Chapter 11 #2
The sound of singing birds told her that they had reached the outer yard of the prison. How she longed to watch the birds, to feel fresh air on her face, to hold her baby, to live... to live.
The men swung her once, twice and suddenly she was airborne, landing in the rocky dirt with a fresh wave of pain.
“Please,” she muttered, knowing how futile it was. “Please, don’t leave me here.”
After tossing a few shovels of dirt over her to keep the flies away, the men left her.
She remained still for a long moment, uncertain what to do.
What could she do? Just wait for death to come?
How long could that take? Days? She was weak and in a hopeless circumstance, but the instinct to do something.
.. anything, took over. The need for air engulfed her.
Shaking her head from side to side, she managed to free her face of the blanket.
The sky above was dark blue, streaked with fiery red as the sun met the horizon. How beautiful. How magnificent life could be. She had to fight. She had to survive.
Closing her eyes, tears trickled down the side of her face as the reality of her predicament sunk in. How miserable her life had become. Intolerable.
Why fight? Why bother?
She stared at the sky until the red streaks were gone, and the first stars pierced the growing darkness. A chill set in. In addition to the blood loss, the setting sun now left her shivering.
Just as she prepared to let go, sand fell into her face. She opened her eyes just a crack. Someone was in the ditch with her.
Who?
Why?
A lone figure, hunched over and fragile looking, came to her and carefully set a cool finger on her wrist. “Just barely hanging on, are you. But still alive.”
“Please,” Sonya croaked as she forced her eye to remain open.
“Hush, child,” came the old woman’s voice. “You’ll be just fine.”
“My...” It was the only word she could muster. Her breath was shallow and pained.
“Poor child,” the old woman said. “Look at what the opium has done to you. Look at what they’ve done to you. Once royal and regal... and now... You’re wasting away. You’re nothing but skin and bones.”
“I have a...”
“... child,” the woman said. “Yes. I know. But let’s see about getting you back on your feet before we attack that problem.”
How, Sonya wondered. How will I ever get back on my feet?
The old woman bit into her own wrist and droplets of blood slowly oozed out. Holding Sonya’s head in her hand and raising it slightly, the old woman brought her bloody wrist to Sonya’s lips.
“Drink,” the old woman whispered. “Drink. Feed. Build back your energy. My blood is rich.”
“But I am not worthy to be saved,” Sonya said.
“My people...so many have died. I couldn’t have saved them.
Marrying into royalty didn’t help. I was imprisoned myself.
First in the Forbidden City then as a prisoner of the communist guerillas.
They wanted my husband, but when he fled and left me behind, they took me.
I became the face for their hatred towards my husband’s position.
I took it all, but it was not enough. We lost the country.
Please forgive me, God. I tried. I tried my best. Dear God, I am but a sinner.
Please forgive me.” Sonya sobbed and sobbed. She was dying.
The warm blood filled her mouth and warmed her throat. But it was too late. Sonya felt her life ebbing away. She would never see her child. Would never hold her infant.
“Please,” she said after gulping down some of the blood. “My child. My baby. Please, find my baby. Please take care of my little, innocent baby.” Blackness engulfed her and the kind woman’s face became a dark blur.
“There will be no need for me to tend to your child, dear Empress,” the kindly woman said.
“You are a good and faithful woman. Your prayer and belief have given you a new life. You will get stronger. Now, you are weak. Your will has been broken. But you will get strong. Of that, I am certain. You will die... for a moment. Your physical body will change. You will change. And when you are reborn... like a phoenix from this very ditch, you will rise... and you will be victorious.”
“Who...?” Sonya muttered. “Who are you?”
“I am Sifu, your teacher, your mentor, your guardian angel... call me what you will.” She smiled as she patted Sonya’s hand.
I am Sifu. Sifu.
Sonya looked at her. The woman’s lips had not moved as she’d identified herself. And yet, Sonya had clearly heard the woman call herself Sifu.
Absolute blackness. The blackness went on as she fell deep into a coma-like state. There was movement all around her, but still she remained in the depth of darkness. Brief moments of wakefulness came and went. Voices, far away, and, at times, right beside her.
Finally feeling strong enough to rise, her eyes popped open, and her forced hibernation over. The floor seemed to move beneath her, rolling to one side only to roll back to the other.
Where was she?
