The Princess and Ming-huá

Chapter 10

The first rays of dawn were piercing the night sky as Ming-huá and Aimee descended to the patio and across to the waiting oxen cart. It was a typical Malaysian two wheeled cart drawn by two yoked oxen. The cart was covered with a traditional canopy which covered the driver and passengers from both rain and shine.

Ming-huá had difficulty coming to terms with all this. Time travel was science fiction as far as she was concerned. She recalled, when still at school late the year before, she received a message from Hanh Li Poh on Facebook. Now here, a twenty-first century young lady being thrust into a world of the fifteenth century. She knew she was there in body and she was not sure about her soul? Everything around her was fifteenth century. Aimee was with her. She was with her in the twenty-first century this morning. Where were her parents? What about her relations? Had she been born yet, in the twenty-first century or was she a woman of the fifteenth century? What about Aimee? Is this the Aimee the Amah or is this a fifteenth century Aimee? She cast her mind back to the first time she met Hang Li Poh. She was a real person, or was she? The fan she left Ming-huá was real, because she had it in her bedside cupboard but that was in the twenty-first century. She looked at Aimee and Aimee returned the gaze. Aimee could see the bewildered look on Ming-huá face. She took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Ming-huá then realised Aimee was a real person and seemed to be the same Aimee the Amah¹.

As they approached the oxen cart, two strong Malaysian men met them and took the baggage that Aimee and Ming-huá carried. They were armed with both Keris and sword.

"These Pahlawan² will accompany us on our travels, Ming-huá, but you must make sure you keep the Keris that Puteri Li Poh gave you with you at all times." Said Aimee.

Ming-huá nodded. She was quite bewildered by all that was happening to her. A Twenty First century young woman thrust into the past.

The oxen driver was already seated in front under the leading edge of the canopy. Ming-huá and Aimee seated themselves behind the driver and the two Pahlawan sat behind them.

They set off on the first day of the journey to Ledang Mountain. The oxen were slow. They trundled along at walking pace. To Ming-huá, it was a little frustrating but she was resigned to the fact.

As the day grew on, the methodical plodding of the oxen continued. Some few hours into the journey, the driver stopped at a small wayside Kampung³. One of the Pahlawan spoke,

"Marilah kita makan⁴"

Aimee and Ming-huá alighted from the cart and went inside the small ruma makan⁴ while the oxen driver changed oxen.

Refreshed, they were soon on their journey again. During the day, this procedure took place every few hours. Not every time did they take food but did alight and drank something, the day being hot and humid.

By evening, they reached a bigger Kampung. The Pahlawan, who was the mere senior told them they would remain there overnight.

Ming-huá was grateful for this break. She was tired and sore from sitting all day. After a meal, both Aimee and Ming-huá retired for the night. At one stage, they were both awakened by a disturbance outside the rumah where they were staying. After some yelling, the commotion died down and they again slept until morning.

Early the next morning, both Ming-huá and Aimee arose, packed their belongings and then went to the dining area. After they had eaten some breakfast, they took their belongings to the front of the rumah to where the oxen cart was waiting. What seemed odd to Aimee was that the Pahlawan that had accompanied them the day before were nowhere to be seen. She turned to Ming-huá and said,

"Something is odd Ming-huá. All these people are different. Where are the Pahlawan who accompanied us yesterday?"

Aimee looked at the cart driver and he beckoned to them to climb on board. As soon as they were seated, four armed men also boarded the cart. Aimee gave a little shriek and grasped Ming-huá's arm. Ming-huá looked at Aimee and saw the troubled expression. She asked,

"What is the matter, Aimee? Who are those men?" Asked Ming-huá.

They are soldiers of Emperor Zhu Qizhen's army." She whispered. "I do not know what is happening."

One of the soldiers, the one who was obviously in command, ordered the oxen cart driver to get the cart moving. The other three soldiers sat at the rear of the cart and watched the two women.

The driver headed along the road toward their destination of Ledang Mountain. They had gone but a kilometre and the commanding soldier ordered the driver to make a turn onto a rough track that led into dense jungle.

Aimee gripped Ming-huá's arm and whispered,

"I do not know what is happening Ming-huá but I do not like it. They are taking us away from the road but I do not know where to."

The commanding soldier shouted at Aimee and told her to cease speaking. He forced the two women apart with the point of his spear.

The oxen cart continued to trundle and lurch further into the dense jungle under the directions of the commanding soldier.

Hello Folks. I have used some words in Malay here and there. So as not to confuse you entirely they translate to:-

Amah¹..... Argument exists over the strict meaning but to me an Amah has always been the maid or when in the case of caring for children, Nurse.

Pahlawan²..... Warrior.

Kampung³...... village

Marilah kita makan⁴...... Let us eat