The Yellow Papers (43 page)

‘Violent demonstrations?'

Edward caught the fear in her voice. Demonstrations here in Hong Kong were violent and escalating. Since the demonstrations in April last year over a small rise in fares on the Star Ferry – Hong Kong's main method of crossing the harbour – people had been complaining more and more about low wages, lack of work and the exploitation of those who did work. Pent-up feelings of frustration were erupting all over Hong Kong. All this had come to a head some weeks ago, on the sixth of May at a plastic flowers factory in San Po Kong. Workers had protested and riot police had been deployed, and although the police bent over backwards not to create havoc, this had turned against them. When one of them was severely attacked by a demonstrator, they'd used batons to control the crowd. Now Communists were using this as an excuse to start movements in line with the Cultural Revolution in Mainland China. They formed what they called ‘struggle committees' of students and workers, who banded together to strike and riot. Ming Li had every reason to be worried.
He
was worried. He had to get her out of here as soon as possible.

‘No, nothing like here. Just marches. I tell you what I
do
like,' he said, not wanting her to lose that playful mood of earlier, ‘Elder Park and the River Torrens. It's beautiful – green. It's right near the university. There's a rotunda where an orchestra plays music on Sunday afternoons, sightseeing boats on the water – all called Popeye – and even paddleboats for hire.'

‘I've never been on a paddleboat. Will you take me on one?'

‘Of course I will. We can— Hang on, what did you just say?'

‘I said “will you take me on one?”.'

‘On a paddleboat?'

‘Yes.'

‘In Adelaide?'

‘Yes.'

‘Are you saying you want to come to Australia?'

‘Yes.'

‘And does this coming to Australia include moving there for good? Marrying me at last? Or do you just plan to visit?'

‘Yes.'

‘Yes to which? Yes moving there or yes marry me?'

‘Both.'

Edward stood up, pulled her off the couch and put his arms around her.

‘Say it again.'

‘Yes, I'll marry you. Yes I'll come live in Australia.'

He laughed and lifted her up, twirling her round and round.

‘Again!'

‘Yes! Yesyesyesyesyes!'

He lowered her back down then, and kissed her, long and slow.

‘I love you, LiLi mine.'

‘I love you too, Edward Billings.'

34

Huang Ho sang at the top of his voice with his comrades as they made their way towards Kowloon.

We are Chairman Mao's Red Guards
,

Absolutely firm in our proletarian stand
,

Marching on the revolutionary road of our forbears

They pumped the air with their fists, their guns, waving red flags as they sang. He felt strong! Powerful! He was the Monkey King creating havoc under the heavens. He wore a red armband with the white ‘Red Guard' characters, and no one dared question his actions.

We will smash the old world

And keep our revolutionary state red for ten thousand generations

He could do anything. Had done anything. Ransacked offices and shops, smashed statues and burned books, struggled hundreds of counter-revolutionary running dogs. All cowered under his gaze. He was all-powerful. His comrades were all-powerful. They had even attacked top-secret research facilities working on the hydrogen bomb and ballistic missiles, accusing their scientists of being revisionists and rightists. No one could stop them. No one dared.

We unite with the masses and together plunge into the battle

To wipe out all monsters and demons …

Early this morning they had smashed across the border into Hong Kong. Through the New Territories at the Man Kam To border crossing, they'd disarmed sentries and forced the police to sign an agreement to remove the barbed wire barrier. No one, nothing could stop them, not even a border.

And now they were on the train to Kowloon.

‘Long live the Communist Party of China!' they shouted. ‘Long live the ever-victorious thoughts of Mao Tse-tung!'

Edward watched Ming Li sleep. Soon she would be in Adelaide by his side. They had an appointment at the Australian Consulate that very afternoon, and the sooner he got her out of Hong Kong, the happier he'd be. The labour strikes had escalated to violent Communist riots and armed terrorist attacks. Homemade bombs and booby traps were everywhere, and hundreds had already been killed, many of them children. Now the Governor, Sir David Trench, wanted the police to control Hong Kong with an iron fist. Riot police armed with tear gas and carbines constantly prowled the streets, whilst police helicopters throbbed overhead. He had that same feeling he'd had in Korea – that feeling deep in his gut that told him something bad was about to happen. And he always trusted his gut.

