A House on Mount Linux

Part 4: The Gentle Unhappy Uncle *** His Unruly Treacherous Nephew

Part 4: The Gentle Unhappy Uncle *** His Unruly Treacherous Nephew

The big man was struggling to let awkward words out.

(Liu ShanShun:) - That's because... the skin there, on your chin,.. under your chin... there..

(Liu LiZhong, trying to make out what the other mumbles:) - ???

(Liu ShanShun, even quieter:) - That skin, it looks... sort of tender... I felt awkward. I felt like it would be indecent to touch you.

Now Liu LiZhong was out of his fucking mind. He had been expecting anything but this. That muscular idiot... for five years he's been too shy to touch him because of his sort of tender skin? He's hiding his eyes because he is fucking shy?!

He grabbed his hair exactly the same way his uncle did it when he couldn't think straight. Fucking nuthouse!

(Liu LiZhong:) - What are you saying? Are you saying it's indecent to take your own nephew by his chin? What's going on in your sick motherfucker's head?

(Liu ShanShun, barely alive:) - LiZhong, what do you want from me? What are we even talking about?

("I shouldn't have come!")

(Liu LiZhong:) - I want you to touch my fucking chin already! That's a man's last wish before the gallows. Or whatever.

(Liu ShanShun:) - Do not say such absurd things!

He was as red as that very volcanic magma. What was going on near the pantry grate started resembling one of his dreams, some realistic details adjusted... like bars, grocery sacks and those wet rags on Liu LiZhong.

(Liu LiZhong, stepping ahead:) - Here. Reach out your hand.

Liu LiZhong smelled the blood like a foxhound. Or an anaconda, for that matter.

Despite what people said about him, he wasn't a spoiled youngster taking pleasure in throwing tantrums at his poor uncle.

Parents are the ones to be thrown tantrums at. As for love, the rules of the game are totally different.

He has been probing for the points not to be stretched over twenty years. He learned his lessons, he changed his tactics taking into consideration the other man's rare resistance, his moods and facial expressions. The stakes have been growing higher: an extra fairy tale for the night, lunches to be brought to school by the Lew Silk Trading House owner by himself, the evening ritual of waiting up for his nephew after work and many more. The goal has always been the same - to appropriate this man. This kind, beautiful, big, strong, omnipotent man. Not to be shared with anyone.

He bared his nerves like a burglar grates the meat off finger pads in order to perceive a response from a metallic mechanism. He has become a predator aware of his victim's manners, its routes home and to waterholes.

He could feel it in his own body how his uncle was trembling inside. He was trembling all over too, resonating. He already knew who would be the one to give in. Still, he was afraid.

As the great Bo Bayun wrote somewhere, no idea where exactly, "The sea of great despair swallows the weak and raises the strong on its tide..."

Screw the great Bo Bayun. Five fucking years...

Liu ShanShun reached his hand through the bars.

(Liu LiZhong:) - You should really see yourself, how you are holding my face with two fingers, like a fucking dead rat. Take a proper grab!

The fingers lay down on the soft spot under the lower jaw and Liu LiZhong locked them outright with his own palm. He took another step ahead still holding on to Liu ShanShun's hand. Liu ShanShun felt the boy's palm stroke and rub his hand as it pressed tighter into his cheek. Liu LiZhong was hardly breathing, his eyes agape, fixed on his uncle.