The Tortoise in Asia (33 page)

“I consider him unwise at times, and so does the Protector-General, but he's a competent military man. Very shrewd and calculating – a good man for war, but not talented in the ways of peace.”

“Will you visit me from time to time?”

“Of course I will, my friend. In the meantime I'll do all I can. The way forward is to persuade the Protector General to influence Colonel Chen. However he's very cautious, concerned about ensuring he's supported. He won't want to upset the Colonel.”

The jailer comes in and says there're two other visitors outside, waiting, very important ones. Kang says it's time for him to leave. As soon as he departs, two women appear. One of them is the girl, the other older – probably a governess.

“I was at the Great Hall yesterday and saw what happened, “says the girl. “I'm upset that Colonel Chen treated you so badly. My father has always taught me that the most important moral quality is benevolence, as we call it. As a foreigner you may not understand, but trying to help someone in trouble is part of it. You shouldn't be punished for what you did.”

“Who's your father?”

“He's the Protector-General.”

“Oh … I'm honoured that you should take an interest in my case. It's very kind of you. What's your name?”

“Meilin. I've heard yours, but it's hard to pronounce”

“You can just call me by my first name, Marcus. That should be easy.”

She smiles at that and he does too. They speak for a while, until her companion, a jolly-faced woman as round as a rice bowl, says it's time to leave.

“Thank you for coming. Is it too much to ask if you'll come again?”

“Yes, I will” she says and goes out the clanking door.

This is overwhelming. Meilin has the grace and beauty of a goddess. Her face is as smooth as the silk dress she wears. True, the disparity of their positions encourages that conclusion, but even so, she's exceptional. Somehow, her presence takes away the sting of prison.

It's hard not to feel regret that so suddenly she's replacing Aurelia, and a touch of disloyalty. But how is it possible to keep Aurelia foremost in mind when there's no chance of getting back to Rome? Even Odysseus wouldn't make it home under these circumstances.

Meeting her banishes the loneliness of confinement. Not that it's solitary, for Ting Ting is there – even sleeping at the bottom of the bed. There's a bond now. At first it was based on food, but it's grown beyond that. He's sure of it.

“She's very pretty don't you think Ting Ting? There's a deep humanity there too – must be. Why else would she have come?”

Ting Ting sits patiently, listening to him speak, from time to time cocking his head to show he's paying attention. His large bulbous eyes look up, glistening in innocence.

❧

Meilin and the rotund woman climb up the dark stone steps to the ground floor of the fortress. They go down a wide corridor with small windows, past the Great Hall and up another flight of steps to Meilin's bed chamber. It's in a suite of rooms in the southern tower reserved for the Protector-General and his family. With a sigh of relief as if she's just been through a challenging but exhilarating experience, Meilin throws herself backwards onto the bed, arms outstretched. Sitting down beside her, the woman says “Meilin, I think you're a little intrigued by that foreigner.”

“Oh, I don't know Ping. Maybe I am a bit. He's good looking and his eyes seem kind. Did you notice how he looks after that little dog? He's so good to him, even has him on his lap some times. They seem to have a very close relationship. I can't imagine any of Colonel Chen's soldiers showing so much affection for a dog.

“But it's really the unrighteousness. I just can't see why Colonel Chen was so harsh. We aren't cruel people, like the Hsiumg nu. We're supposed to be civilized.”

“Be careful Meilin. Colonel Chen's a powerful man – won't tolerate criticism. Besides it's not good for you to be seen with a foreign man.”

“I know Ping. But I can't always do what those boring Palace people say. Besides, what if that soldier wasn't a coward? Was falsely accused like the foreigner says. Wouldn't that be terrible? It's not because I really care about the foreigner as an individual; I hardly know him. I'm only interested in the principle. Why shouldn't I? I'm my father's daughter.”

“You always were headstrong. I know you want to do the right thing but being idealistic can get you into trouble. Be prudent.”

“Will you support me Ping? You always have. I want to see him again. Find out more about his background. Why he spoke out against Colonel Chen so I can go to Father for help. What do you say?”

“Of course, my dear. You know you can count on me, always. We'll go in secret. No one must know. I'll bribe the prison guard not to say anything.”

“Thank you Ping. You're so kind.” She rushes over and hugs her.

❧

Meilin and Ping come to the jail cell the next day. Marcus has the warden bring chairs in for them.

“Why did you stick up for Wu-Jiang? He's not part of your army.”

“I did it because I saw him in the battle and knew he was a brave man, not the coward they said he was. It doesn't matter that he's not part of my army as you say. He's still a soldier, a sort of comrade in a way since we were both fighting on the same side.”

“I see. You actually saw him on the battlefield?

“Yes I did. My cohort, sorry my comrades, and I were close by and could see everything.”

“Where do you and your comrades come from? I have never seen people like you before – nobody here has… “

“We come from far away to the west, on the other side of the great mountain barrier. From a great city called Rome. It's a very rich city; the women wear elegant clothes and have lots of jewellery. We were in a battle and got taken prisoner. After a while we escaped and went along the great Caravan Road. We became mercenaries for the Hsiung-nu”. Meilin gasps, her eyes opening wide. “We had to, had no choice. But afterwards, we joined up with your father's army and that's how we got here.”

“Why does Kang like you so much? He seems a good friend of yours.”

“I don't know. We do get along well. He's an impressive scholar; I too am interested in literature and philosophy although he's much more learned in his than I am in mine.”