He'd taken her out to dinner the previous night, unwilling to let fear spoil their happiness, trusting his instincts to keep her safe, and they'd come back to her apartment and made love, then fallen asleep wrapped in each other's arms. As dawn was breaking she'd woken him with kisses all down his body, and they'd made love again then dozed some more. He'd woken again feeling lazy, luxuriously relaxed. Loved. His uneasiness temporarily soothed by their passion. Now he wanted to buy her a present. Not a ring, because he wanted her to choose it, but something to show her how happy he was. Diamonds. A necklace maybe.

It was barely past nine, and he knew none of the shops he had in mind would be opened yet, but he decided to leave now anyway. The night had been hot and the day was already sultry, and he wanted to avoid the crowds. Get back in time to surprise Ming Li when she woke. He rose and begun dressing.

‘You're up already …' Ming Li stretched; she looked like a sleek contented cat.

Edward bent over the bed to kiss her. ‘Just going out for a little while. I'll bring back something for lunch.'

‘It's too early. Stay in bed. I can make us something later – there's plenty in the fridge.'

‘Nope, I want to get it. You stay. Be lazy for once. I won't be long.'

He washed and shaved. Ming Li was up, wrapped in a silk dressing gown. He put his arms around her, stroked the soft fabric covering her buttocks.

‘Nice,' he said, kissing her on the forehead, the tip of her nose.
Yes, definitely diamonds
.

‘Be quick. Be careful.'

‘I will be. Love you.'

The east is red, the sun rises, Mao Tse-tung appears in China. He seeks the good of the people. He is the saviour of the people!

They sang as they marched into the temple. Huang Ho sang louder than any of them. ‘Sweep away demons and monsters!' they yelled as they tied ropes around the Goddess of Mercy and pulled her down. The plaster statue smashed and they cheered and fired shots into the air, then tied the four Celestial Kings and pulled them down as well.

A monk came hurrying in. They shot him.

They spread through the temple like locusts over a crop, smashing ceremonial vessels, joss stick bowls and lanterns. Threw vases of flowers across the rooms and a goldfish bowl fell to the ground and smashed. The three goldfish – two red and one black – flapped on the floor. Paper money for the dead, ancestral tablets, scattered. Yellow papers to burn for the gods fluttered in the air like injured butterflies and fell to the wet floor, and their colour seeped out like the blood of the monk.

They left the temple then, shouting
Down with religion! Mao Tse-tung is the saviour of the people! and
marched on down the street.

Edward was pleased with himself. He had found a beautiful art nouveau necklace that would suit Ming Li perfectly. It was delicate gold lavaliere with flowing lines, accentuated by two gold flowers whose centres were two rose-cut diamonds. Suspended in the centre was a drop pearl, and the lavaliere was attached to a gold chain whose links were of a delicately-worked scroll design. He thought of the way the necklace had felt in his hand – warm, heavy in spite of its delicacy, as if it still carried the heart of those who'd made it. That was why he liked old things – they had souls. He smiled, remembering his conversation with Ming Li about their ages. Yes, they were getting old, but they still had many years to go, and they would spend every one of them together from now on. He intended spending the rest of his days spoiling her, loving her.

The odour of the food he'd bought for their lunch tickled his nostrils. If he didn't want it to get cold he should hurry. He crossed the street and took an alley that was a shortcut to Ming Li's apartment.

We are the Red Guards! We beat down foreign religions! We beat down Jesus' following! If you're not a revolutionary, then damn you, damn you, damn you to hell!

Huang Ho marched at the head of the group. He was strong! He was a revolutionary general! He had proven himself to the revolution. Killed bad elements. Chopped off the hands of artists and musicians, the fingers of surgeons. Smashed into the shops and houses of capitalists and destroyed everything. It was even better than sex. He didn't need any blonde-haired cow-demon to shame him. If she were here now he would slit her with his knife from cunt to mouth.
Death to the shit capitalist devils! We'll wipe out all pests and vermin!