Scene 1:

Master! Awake. Up with you! It is late!

(stirring) Be off with you K’u. Let us sleep.

No master Fu - he must be up now.

Go Away!

But master, today’s the day. The Governor visits today.

(to K’u) Dress me knave - and why did you let me sleep?

I haven’t let you sleep. You’re up and anyhow they are all headed this way.

Not the Governor?

No, my mistress - your wife - and the Scribes awaiting your instructions.

I guess it would be unwise for me to be here.

More tea, K’u. Fu, take some cake.

Good morning, my lord. I trust K’u is getting things back on schedule. Your staff awaited you in the Pearl Pavilion, but since you did not appear - and on such an important day, they came to my quarters to seek you.

And of course, dear wife, they found me not. And why should they?

And as your wife, I do know where to find you at most hours of the day. Good morning master Fu. I trust you are well rested and haven’t overly exhausted him. This is a busy day.

My dear lady, it is I who am tired out.

Gentlemen, stay. I told you he was in an early morning consultation with Fu Lin-t’o.

(To Mao Fei) They are eating a shared peach.

(to Xin Ch’u) A cut sleeve affair.

Xin Ch’u, are all the arrangements made for the Governor’s comfort?

All is ready.

Have you written out you little work?

I have, in my best "grass" style. And I thank you my lord for assisting me with this.

Do not mention it. It is a fine work. (to Fu Lin-t’o) Master Fu, did you know that Xin Ch’u is a poet?

Indeed?

A poet?

Hush.

Indeed. And today he will read his work to the Governor.

Read it! You never said I would be reading it. I wrote it and you would deliver it, but to read it . . .

You will be brilliant. And such an honor.

I don’t know. I am not an orator.

Ah, you need only speak the words from your heart. That is how to make a poem pleasing. Trust me, I have written many a poem on a tea-house fan and read them always from my heart . . .

Or other places, I daresay.

(to Fu) Mind your manners and close your robes!

I daresay, master Fu does not shock me. Remember, we have seen those articles before.

That was certainly true. My master was a busy engine for the last year - repairing waterworks, aiding the sick and homeless, being diligent to affairs of state and affairs of the Ya-men staff. With Xin Ch’u’s help, he reformed the local government. He met with the elders of each district on a regular basis and soon gained their trust and support. He was even close on the heels of that devil, Ch’ien Mu. So well was my master’s administration that K’ang Yu-wei decided to visit a year earlier than he had planned.

Of course, my master’s administration was but a mirror of my own. He would have been lost without me. Most of the arrangements for the gubernatorial visit were entrusted to me - although everyone else stole the credit. But I have learned many things from my master - and the most important one is that my job is never done - every time a teacup is empty, it must be washed. Every time I fetch a cushion, it must be fluffed - and now I was expected to wait on Fu Lin-t’o as well, while my lady Mei-lin was sorely neglected. I’m not complaining mind you, because you can not better. Every one of us toils for everyone else - only the Emperor in his holy temple toils for no one.

I thank you, my lord. We all thank you. But we must make haste to prepare the Willow Pavilion. The Governor’s entourage was spotted near Hu-kuan-chen.

Master, there is an angry crowd at the Ya-men gate.

Ch’ien Mu is captured and he is being brought into the great yard.

Indeed, after many a close escape, Ch’ien Mu’s luck ran out. He was captured in his sleep by the Great Han Wu-ch’ang. Of course, Han Wu-ch’ang was a mere garrison captain in those days. He was to grow into a powerful force in a few years and became a war hero during the great invasion. His troops saved the day for the Emperor Kao by . . . dear me, I did not mean to digress into a history lesson, but Han Wu-ch’ang became a powerful friend to my master. I was always impressed by him sitting on his horse at the edge of the Eastern sea protecting the Emperor as our Imperial lord escaped the clutches of the . . . oh, there I go again. Anyhow, Han’s garrison received a tip as to where Ch’ien Mu was - and most vulnerable. So, the great scourge of Chiang-nan was captured and brought to my master for punishment. The citizens of Su-chou wanted to tear Ch'ien Mu’s body apart and eat his flesh (pause) a time-honored tradition among civilized folk - but, my master believed in the process of the law.

