🧚 Winning Buddha’s Smile, part 7 · page 2

Cheng-Si, too, fell a victim to despair.115 “Let’s save ourselves while we can,” she cried.116 “We will set fire to our house and try to reach the seacoast.117 Ja-Jo-Mi will believe that you are dead.”118

“No,” vetoed the King.119 “It will be futile.120 I have had a dream which tells me of misfortune which I shall try in vain to escape.”121

“But, I think,” rejoined Cheng-Si, who had regained her composure, “that you are wrong to be so alarmed at this dream.122 It does not have the meaning which you attribute to it.123 When one breaks the neck of a bottle one holds it carefully by the bottom.124 This means that your people are determined to convey to you their good wishes, and the blood which trickles from the bottle signifies the royal purple with which you will be vested.”125

This explanation assuaged Ki-Si’s griefs but imperfectly.126 Nevertheless he said to Cheng-Si:127

“Well, suppose we leave.128 Let the fire burn up this place.129 I have spent too many sad days here.”130

Placing burning brands in various parts of the house they hurried into the garden.131 They made their way to the hollow tree where Ki-Si had discovered his treasure and through it descended into the cave.132 Shortly they were by the seaside.133

How could they go any farther?134 They had no boat.135 The young King, rather than fall alive into the hands of Ja-Jo-Mi, determined to kill himself.136 He ran toward the water but Cheng-Si like a flash seized her husband by his gown and showered upon him gentle reproaches:137

“Why would you desert me?138 Is it not my duty to follow you wherever you may go, even to the bottom of the sea?139 If you are bound to die, let us die together.”140

“No, my dear, you are young.141 I met you by chance.142 It is not fitting that your fate should be thus linked to mine.143 Life for you may yet be a happy one.144 Let me go.145 Let me die alone.”146

But Cheng-Si clung desperately to her lover.147 She wanted to follow him into the Valley of the Shadows; in fact, she would have preferred to have preceded him into the Darkness.148

_Here endeth the sixth stage of our legend.149

VII150

VII151

San-Syeng had been waiting impatiently for several months for an opportunity to penetrate the defenses of the island of Cho-To where the young King was exiled.152 He was beginning to feel discouraged when he had another dream.153 San-Houni appeared before him saying, “You should take a boat and go to the southern cape of the island.154 There you will find the King and his Queen.155 But make haste, if you are too late you will find that the Prince has gone to abide with his ancestors.”156

On the strength of his dream, San-Syeng immediately began preparations for his journey to the spot that had been indicated to him.157 While yet some distance from the island, he could distinguish on the beach a man and woman, both apparently very young, talking and gesticulating with great earnestness.158 Soon he imagined he could catch a few words which were carried to him on the light breeze, causing the impression that a disagreement had arisen between the two young people.159 When he came within hailing distance he called politely: “Why are you quarreling in this way when Spring-time is smiling upon you so sweetly?”160

Ki-Si replied: “We would like to cross the sea but having no boat and deprived of all resources, we are contemplating suicide.161 But I do not want my gentle companion to follow me to the grave, while she, on the other hand, is bent upon dying with me.162 That is the cause of our dispute.”163

“Give up your melancholy ideas,” remonstrated San-Syeng.164 “You are not going to die.165 I will place my boat at your disposal and take you wherever you want to go.”166

“Many thanks, you have saved our lives,” cried Ki-Si, joyfully.167

The young King and Queen immediately clambered aboard the boat and San-Syeng made a rapid trip over the arm of the sea which separated the island of Cho-To from the city of Chang-Yang.168

When they were safely ashore, Ki-Si inquired of San-Syeng if he would kindly direct him to a place where he and his wife could pass the night.169 San-Syeng suggested that they put up at the same inn where he was staying--an invitation which they heartily accepted.170

So far San-Syeng’s dream had been realized.171 Nothing was left for him to do but to make sure that the young people were really those of whom San-Houni had told him.172 But this was no easy thing.173 He did not dare question them too closely.174 There was too much at stake to reveal the truth.175 San-Syeng resolved to wait until time and opportunity would dispel his doubt.176

Meantime, the house on the island where the young Prince had lived since he had left the Capital had become food for the fire and flame.177 The guard in charge of Ki-Si rushed to inform the General whom Ja-Jo-Mi had appointed to watch the island of Cho-To.178 The General, greatly agitated and worried, gave orders to double the guards about the garden wall.179 Anyone who sought to leave was to be arrested on the spot.180 Other soldiers were instructed to do their utmost in fighting the spread of the flames.181 They were too late.182 The house was now like unto a gigantic furnace.183

“Search everywhere for the King,” ordered the General.184 “If he isn’t dead he must be hidden somewhere in the garden.185 Look in all the corners and dark places.”186

This hunt was, as we well know, unsuccessful, and the General, concluding that the royal prisoner had perished in the flames, sent word to that effect posthaste to Ja-Jo-Mi.187

Upon receipt of this news, the Prime Minister was elated.188 The death of the rightful King swept aside the last obstruction in the path of his plans.189 He immediately summoned the General whom he had placed in command of the guards at Cho-To, and when the latter came Ja-Jo-Mi met him with these words:190

“How lucky we are!191 Such an event deserves to be celebrated in proper style.192 Let’s have a grand banquet to which we can invite all our friends.”193

Ja-Jo-Mi’s partisans were living in idleness and ease, wallowing in an era of merry-making and debauchery.194 Everywhere they went they continually sang the praises of Ja-Jo-Mi, “the coming King of Korea.”195 The people, however, were grumbling and commenting, but the fear of the tyrant kept them from expressing too openly their complaints.196

Ki-Si, whom Ja-Jo-Mi believed to be dead, was keeping under cover at the little town of Chang-Yang.197 One day when he was chatting with San-Syeng, the proprietor of the inn burst in upon them excitedly, saying: “There is great excitement in the streets.198 Quite a number of troops, who are on their way to the Capital, have just arrived in town.”199

“What’s exciting about that?” questioned San-Syeng.200

“These soldiers were ordered to guard our young exiled King at the island of Cho-To.201 It seems that the poor Prince lost his life in a big fire and the General, who had charge of this mission, is bringing back his men.202 The people, you know, fairly hate Ja-Jo-Mi, who holds the support of the army and who has placed a heavy yoke about the neck of all Korea.203 Hence, at the sight of these soldiers, excitement has spread all over the town.”204