The Tortoise in Asia (38 page)

“We can't stand by and let our daughter die of a broken heart. Besides, even I know that Marcus and his Romans saved our lives. Yen-xu, you must change your mind. If you don't, you'll be responsible for her death. I'll never forgive you.”

“Liling, I understand what you say. But her condition isn't as bad as you say – the doctor says she'll recover eventually. The wound's not serious. Maybe it'll take a little longer to heal if she's depressed but she won't die. Let me think about it some more. It's not an easy thing; I made my decision after a lot of thought. Changing it would be difficult.

“I agree that circumstances are different now, but the fundamental problem remains. How would it be received in Lanzou, particularly now that I'm a marquis? We have the position of our whole family to consider, not just one member. Liling, don't think I'm a heartless man – just give me more time.”

“This is a real crisis Yen-xu. You must change your mind. I don't care what you say; she'll die, our daughter will die. And you'll be responsible. You will, you absolutely will.”

Gan has never seen her like this before and doesn't know what to say. So he says nothing and just walks away. He takes a long stroll by the side of the lake, and doesn't get back to the wagons until the sun is beginning to fall behind the trees.

❧

The next day, the caravan continues its journey through the fertile country; Kang says they're about ten days from Lanzou. He remarks to Marcus that the Protector-General seems particularly distracted, not like himself – aloof and uncommunicative.

Two days later, after the tents are pitched, a Han soldier comes up to Marcus and says the Protector General wants to see him.

Gan is alone when he arrives.

“Marcus”, he's never called him that before, “I would like to speak to you about the subject I know is on your mind.

“I assume Meilin has told you that I've felt unable to give my consent to marriage between you. My decision was not from any misgivings about your character; it was purely because of the cultural barriers. However, the battle out here has changed things.

“I love my daughter and came very close to losing her to that arrow. It's forced me to think more deeply about the consequences of my decision – put greater weight on her happiness. Besides, I am grateful to you and your Romans for what you did. You were the main reason the Hsiung-nu were beaten off and we're alive. I know it.

“In a sense we're in a second life, where the constraints of the first don't apply. The decision I made belongs to the former life so I am free to make a new one without having to change my mind. I'm now willing to give my consent to you marrying my daughter. May good fortune follow you both.”

He extends his hand and Marcus shakes it warmly, putting his left hand on Gan's arm.

“Thank you sir for your understanding; I'm very appreciative. Have you told Meilin?”

“Not yet. I'll wait till the physician is finished with his treatment. Now, let's talk about practical matters. Kang Guiren tells me that you and your comrades would like to have some land for farming. That's good. It'll give you a higher social status. You should know it's above the soldiers' and just below the scholar's.

“In view of your service in the battle I'll give you an estate of land – enough to afford you an appropriate standing. It'll also be a dowry.”

He points to the right of the Road, to flat green land interspersed with forested hills running towards the mountains.

“That land over there is good for all kinds of crops – wheat, soy, millet, beans, onions fruit too – melons, peaches. You can farm there and build houses. There're no people in the immediate area, although some a little way off. This is a sparsely populated part of our country.

“Thank you very much Sir. We'll always be at your service. You can count on it. Your generosity is appreciated very much. My comrades too will be delighted. They've been wanting to settle down to farm and make a new life in your country. Like me, they'll be grateful.”

Gan is pleased – he's reached a felicitous solution. Marcus and Meilin will live in the country, far enough from Lanzhou for society not to realizes he has a daughter married to a foreigner. There may be rumours but the situation won't be confronting. He'll have time to prepare the way for an eventual coming out if that ever becomes necessary. It probably won't.

They go back to Meilin who's asleep. The doctor has extracted the arrow and given her a potion of sedating herbs. Marcus walks off the Road alone into the grassy wilderness, happily waving in the breeze. It's green all the way to an unblemished lake set at the foot of the Qilian Mountains. The suddenness of it all is like a thunderclap releasing a cleansing shower into energy-sapping humidity. In an instant the stifling air is washed away and the day is clear.

It's just as well he can be by himself for a while; he needs to collect his thoughts. There're practicalities flowing from the breakthrough he must take care of. As he strolls on the grass, lost in thought and imagination, he strays close to the Road. There seems to be an old man in local peasant clothing walking slowly by with a pitchfork over his shoulder, a cloth bundle hanging from it. His head is bent over with effort, obscuring his face. He moves quickly to catch up to him. As he passes him from behind he looks at his face. It's his father. In a flash, the image of the man disappears and nothing is left on the Road.

He dismisses the event as a function of the strain he's under and sees Ting Ting trotting up with a sandal in his mouth; the faithful dog must have followed him from the wagon area. He holds a strategy meeting with his little counsellor who sits patiently on the grass, cocking his black face from time to time to show he's paying attention.

H
e goes to the wagons with Ting Ting toddling along behind. Meilin is awake with her mother and Ping sitting beside her. In times to come he can barely remember the happy haze he was in let alone the events than ensued over the next days and weeks. As in a dream he tells Meilin about the consent, sees her leap out of bed into his arms, and hears the whoops of joy from her mother and Ping.

Any fear he had that Meilin wouldn't want to live in this remote place with no great fortress or even a mansion, evaporates when she speaks of its beauty and peacefulness. They'll be together in a home they'll build within the shadow of the mountains, far away from stultifying society. Her parents will visit sometimes; it's only a week's journey along the Road from Lanzhou. They might even go there themselves at some point. And caravans will pass by bringing news of the outside world. They'll be in an idyllic universe of their own, untroubled by the pressures of conventional life.

