountain, looking for Fengxia's lost boy. He's lost in more ways than one, Pick-Choo thought, even his father knows that.

After careful consultation, Sung Li realized Fengzia was right; she had listened to Jiang and Jiang had obviously been to the cavern many times. The boy will pay for his carnal knowledge . . . but first I must find Xiao; I must get even with that boy.

Sung Li pretended to be Xiao's advocate as he turned to the crowd, assuming the duty he had coveted for years, the role of governor, "Dig here. Here is the entrance to the cave."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The villagers worked with their picks and shovels, digging the earth, carting it away, day after day, until they had struggled in the rock pile for three days and four nights.

"It's time to stop. No one could have survived this long. We must go home."

"No." Chung shouted, as he struggled up the hill to the villagers. "Xiao is my son. I lost him once; I shall never lose him again. Dig, damn it, dig."

Fengxia raced to her husband and kissed him in front of the entire village. In her entire life, she had never kissed him in public and the people smiled joyously, knowing the Feng family was reunited, knowing that Chung and Fengxia would survive even if their son did not.

On the fifth day, another landslide buried the progress the villagers had made. "It's worse than before; there's no chance we'll ever rescue Xiao."

Jiang wept as XiaoXiao, Fengxia and Chung huddled close together, praying to the gods that Xiao had died quickly.

Then the people returned to the village, cooked their meals, washed their clothes, and slept. Life would continue for them as it always had-living in subjugation as they struggled toward death-training them how to bend with the wind.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The experience didn't sadden Sung Li, however, nor did it mellow him; he was just as obstinate as always and, and as soon as he returned to the village, he called for Jiang, "Be prepared to win the Gold, boy, because if you fail, I'll see the entire team castrated." Sung Li laughed as he watched Jiang's face. The boy knew the police chief spoke the truth; he knew he'd be sent to camp to be retrained and castrated if he failed in his task. I've just lost my best friend and now I'll lose these, he thought as he headed out of Sung Li's office into the night. I guess I'd better visit Mei one last time before I leave. Perhaps I can fix the moment in my mind and if I lose these at least I'll remember one final moment of glory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The boy is a faggot, just like Xiao. I only hope he does win the Gold because it won't make any difference. I'll have his balls one way or another.


On to Chapter Thirty-Five
Reunited
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A True Love's Scream
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