Scene 2:

(to Ch’ien Mu) Are you Ch’ien Mu?

(striking Ch'ien Mu) Answer the superintendent when he speaks.

No, no, let him be. He will have time enough to answer. (aside to Xin Ch’u and Fu Lin-t’o) This is not what I expected. Fu Lin-t’o, is this the terror that raped your sister and beat your father.

I think not. He is too young and frail.

Are we sure this is Ch’ien Mu?

Members of his own band turned him over to us. He may not look the part, but beneath that puppy face there lurks a fiend.

(to the soldiers) Protect that man. No one is to harm him. Open the gates, I will speak to the mob.

Citizens of Su-chou, I promise you . . . I promise you, your anger will be appeased. I promise you this! I will have this man, the man you call Ch’ien Mu brought before me and tried for his crimes.

(to Li) My compliments, my lord. You are very knowledgeable indeed, finding a precedent for not drawing blood on a day when a governor arrives.

I thought my master was brave that day - to face that angry mob in such a manner. Personally, I nearly shit my robes. I anticipated the crowds running through the Ya-men tearing everyone to pieces and munching a bit of finger here - and a big toe there. Oh, this has happened so many times in the past in so many places, I literally feared the results of political appetite. But all went well. They all went home and prepared for the grand parade for the Governor - who did arrive to great pomp and ceremony.

We ate particularly well that day - except me. Well, I was so tired from nagging the cooks and pestering the servers, that when it came to my own meal, I had lost my appetite. But the Governor was very impressed with the fare. And after the feast, he retired to the Willow Pavilion for some entertainment. First a troop of dancing girls from the nearby village of Shang-hai. Then, acrobats from Lu-t’in - oh such feats of wonder. We had a rather talented mimic from Mu-shih-t’ien, whose birdcalls were renown throughout the region - and I mean by more than just the birds. There was a presentation of exquisite rocks for the Imperial Gardens, the Governor being the Emperor’s chief antiquarian, he was by default the chief "rock collector." Finally, there was Xin Ch’u’s poem.

Scene 3:

(standing - applauding) Outstanding! This is rare in a clerk, the gift of poetry. (receiving the scroll as a gift) And such fine grass script. Indeed, this is rare - you should try your hand at the examinations.

I owe this all to my lord Li K’ai-men, who assisted me in both thought and calligraphy.

It is I who am grateful.

I truly hope your excellency has enjoyed my humble larder and small entertainment.

Most wonderful - and (to Mei-lin) to have such a pearl of beauty in the Willow Pavilion once again. And how fares this lady for posterity?

(touching her womb) Posterity will be served in eight moons.

(to Li) So I do see some pluck about you after all. And may the gods deem it fit to give you a son. (pause) But, now for the story telling.

The storytelling, my lord?

Yes, I once told you that when I came to visit you, I wanted to here more about my good, old friend Han Lin - more than just "he is well my lord - in health, that is."

Oh. What is there to say?

Start with how you came to study under such a famed tutor.

Well, I was enrolled at the Gui-lin academy.

Yes, but not everyone at the academy studies with Han Lin.

True. Life at the academy was very ritualistic. We had set ways and observed the rules of silence. Then one evening, while I was studying in my cell, I heard a noise. When I went out to look, it was the sound of nut being thrown against my door. In fact, it was another student trying to get my attention, one Chang Tung-xi -

Chang Tung-xi is my brother.

Yes, indeed. And he was a regular scamp. He had food and ways to leave the academy. We had regular larks together. But because we were exchanging ideas, it showed on our eight-legged essays we turned in each day in class. Because our answers bore a strong family resemblence, the proctors assumed we had broken the rule of silence - so we were both brought to see Han Lin. We were sure that we were going to be expelled . . .

But you had no idea that crafty old Han Lin only tutored scholars who broke the rules of silence.

(puzzled) Yes. But how did you know that?

I know Han Lin - tell me something I don’t know!