“What are those scrolls at the end of the bed?

“They are the classics of my tradition. I read them from time to time. They keep me in touch with my culture.”

“Oh. You can read then?

“Yes. But not in Han”

She laughs and says it's time to go.

❧

Meilin comes often, soon every day, and she and Marcus talk about things that people who want to get to know each other do. Their conversations are becoming more and more personal. One day she arrives without Ping and that seems a watershed. The governess never comes to the cell again. She stays outside, ready to fend off the unwanted.

Weeks pass by with no sign of release. It's been two months since his arrest but Marcus is not depressed. On the contrary, Meilin's visits are enough to make life worthwhile. Little Ting Ting, the books and thoughts about her keep him entertained when she's not there. Besides Gaius and some other officers come frequently and keep him abreast of what's going on in the cohort. Kang comes too.

His relationship with Meilin evolves. Her feelings have progressed past the stage of moral indignation. She's intrigued by the exotic world he leads her into when he speaks of his background and the great western city with its sophisticated ways. She's always had an enquiring mind, even adventurous. And he seems to combine a natural self assurance and strength with a certain warmth – not bad looking either, even though very different from what she's used to.

With him there was never any need to evolve. He fell in love from the beginning. It was easy; she's very attractive – her face, though obviously different, has the symmetry that underlies all things beautiful. Eventually the two speed evolution merges and both declare their affection, he unreservedly, she with some caution.

One afternoon after a visit, as Meilin and Ping walk up the stone steps, she whispers that she wants to say something in the strictest confidence. When they get to the little room outside her bed chamber, she says

“Ping I think I'm falling in love with that Roman. He says he loves me and I believe him. What am I to do?”

“Oh my poor child. This is going to be fraught with difficulties. I'm happy for you all the same. It's a gift to find someone you can truly love. I wish I had been so lucky. “

“He's asked me to marry him. Do you think that's possible?”

“Your father's going to be a problem. I know he's a kindly man but he has aspirations to go to Lanzhou and maybe one day even to Chang-an. How can he be seen with a daughter married to a foreigner, especially one so unusual? I don't know what to say.”

“That's all right. I don't expect you to say anything. It's a relief just to know you're sympathetic. Anyway we have to get him released first. I spoke with Kang Guiren the other day and told him about us. He was surprised. Why wouldn't he be? But, like you he was sympathetic. He likes Marcus and is trying his best to help him. I hope he'll be an ally when I speak to Father about us.”

“What would Marcus do once you're married?

“He commands a brigade of troops that even Colonel Chen says is valuable. Besides, Kang Guiren thinks he's highly intelligent and would make a good adviser. I think he'll find a place.”

“Where would you live? Would you follow your father to his next posting?”

“I don't want to go to either of those capital cities he talks about. It's too busy there. I love the country, and the tranquillity. I've spent my whole life out here with nature. I'd hate to be cooped up in that stifling society with all the rules. How could I get along with those women who've been brought up there? They'd never accept me. I'd always be trying to prove myself and they'd be laughing behind my back. No, if he goes, I'll stay here where I belong.”

❧

One day Kang arrives with Meilin. This is unusual. They've never come together before. Kang says,

“Meilin has spoken to her father and I have too. We think it's a propitious time to do something about your case. He and Colonel Chen have just been notified that the Emperor is so pleased with the victory over the Hsiung-nu that he's forgiven them.

“Even better, he's made the Protector-General a full Marquis and Colonel Chen a Marquis of the Imperial Domain. That's a lesser title but still important. Both have been awarded incomes of three hundred households. They'll also receive a hundred catties of gold each. It's a life changing event. Colonel Chen will be in a good mood. This could be just the thing we need to get him to see your case differently.”

“Marcus, my father has decided to hold a hearing into your case. Kang Guiren has graciously agreed to represent you if you wish.”

“Thank you Kang. I certainly would. When's the hearing?”

“In a week. We've got just enough time to round up witnesses. It'll go better for you if we can prove that Wu-Jiang was not a coward.”

“I'll speak to Gaius and see if any of our men saw Wu-Jiang. They may be judged to be biased but maybe their testimony will carry some weight. D'you think that any of Wu-Jiang's comrades would speak out, or would they be afraid of offending Colonel Chen?”

“We'll have to see, and hope they will.”

T
he day of the hearing arrives. Marcus is led into the Great Hall which is not full as it was before. In fact it is cavernously empty. This is not a public hearing, but one held in camera by Gan who acts in the capacity of a magistrate. Colonel Chen, and four senior officers are there too. The Protector-General alone will make the decision, but he's astute enough to know that he should have the support of the others, or if not, at least not their active opposition.

Gan and his colleagues are sitting cross-legged on the wooden dais, passive and pyramidal in their draping silks. Gan is in the middle, not on the rostrum this time. A spectral silence heightens the anxiety Marcus can't help feeling. These men are so remote, so obdurate, that making a positive impression on them seems virtually impossible. His advocate is the only hope. He and Kang take a chair in front, at a lower level, facing the tribunal. Gan opens the proceedings.

“Marcus Velinius Agricola,” his pronunciation is incomprehensible, “we are here to consider your actions on the day of the victory celebration. Since we were all there and know what you did, a prosecutor will not be required.

“It has been alleged that your behaviour, in that it directly challenged in public the authority of a senior officer of the army, amounted to treason in the third degree”.