Dragon Seed Page #7

...but would be better dead.

Oh, what I have seen this night.

Oh, I cannot. I cannot.

There, there, my meat dumpling.

She was ever a poor, foolish little thing,

without courage.

But she was my wife.

And the mother of my children.

I cannot stay here. I cannot.

Quiet, my son. This is your home.

No longer. I hate it.

I do not care where I go,

but I cannot stay here.

I will go with those in the hills

who fight this horror.

Rest today first. Do not think of it now.

I cannot rest. I must go.

Help our third son

make ready for his journey.

Remember, my son,

all weeping ceases at last.

Your brother's rash and foolish,

and I will keep an eye on him.

If not my own, then one that I can trust.

I would have you follow him to the hills

and watch over him for me.

- Do you so command me, Father?

- I do.

The hills.

There I, too, could fight.

Yes, I can pay these dwarfs

some of what I owe them.

I could kill them like lice in a winter coat.

Since this time yesterday, cousin,

we have both lost sons.

- Can a cock still crow?

- It does not seem one should.

I feel there is no tomorrow.

Come in. Come in, sirs.

- Salted fish.

- Fish, yes. Yes, sir.

Here, here is fish. Oh, no.

What...?

I'm of all creatures,

the most unfortunate.

These fish are not salted. No, no, sir.

They are only soaked in oil.

- I will take them.

- Then take them as a gift, please.

I bought them from your country

and now I return them to you.

- Thank you. You are Wu Lien?

- Yes, sir.

- And you do not hate us?

- Why, no. I hate no one, sir.

Thank you.

For all this damage we are sorry.

- Our soldiers very brave, angry.

- Oh, yes, I know. I know how soldiers are.

But now... Now let us hope for peace.

Only in peace can we do business.

I am glad to meet a man

who hates no one.

What can I say except that

whatever you want me to do I will do.

You maybe useful to us, if you will.

Will I not be...?

We shall set up

a people's government here.

And those who rule, shall rule for us.

Can you read and write?

Oh, certainly, sir. I'm a man of culture.

- You know the address written there?

- Yes. Yes, sir.

I have delivered goods there.

It is the house of a very rich man.

And now he shares it with us,

his friends.

You will come there tomorrow.

And live there.

You'll see how merciful we are

with those who do not resist us.

Yes.

Our flag above your door

will protect you until you come to us.

All my thanks, great one.

Oh, even to 10,000 thousand.

I'm more cheered than I've been for months.

Now I can be with my household again.

How wise am I

to arrange my own affairs so well.

- Another patriot has died.

- Patriot. What, then, is a patriot?

To be one must a man die

and let the worms eat his flesh?

No, no, no. I think not.

All these thing that happen

are not my affair.

Whatever comes, I'm a man of peace.

And whatever heaven sends

I will take and go on with my business.

If this foolish resistance will stop

there will be peace.

Do you not agree?

Farmer, this country now belongs to us,

your conquerors.

You must produce on your land

as we say.

And the harvest is to come to us

at the price we tell you it shall be.

And those who disobey us

will need their land no longer.

- But they take all the fish. The pond is mine.

- Nothing is yours.

Will you village men never learn

that you are conquered?

If they take all the rice,

how can we live and plant in the spring?

You can live off your own fat and you

will be given seed when the time come.

You don't even leave us breeding stock.

We will raise the animals henceforth

and also eat them.

My ox. Who will pull the plow?

Your own back looks strong.

How would we feed

our grandchildren now?

- Why did you not defy him?

- Alive, I can hold my land.

Dead, I can only hold so much

as I am buried in.

So while Ling Tan and his kinsmen

tried somehow to live on...

...those who had taken machines apart

with their hands...

...so they could be carried piece by piece,

were making their way forward.

Mud could not stop them. Nor could rain.

Rain that so filled the air

that fish could have lived in it.

Mud so thick that it held them back

like evil hands.

Water was made to cross

and it was crossed many times.

And when it could not be walked in,

boats were built.

And the people rowed upon the water.

And were grateful for the moment

that they need not walk.

Time came when the earth opened

at their feet...

...but they did not stop.

They took what they had, rags and belts

and ropes, and made bridges...

...and passed over.

And then they reached

the high mountain passes...

...where no one had gone before.

And many faltered, for food was gone

and strength was near an end.

Many faltered but did not stop.

Nothing could stop them

but their own will.

Nor could it stop Jade and Lao Er.

Although now and then, they rested...

...and she yearned

for the end of the journey...

...for she knew

that her time was at hand.

The enemy was everywhere,

leaving footprints on the sick earth...

...and many of Ling Tan's kinsmen died.

Some met death quickly

but they were the fortunate ones.

For others found a longer,

harder way to die.

And then starvation came,

and pestilence...

...and did not spare

the house of Ling Tan.

The little children were struck down

for they were the weakest.

So Ling Tan and his wife

went into the fields...

...to dig for roots

and forgotten kernels of grain.

All about them

were the other people of the valley.

And the hunger pain in their bellies

drove some of them mad...

...and they became as animals

and fought each other.

Some of them fell upon their knees...

...and fought for swill

that not even swine would eat...

...while the enemy laughed.

But still, Ling Tan and others like him

clung to their land.

Old woman?

I have found food for them.

Girl is dead.

But the boy... There is food.

We can help him.

It's too late. He is past all help.

What is a house where no children are?

They brought only happiness

and they have taken it away.

What need

could the gods have of them?

That should I go on living

when my grandchildren die.

Curse all these men

who would make wars.

Curse all women

who give birth to these men.

And curse their grandmothers

and all who are their kin.

Why do not men of peace and sense

band together...

...and forbid life

to those who would make wars?

Yet what can I do?

One man upon my land.

Cousin, cousin? Are you here, then?

Cousin, are you here, then?

Cousin, cousin? Where is the man?

I come with big news in my mouth.

See. See, they have food

and did not share it.

This is from your son.

A messenger brought it to the teahouse.

A letter from a son

is something I will never have now.

We have all lost much.

Well, then, open it.

The cord is red.

- It is a son.

- We have a grandson.

But you weep. This is a time for joy.

Two grandchildren lie dead in our house.

Shall I thank heaven

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