(thinking) Well, one day, Han Lin brought all his students into the Seven Star Caverns. We followed his torch for hours through channels, over ledges, under natural bridges and through crevices. Han Lin would stop occasionally at various formations in the cave and paint whole scenes for us. There were scenes from Master Kung’s dialogues, from the immortals and great battles in history. A basket of fruit would inspire Han Lin to recite passages from the Book of Songs. An underground lake inspired a description of the West Lake. Han Lin said that nature had created form for the ages; and form was more lasting than substance.

"In the earth’s lungs you are," he said. "Feel the breath of the four winds here. This is their womb. They arise from the depths and fly with the immortals carrying the wisdom of the earth upward to heaven."

Then he went to a favorite rock in the cave. It was pear-shaped. It was even moist like a pear. When illuminated, it looked tastier than a pear. The he dowsed the torch in a little stream that ran beside the rock-pear; and called to me.

"But is it truly there?" said Han Lin.

I was confused and said I could not tell. My eyes could not see the pear, but maybe my foot or hands can.

"Your hands and feet will not fail you," he said, "while your eyes have. Touch tells you that it is a rock and not a pear. Remember this. Light makes things appear as they appear; but, never trust the light. It is light that makes dead rock look like a luscious pear. Never trust one sense over . . .

. . . sense over the others. Use them in conjunction to find the truth." I know Han Lin well. You are entertaining us all with your stories, but you haven’t given me what I want. Teach me something I don’t know.

I shall. I will teach you how to fish with birds.

Fish with Birds? That is something I am unfamiliar with.

Well my lord. I am the grandson of a wealthy farmer near Gui-lin; but, this grandfather is really my uncle, who adopted my father, his brother to be his son. My grandfather-uncle has four daughters, and in order to keep his estates intact adopted my father. Long before that my father had left the soil and was a fisherman on the Li River.

(all are stirred) A fisherman? You are the son of a fisherman.

Yes, a fisherman. We lived in a hut at the foot of Chicken Cage Hill, except during the rainy season, when we lived in a cave. We owned one Water Buffalo, a gift from my grandfather uncle. And we cultivated a small garden on the water margins. But mostly we fished. And like our neighbors, we fished with birds.

My father would take me to fish before dawn. It was so dark I could barely see the river’s edge. My mother would carry the cormorant, a frisky bird flapping away under its restraining collar. We would meet all the fisherman. We each had our skiff, a lantern and each a particularly bred cormorant.

"You must always remember to keep the collar on tight," my father would say. "These birds are very greedy and will eat the fish before you have a chance to pull them back. Also remember to feed the bird. At least one fish for every fifteen will do. Forget to feed the bird and it will cease to fish for you. It will be dead bird! Phwush! The flesh of a cormorant is unlike that of a chicken or a duck. It’s not worth having dead. Only it’s bones are useful then. Phwush!"

There is a song the fishermen sing, a song to the moon at its fullest. Whether the moon is full or not, they sing the song, because it is good luck to have the brightest moon possible. Fish are attracted to light.

And we would hold the lantern over a specific spot. It shone like the moon and fish came to the surface. We could almost scoop them up ourselves without using the bird. Then, we do it! With a single action, my father let the bird fly into the river. With its long, black neck, it dove for the kill, gorging its mouth with carp. Because the collar was tightly in place, the greedy bird could not swallow. Then we pulled on the rope tied to the bird’s leg and hauled in our catch. (pause) And that is how you fish with birds.

Excellent! This is very useful information indeed. And now I have some business with you.

You have indeed achieved much - from River bank to Ya-men is indeed an achievement. Han Lin did well to set you on your course. I am very well pleased with your performance here. And I hear you have captured the rebel Ch'ien Mu.

I have, but have not meted justice to him yet. I have some doubts about this.

Doubts?

The man who waits in the House of Pain does not look like a vicious brigand.

Ah, but do not be deceived. You have quoted to me today many of Han Lin’s observations about form and substance - and what the light may do to appearances. Be careful not to make a cold rock into a luscious pear.

I thank you for advice.

I must let you know that I have memorialized His Majesty, may he live ten thousand years, to allow for your National exam as soon as we can physically manage it.

This is good news indeed.

But there is another matter. Is it true that you take that young scholar, Fu Lin-t’o to your bed?

Yes. Is that a concern?

