Peach Blossom Pavilion. Mingmei Yip

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СКАЧАТЬ what if there really are ghosts?’

      ‘Then I’ll protect you. I know kung fu.’ I shot up from the bed and did a high kick.

      The moon was luminous and the stars burned glittering holes in the sky. Spring Moon and I held hands as we inched cautiously along the meandering path through the bamboo groves. The night noises of the pavilion – chatting, singing, laughing, pipa playing – receded as we walked deeper and deeper into the heavy-foliaged alley leading to the haunted garden. After fifteen minutes, all we could hear were cries of insects, the rustling of leaves, and faint, mysterious sounds. The moon was half-veiled by bands of clouds – like wisps of long hair streaking the face of a woman ghost. The air was hot like Mama’s tonic soup; I felt Spring Moon’s palm sweating in mine.

      ‘Xiang Xiang,’ her voice came out as a whisper, ‘I’m scared; why don’t we go back?’

      ‘Too late now.’

      ‘Xiang Xiang! I thought you knew your way!’

      ‘No, I’ve never been here. I only heard about it from Pearl and the other sisters.’

      ‘Xiang Xiang, take me back, right now!’

      ‘But Spring Moon,’ I lied, ‘you can’t turn back midway.’

      ‘Why not?’

      I racked my brain for a good reason. ‘Because … because I was told those who’d turned back all died a mysterious death. Once you’re on the way, you have to follow the qi leading you to the garden. You can’t walk back against the qi.’

      ‘Oh heaven, then what are we going to do?’

      ‘Go to the garden first before we decide.’

      We continued to walk in a silence as heavy as our hearts. Now Spring Moon held my arm so tightly that her fingernails cut into my flesh. But I didn’t dare utter the slightest complaint. The path was moist, smelling of a mixture of fresh and rotting vegetation. From time to time, we had to sweep aside overgrown branches and leaves. My five senses were achingly aware of the lightest sound, smell, and movement. I could hear Spring Moon’s heavy breathing punctuating the dense night air.

      ‘Xiang Xiang,’ finally Spring Moon broke the silence, ‘you really don’t think there are ghosts?’

      ‘Maybe there are; I don’t know.’

      Her voice trembled a little. ‘What about if we do run into one?’

      ‘Since there’s no turning back, we can only face it and maybe even ask, “How are you, pretty ghost, should we sit down to have a cup of tea and chat?”’

      Several beats passed before we burst into nervous laughter.

      ‘I like you, Xiang Xiang. Not only that you’re so pretty, you’re funny.’

      Before I had a chance to reply, I noticed we’d already reached an opening. ‘Spring Moon, look, we’ve made it.’

      The underbrush opened to a level field flooded with silvery moonlight. In the distance rose a small temple with upturned eaves from which dangled two big, unlit lanterns. Swaying in the breeze, they peered through the foliage like the blinking of two sightless eyes. In front of the temple gate, leaves of ancient trees rustled like someone whispering, or crying, desperately trying to tell a woeful tale.

      I felt my elbow nudged. ‘Xiang Xiang, what’s glittering on the ground?’

      ‘I don’t know. Let’s go and take a look,’ I said, pulling Spring Moon forward.

      To my surprise, the glitterings were reflections of the moon in puddles.

      Spring Moon danced around, chanting. ‘How wonderful, moon in a puddle.’ Then she screamed, startling me. ‘Xiang Xiang, what’s that?’

      I followed her finger and saw clusters of light floating here and there. A silence, then I said, ‘Don’t worry; they’re fireflies.’ But I didn’t go on to explain that I’d been told the favourite places for fireflies were cemeteries. My breath was chilled as I exhaled.

      Spring Moon now looked up to gaze at the heavenly disc. Long moments passed before she asked, ‘Xiang Xiang, do you remember that poem about the moon—’

      I gazed at the moon and recited, ‘One moon is reflected on all the waters, all waters are embraced by one moon.’

      ‘I like that. I like you, too, Xiang Xiang; you’re so smart. Oh, I’m so happy here.’

      ‘Me, too,’ I responded, ‘I feel free here. No Mama, no De, no dark room, no favoured guests—’

      ‘But also no food, no fragrant tea. Oh, I’m starving.’ She put her hand on her belly. ‘And I have to pee.’

      ‘Me, too,’ I said, then an idea hit me, ‘Spring Moon, let’s pee on the moon.’

      She chuckled.

      I said in a singsong tone, ‘I’m Chang E, regretting swallowing the elixir I stole from my husband; I flew to the moon …’

      ‘Stop that, Xiang Xiang, you’re not Chang E; you can’t pee on the moon!’

      I walked to one of the puddles, squatted down, pulled down my pants, and peed on the reflection of the moon. When I finished, I cocked an eye at Spring Moon. ‘See?’

      She chased and hit me with her fist. ‘You cunning fox! I should have thought of that first!’

      I was running and panting. ‘But you didn’t!’

      Finally we reached the temple.

      ‘All right, Spring Moon,’ I said, ‘now tell me about you and your fiancé.’

      Spring Moon pressed her finger tightly against her lips. ‘Shhhh … Xiang Xiang, do you hear something?’

      I strained my ears to listen. ‘It’s just the wind.’

      ‘No, listen more carefully.’

      ‘Some cats crying?’

      ‘No.’

      ‘Oh, maybe it’s the ghost of that sister who hung herself after she’d been stripped naked and whipped till her bottom rotted! Listen, it’s screaming like she’s being slashed!’

      ‘But Xiang Xiang, if a ghost is dead, how can it scream?’

      ‘From a nightmare, I guess.’

      ‘Do ghosts dream?’

      ‘How do I know? I’m not dead yet!’

      ‘Oh,’ Spring Moon nudged me harder, while still whispering, ‘Listen, Xiang Xiang, now the ghost moans, and gasps.’

      ‘Then this one must be a hungry ghost!’

      To my surprise, now Spring Moon giggled, ‘I think maybe it’s not СКАЧАТЬ