A Gathering of Heroes series: Anhu

Chapter 14 (Zhang)

The days passed with little change as we awaited the sentencing. Each day we rose at the crack of dawn rudely awakened by the noise of insults shouted by the prison guards and to acknowledge our names on the roll call list. If one of us were slow to answer, the disobedience was immediately met with a smack from the warden's bamboo rod. Next we were allowed cell by cell to use the privy. There was little privacy for the women, only a thin rice paper screen. Often we women were ogled and jeered at by the guards, so I learned quickly not to waste time. Our daily rations were tasteless; consisting of watered down rice porridge, a stale mantou and a small cup of water.

There was little to do in confinement. When I attempted to do some stretches to pass the time, the guard rattled the cell door and threatened to send me into solitary confinement if I were to continue doing any "suspicious activity" that would destroy the cell. I wanted to roll my eyes but obediently sat on the floor wordlessly. When he finally left but not without staring lewdly at me and Shen-xiaojie, I heard the other occupants whispering amongst themselves, most likely amused by what had occurred. I paid them no mind.

A curious event happened one day. A couple of monks from the city's sect came with freshly made buns to distribute to the prisoners. The depressing atmosphere in the prison seemed to brighten with the sight of the monastic robes and enormous baskets that came down the hallway. A guard led the way, while another followed a few paces behind the monks to ensure their safety. The prisoners crowded at the doors, holding out their hands through the bars and begging to be served first. Shen-xiaojie and I looked at each other. I had told her that I knew some monks from my travels, but were they people that I knew? I joined the other occupants of our cell and waited for the monks.

The small procession reached our cell. The smiling monk closest to our cell handed out buns to us in order and murmured a blessing for each of us. I was last. As he gave me a bun, he murmured a blessing, for which I thanked him. For a brief moment, his kindly eyes lingered on me and then he turned away, continuing the trek. I watched them go, while the others ate their buns greedily. Then, I quietly savored my bun, a small joy in this misery.

***

I awoke to the sounds of shouting. "How dare you wake me at this hour! It's not even dawn yet!" "What? More prisoners?" The shadows flickered on the wall.

"Stop that wailing, girl!"

My eyes were bleary with sleep as I tried to make out what was happening. I raised a finger to my lips when I saw that Shen-xiaojie was awake as well. The flame from the torch came closer. I saw the occupants of the cell from across the hallway stirring in their sleep, as we watched the night warden, two guards with two captives and a torch bearer come down the hall. As they came closer, I tried to catch a glimpse of the captives, but the warden's shadow suddenly fell over us as he fumbled for his keys to open the door to our cell. The door fell open. One of the captives was roughly pushed into our cell. Instinctively, I reached out to catch the newcomer, who shivered in my arms. I looked up coolly and met the eyes of the guard who, to my surprise, winked and gestured to the newcomer. I blinked in confusion at his manner. Then, schooling his features, he turned on his heel and headed out of the cell. The cell door banged shut. The other captive was taken further down the hall to another cell.

As the light from the torch passed from view, I glanced down at the newcomer. My eyes widened in surprise.

It was Wei! Oh, poor Wei! I hugged her tightly. Then, I took in her bedraggled appearance; she wore a slave woman's clothing and had minor scratches here and there. "The slave market," she whispered as if reading my thoughts. Of course, she would not have been released easily like the others. There was shifting in the background as one of the occupants moved in their sleep.