He walks over to his comrades who are lounging around their tents and calls them together. Rather shyly he tells them of the marriage and with a gleam in his eye points out that it could be a precedent for all of them to follow if they wish. Gan has said there are plenty of marriageable women in the environs.

“We have the opportunity to stay here and make a new life for ourselves. The Protector General has given us all the land you see around here – a whole lot more than we could ever have hoped for back home. You can see how fertile it is. Many of you come from a farming background and all of us did farming in Parthia. We can build houses here, marry local women and create a new home. Of course we have to stand ready for military call up whenever the Protector General needs us.”

He can tell by the murmuring that the men are pleased with the prospect. Most of them have talked about it before, agreeing it would be the best outcome, even though it didn't seem to be a real possibility at the time.

Marcus informs Gan of his comrades' reaction and asks him to speak to them direct. The next day he assembles them and introduces their benefactor. Kang is also there. Marcus has told him the news and he's delighted, sees it as a wise decision.

“Romans, you have fought well for the Emperor and deserve to be rewarded. By the authority vested in me by the Emperor I hereby grant you through Marcus Velinius sufficient land around here to support you and any families you may have in the future. I will settle on the boundaries later. There are young women in the region who may be willing to come here to live. You must be aware that this will not relieve you of your duty as soldiers if I call upon you. That could be at any time.

“I'll establish this place as an official village and appoint a commissioner. He and his staff will look after the administration. Your village needs a name. Marcus do you have a suggestion?”

“Yes Sir I do. Alexander was the greatest adventurer in the world where we Romans come from. He founded many towns which he called Alexandria, some in Asia. Let's call our new village that.”

“All right, I agree. But that word is too difficult to pronounce. Besides, we don't like a name with more than two syllables. We'll delete the first and last one and call it Liqian.” He pronounces it “Leechan.'

“I'll make sure everybody knows it's founded by Romans. Even the Court at Chang-an will be told.”

Marcus says,

“Your version doesn't sound much like Alexandria but that's all right; we'll all know what it means.”

“Yes, good. It's just very difficult for us to pronounce your words – ha ha ha.

“That's settled then. I wish you good fortune in Liqian and long lasting prosperity. The Hsiung-nu aren't usually active in this region, but sometimes they are. You'll need to be aware of that. I'll leave it to you to set up the appropriate defences.”

The first task is to build houses. Marcus and Meilin decide it would be best to do this before the wedding. Fortunately the winter is still some time off. Gan sends emissaries into the countryside to hire workers skilled in construction, offering good pay in cash. People in this part of the Empire are poor, barely able to eke out a hard scrabble living because their plots are so small, unlike what Gan has given to the Romans. As expected, the response is positive. They love cash.

The emissaries are instructed to make it clear to everyone that Liqian is a new village established personally by the Protector General. He'll guarantee it'll receive whatever financial support is necessary. The new inhabitants are promoted as fearless soldiers of the Emperor who come from an exotic background. Young women who could work in the fields for good wages are invited to come, even before farming commences. They'll be looked after by the Protector General until then. Temporary quarters will be set up near the caravan for the influx of workers. The glamour of the offer attracts more women than required so the emissaries have to make choices. Many applicants are disappointed.

Construction of the houses begins. The Romans participate but only as semi skilled labourers. They don't know how to build houses in the Han style, but at least they can make the mud bricks for the walls. Local skills are required for, among other tasks, thatching roofs and erecting wooden pillars to hold them up. The house for Marcus and Meilin is the largest, a substantial two storey oblong building with a majestic view of the mountains from the second floor bedrooms. It has a tiled roof with gracefully curved eves projecting outward to keep rain water from running down the walls.

Gan and Kang go on to Lanzou with the caravan which is now guarded only by the Han troops. They assume that if the Hsiung –nu attack, they won't have the numbers to cause a problem. Anyway, after their mauling such a short time ago it's unlikely they'll venture forth again so soon. Meilin's mother, along with Ping and the maids stay behind.

In six weeks, Gan and Kang are back and at least the bride and groom's house is sufficiently complete to move in, even though much still needs to be done. The wedding can be held. By this time other liaisons have sprung up. Almost all of the Romans have found women. They intend to be married, but later, at the homes of their fiancées.

It's a simple wedding, with only the father and mother, Kang and Ping attending the bride. Meilin appears in the traditional red veil and the ceremony is brief but happy. The banquet will be the high point of the day.

Tables and benches, made especially for the occasion, are set up outside near the wagons. The guests include all the Romans and the senior officers of the Han escort. Although approaching winter the weather is still warm. As the sun goes to bed with the mountains, stars pop into view in spurts. When darkness falls, a shooting star in the West curves across the heavens like the stroke of a master calligrapher. Suddenly bangs, as if from small explosions, spring up behind the guests. The Romans are startled, stop talking and lurch around to see, but the Han seem to take little notice. Marcus asks Kang what they are.

“They're bamboo sticks. We use them for celebrations. You know that bamboo grows in hollow sections divided by nodes. Short bamboo branches are heated and that expands the air inside. When the pressure builds up enough it suddenly bursts the nodes, making a loud noise. It's a very old tradition.”

The banquet floats with bonhomie. The drinks flow; the music from the rain-drop shaped lute and soft drums is romantic and the speeches complimentary. Ting Ting sits under the head table hoping for scraps. Kang explains in a speech the Confucian view that marriage is the basic unit of society. And Meilin is happy. Marcus is too, but a little distracted in his happiness. He can't help thinking of the Road, which he imagines is smiling tonight, like a friend might. It's nearby, close enough to see.