Sheng Keyi - Death Fugue

‘That’s a pain. I heard that many people in the headquarters have fainted and are now in hospital,’ Mengliu said to him. He had been left in the tent with Sixi.

‘I know. Who is in charge of directing in the meantime?’ Hei Chun asked.

‘Fusheng. He’s got experience in organising.’

‘Damn it. Heaven is against us too. A heavy downpour on a sick crowd. I hope it won’t become an epidemic. The Red Cross has donated medicines that we should receive in the morning. There are also a thousand tents, and a transportation company has given us fifty buses at no cost. If it continues to rain, we’ll have places to shelter in.’ Hei Chun ran his hand from his forehead to the back of his neck.

‘How about everything else?’

‘No casualties, but still bad enough.’

‘I heard the hospitals are full.’

‘Quanmu is ferreting out the inside information. The situation is more complex than we ever imagined.’

Hei Chun lit his cigarette. He watched the match burn down almost to his fingertips, then blew it out.

‘Anyway, I believe history will give us our due.’ He took a deep drag of his cigarette, and let his eyes fall on Mengliu. ‘Guess what the bigwig had to say. He said, “As a member of the Plum Party I never conceal my views, but today I’m not going to say anything. In any case, I’ve pretty much stated what I think.”’

Mengliu couldn’t help but laugh.

‘They are so insincere. They said they wanted to visit, and talk to us directly, but then they wouldn’t communicate with us because they couldn’t get to Round Square.’ Hei Chun hopped down from the table, then crushed out the cigarette he had just lit. ‘It’s nothing but nonsense! The really bloody sacrifice is just around the corner. The death bell will begin tolling for this generation.’

‘Hei Chun, I think we should retreat…’

‘Retreat? Why? Are you crazy?’

‘You should understand their attitude better than anyone. Why should we slap ourselves in the face?’

Hei Chun was startled. Just then, there was a pelting sound. Someone was throwing stones at the tent.

Jia Wan burst into the tent with a single stride, dressed in his usual suit. He said, ‘Headquarters has announced an end to the hunger strike.’

Hei Chun was shocked. ‘End the hunger strike? I don’t believe it. Everyone has stuck with the strike for eight days. Why should they stop now before any real progress has been made?’

Outside, a group began a chant of, ‘We won’t eat! We won’t retreat!’

‘Come on, let’s go to HQ.’

The headquarters were located on board one of the buses. The windows had been smashed, and shattered glass covered the ground. Qizi and several others were on the bus discussing strategy.

Hei Chun strode onto the bus and asked, ‘Why did you announce an end to the hunger strike?’

Qizi had already begun to look like a paper doll, and now it seemed like she had been cut even thinner. It was difficult for her to swallow her own saliva. Her hair was messy as a bird’s nest, and she was enveloped in a confusion typical of the homeless. Hei Chun must have remembered how she used to look, pale in the sunlight with dark eyes. He did not dare to look directly at her. ‘Why should we betray the efforts of all those who have suffered through the strike?’

Qizi did not reply.

‘Well, I’ll explain it to you.’ Quanmu stood up. He was dirty too, and there was a trickle of blood on his forehead. ‘I have heard from reliable sources that they will declare martial law soon. Most likely tonight, tomorrow morning, this site will be raided. We held an emergency meeting and decided that it was best to break the hunger strike.’

Boom. A brick pelted the bus.

‘How will that convince them? The people who have suffered and worked over the past eight days don’t have the right to cast their sacred vote?’ Hei Chun’s tone relaxed a bit as he continued, ‘If we undermine democratic procedures, we damage the reputation of everyone at headquarters. Do you want the people to look down on us?

Quanmu did not reply, but stood there like a shabby beggar unable to squeeze a coin out of anyone.

‘We need to vote on the issue again immediately.’ Hei Chun took the microphone, ready to use the broadcasting equipment to convene a meeting of all the representatives.

Qizi snatched the mike back, like a hungry tiger pouncing on a lamb. ‘You aren’t authorised! I’m the commander-in-chief, and I am responsible for everyone.’

Hei Chun was stunned. He looked at Qizi like he had never seen her before. Her face was lit up, flickering like a candle before it finally goes out.

He turned around, got out of the bus, and disappeared into the crowd which had gathered around it.

Mengliu looked into the vehicle, weighing the situation. He raised a stiff leg, held onto the door, and pulled himself into the bus.

‘Hei Chun is trying to maintain democratic procedures. As far as I know, the majority still insists on the hunger strike, but I think you’re doing the right thing.’

Qizi didn’t speak, but her mouth trembled. Mengliu could see her inner turmoil.

‘Any further delay will be life-threatening. I have to look after them,’ she said.

‘You should probably discuss a more comprehensive approach.’ Mengliu wanted to persuade her to retreat, but couldn’t make himself say the words.

‘Actually, we have already resigned ourselves to death, if need be.’

‘Qizi, you’re a good…leader. You’re responsible. I think you should retreat. Withdraw.’ Mengliu finally said it, surprising even himself. ‘You don’t need to sacrifice everything here in vain. Qizi, I also want to say, I’m sorry about all that nonsense that day. I’m sorry for what I said. Can you forgive me?’

Qizi looked at him blankly. ‘I forgot about that a long time ago.’

‘These last few days, I keep thinking about you. Let’s go. Don’t be angry. Let’s get out of here, just like we planned before. Let’s leave.’

‘‘Liu, I’ll admit I was a little angry with you at first, but after that, I wasn’t anymore. Now even less so. I can’t leave. Even if we decide to leave Round Square, I should be the last one to go.’

‘There are some things we would prefer to believe, even if they are unbelievable.’ Mengliu felt a sense of foreboding.

‘No. Everyone is watching us. If no one is willing to make the sacrifice, how can we face that? I’m ready to die, just like I said in the speech I wrote.’ She had already thought the issue through.

‘Qizi, what about your parents? You’ve got to think of them. They were already forty when they had you. You are their life. If you die…they…’

‘They will hear the words I wrote. “I can’t be loyal and filial to both country and parents.”’

‘Have you really forgotten how we felt for each other?’

‘My feelings for you haven’t changed.’ Her face and tone were very calm.

‘Then as soon as all this is over, we…’

‘I don’t have time now to talk about trivial personal issues.’

‘I believe this will all be over soon. Let’s…’

‘You should go. If you think this is all meaningless, then just leave now. I don’t want to pull you down with me.’

‘I want to be with you. Qizi…’

‘I’m not lonely. There are plenty of people with me.’ She spoke in a rush.

For a flickering moment, Mengliu caught sight of the spirit of love. She was a nimble, dark spirit, and she was running in the moonlight, emitting a varicoloured light. She fled to the flag and hid herself behind it.

He felt that he was walking further and further away in Qizi’s view. Like a lonely figure in a landscape painting, he was now nothing more than an ant-sized inkblot.