Water... the sound of water, splashing, moving. Salt. Licking her lips, she tasted the salt in the air.
She sat up and looked around her. Lying on a narrow cot, she was in a small room with a tiny round window.
A boat? A ship?
But where to?
She would soon find out. The sudden call of orders and the rush of footsteps on the deck above, told her that many were busy getting to their tasks as they prepared to dock.
Sonya rose from her cot and looked at her attire.
She had never seen the black pants before, nor the shirt, a light blue blouse with a bowtie.
On the nightstand beside the bed lay a gray jacket, a beautiful brooch pinned to the breast pocket.
Every piece of clothing was foreign to her, including the simple black shoes she slipped her feet into.
Mirror. Was there a mirror that she could see herself in? She looked around her room which was pleasant, luxurious even, with rich wood paneling and brass fixtures. The full-length mirror nailed to the wall at the middle of the room caught her eye. She walked over to look at herself closely.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her hair was full, curly, shiny, and voluptuous. Her skin pale, almost white. Her eyes were bright and wide, full of life. And her body was no longer resembling skin and bones, but flesh and muscles. She was still thin, but a healthy thin.
That old lady Sifu was right. She had grown stronger, healthier, and even more attractive. There was a glow to her, especially around her eyes. Her cheeks and lips even had a tint of red to them. While Sonya liked seeing what was in front of her, she suddenly felt alarmed.
What was she?
She walked to the door and opened it. The corridor was empty and silent. All the action was above her on deck. She walked up the narrow wooden steps and was blinded by the bright sun. But the sensation of fresh, salty air on her face was like heaven.
“Where are we?” she muttered as she looked at the unfamiliar surroundings.
“Sunny California,” a young sailor called out as he passed her by.
California? As in the United States?
How?
Other passengers lined up and prepared to disembark. Unsure what to do, Sonya got in line and followed the men and women before her.
Setting foot on American soil, she felt a strange and unexpected exaltation. America. She’d heard so much about the distant land where people were free, where people had rights, where citizens chose their leaders.
“Welcome to Los Angeles,” a young man said as he handed her a fresh daisy.
Taking the flower, she smiled and walked on heading into the busy part of town. For hours she wandered, discovering her new home, so different from what she’d known.
But as the day came to an end and the sun made its way out into the Pacific Ocean, she wondered where she would sleep that night.
Somehow, the city didn’t seem safe to her. Too many men wandered about, aimlessly walking through the streets and propositioning every young woman they came across.
“Stop it!” a woman cried out from around the corner. “Gerry, get off of me.”
Sonya hurried to the sound of the scream.
“Don’t be afraid, little darling,” the bearded man said as he struggled to keep a hold of the uncooperative woman.
“If you’re nice to old Gerry, I’ll make you a star.
That’s what you’re doing here in California, isn’t it.
You want to be a star. Well, cozy up to me, darling. You could be the next Judy Garland.”
“Let go of me, Gerry!” the woman said as she pushed away from him. But she seemed inebriated and had trouble fighting him off. “You’re being a pig. I don’t want to be a star that badly.”
“Baby, baby. You don’t know what you’re missing. I told you I’m a big star at the Black Keys lounge.” He leaned in to kiss the unfortunate woman.
The woman turned away and her fuzzy gaze met Sonya’s.
A strange stirring surprised Sonya. Hunger suddenly took over, almost uncontrollable. She didn’t understand the sensation that filled her, but it grew in intensity. She walked up to the pair, her hungry eyes on the unpleasant man.
“Excuse me,” she said as she tapped on his shoulder. “Excuse me, sir.”
He glanced back at her. “Hold on, darling. I can only take one at a time.”
“I do believe that the lady is not interested in your advances. Please let her go.”
With a firm grip on his prey’s arm, he shifted around to face Sonya. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have no doubt that you heard my request, however, if need be, I will repeat it. Please let the lady go.”
The man snickered, his lips taking on an ugly slant. “And I suggest you move on and let us figure this out ourselves. The lady is lucky to have caught my eye.”
“The lady is clearly intoxicated, and it would be best for everyone involved if you could recognize her incapacitation.”
“Oh,” he said with a mocking grin. “I recognize it all right. In fact... I’m counting on her incapacitation to make this smooth and easy... if you’ll just step away and let us be.”