No, not necessarily. You must father sons you know.

Mei-lin is pregnant -

I know - and I assume it is by you. But, as you move higher in court circles, there are some courtiers who frown on the more open "cut sleeve" arrangement. Just a concern. It is quite obvious to me that the fellow is a fine and handsome youth - and must be intelligent as well. You might encourage him to launch out on his own and take the exams. I could help post him in a place where he would be a great use.

I am most grateful for your assistance - and forever in debt to you for your kindness.

And while all were asleep, my master paced the floor. He got me up - he wanted some tea - then some cake - then, only heaven knows what. I told him, the more he ate, the harder it would be for him to sleep - or me to sleep. Fu Lin-t’o was sleeping like a rock. Why couldn’t my master wake him with these little midnight requests? I am sure that a bit of cake is less filling than what Fu could provide him. Then, he told me to light the torch and lead the way to the House of Pain.

Oh how I hated that place. It stank like death - well, it was death. If a place could ever called a place of the unliving, the House of Pain was the place.

Scene 4:

K’u Ko-ling, bring the light closer - I want to see his face.

Master, I am afraid in this place. There are ghosts here.

Yes, I know. They lurk in every wall and window. How they must torture those who are living here. Spirits so vile that they churn the earth cold into warm nighttime visions - dreams of dark places - haunted by the undead. How they will torture us all. (to K’u) Bring the light.

Tell me K’u, if you were inclined to rob and steal, would you follow such a man?

Master, I would sooner follow a cat.

(to Ch’ien Mu) Hear me. Are you Ch’ien Mu the brigand?

No. I am Ch’ien Mu.

Make up your mind! You are either Ch’ien Mu or not. Are you a farmer?

No.

Are you a merchant?

No. I am Ch’ien Mu.

(to the soldier) Has he said anything that could be useful in his defense?

He has been raving, my lord. He is definitely deranged and definitely a member of the Ch’ien household. Told me his brothers would set him free and burn this place down, he did. But then . . .

Then what?

He’s been asking for his dog.

His dog? Did he have a dog when he was caught?

None, my lord. But he’s been very emphatic about getting back his little dog.

My lord, what are you doing here and at such an hour?

Looking for truth.

Truth in such a place.

Xin Ch’u, there is more truth in a place like this than in all the Willow Pavilions you could name. There’s nothing solid about truth here tonight. I am afraid this man will be condemned.

My lord, you have promised the people justice.

No, Xin Ch’u, I have not. I promised the people blood. If I do not give them this man. The civil peace will be disturbed. Do you concur?

Surely, my lord . . .

I thought I had saved him for justice. Actually, the day I indulged my pride in quelling the mob, this man was tried and sentenced.

Surely my lord.

And eceryone rejoiced in the streets of Su-chou and the villages and the lake district. Ch’ien Mu was gone forever - became bird-food you know not a pleasant subject, especially for my master. He was convinced that this young man was too young for such crimes. But he also needed to feed the bird - in this case dozens of ravens and crows. Phwush! But he was not very good company for days after the incident. He sat alone in the Willow Pavilion, watched over by Mei-lin and Fu Lin-t’o, both too afraid to disturb my master’s sad heart.

Scene 5:

(to Mei-lin and Fu) How long has he been here?

He has not been to bed in four days. He just sits here and pines.

This is very sad. I have never known a superintendant to be so effected by the death of anyone, especially a traitor.

It is not the traitor he mourns - but his own self-doubt. He is always so sure about everything. This time I think he suspects a gap, in fact a gulf between the act and the deed.

Is there anything we can do?

Xin Ch’u, this is terrible. (looks at Li) How long has he been like that? (Xin bids him to continue) Well, no matter. I have a report here from the village of Ching-po-lu that there was an attack from brigands led by the villain Ch’ien Mu. The attack happened after that prisoner named Ch’ien Mu was captured, so his innocence could have been established.

O this is not good. Not at all good.

But, there’s more - the report was received while the prisoner was still alive and, because of the governor’s visit, it wasn’t reviewed and processed until now.

O heavens, this is truly terrible

Oh poor man. He will not be able to bear it.

End of Act Two