3.Last Train to Tanshui - CCK-ISC

324
several of these cycles by retiring 企om the long drought of a
fF>
TheLαst Trα in
single man's life in the army, meeting Jen-lung Yang (his
mentor and, later,“ superego"), and marrying the aborigine ,
to
T，α mshui
Chu T'ien司 hsin
Orchid. Though he does not ultimately obtain an office, his
obsession to let his “ proclamation" be known among his
fellow
∞untrymen
.illustrates his Quixotic attempt to save
1 noticed him a long time ago....
the world from the degradation of crimes and vices. However,
The reason 1 emphasize this is because he's only an old
with the name Four Joy , in hi日 constant worrying for his own
man , an ordinary old man , neither something novel nor an
country , in his overweening patriotism , there is an iromc
eye-catching girl. Naturally, if you call me shallow, ignorant,
effect, a sense of comic incongruity.
or frivolous , 1 will not blame you. For 1 just turned
After all , Four Joy Chu is a nobody. His proclamation , or
seventeen, going to a technical high school in Taipei , where
ideal , can never match with any of the proclamation from
once in , you can kiss your future goodbye. The only thing
great people , say, the old President Chiang Kai-shek , who led
that 1 am slightly concerned about in life is: try not to be
Chu and the rest of the mainlanders to Taiwan with the
home too late so as to invite nagging. But 1 don't want you
promise oflater returning them to the mainland. Yet, behind
to think that
all his idiocy and ignorance we see in his stubbornness a deep
street. Impulsive gang-fighting is something for those junior
sense of selι-respect and dignity, regardless of whether he is a
high kids , which we have long outgrown. Frankly, contrary
petty or a great man. It is just that self-respect and d耶叫y
to your expectation, we are above many things. For instance,
that ennoble the human being in his lifelong endeavors. With
though we often use four-letter words to curse the entrance
Four Joy's tenacious patriotism and his ultimate permanent
examinations or those smug public high
rejection of his own proclamations , we come to find hope in
regret is that, failing to pass the exams for entering college,
his hopelessness, meaning in his meaningless efforts. As for
we will be short of one powerful weapon for chasing girls.
our observers , Four Joy Chu's story is no more than a tale
That's al l.
told about an idiot, full of sound the fury , signifying nothing.
Dominic Cheung
1 位n
one of those kids who hang around the
school曲，
our only
Or, for instance, sometimes when 1 take the late late
train home, 1 am almost the only one there. 80 1 get a
drafting pen out and write on the plastic seat cover: “ Wanted
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in a hurry: chicks. Tel: 308-7111." Sometimes , when the whim
nervous and looked around mysteriously, taking a few steps ,
comes , 1 write it from one compartment to the next , including
then hiding abruptly behind a column and poking his head
all the phone numbers of the few guys in my class that 1 can
ou七 to
remember.
in a spy movie trying to get rid of someone tailing him ,
This practice is not my invention. Other guys in my class
e芷cept
peek in the former direction. AnywaYi it's like he was
his movements were much more awkward. No matter, 1
do it a lot, on the seat covers on the bus , in telephone booths,
think not only me, but those regular passengers were also
at arcades or places like that. Once they even wrote: “Hand-
used to his behavior.
some reward for first-class sexy chicks" followed by our
As to my formal acquaintance with him , it was several
military training officer's home phone. 1 don't object to your
months later. It was on the second, 1 remember clearly,
saying that it's silly. (The fact is , it is really silly!) No matter
March 2nd, Monday, right after Sunday, despairing and
whether anyone has ever gotten a girlfriend this way or not, 1
gloomy, since 1 had to go through another six days till
would never want a girl like that. (Of course , one reason is
Sunday again. That's why 1 was too dispirited to stroll
that 1 don't have a phone at home.) But, isn't it true? A fine
around after school and went straight to the train station. As
fruit takes effort to climb up the tree to gather; only those
1 came on the platform, there he was in the same outfit,
rotten ones fallen on the ground are for the picking. Isn't it
snooping around. Out of sheer boredom, 1 watched him for a
so?
while, coming to the formal conclusion that he's nuts. When
Sorry, I've digressed. Didn't 1 say 1 noticed him a long
the train arrived , 1 picked the last compartment as befitting
time ago? This is not because 1 was bored, but really becaue
my mood of the day. You know , the last compartment of the
his looks and behavior were interestingly strange. It went
northbound Tamshui train always has its seats arranged in
like this: rain or shine , he always had on an old but fine suit,
rows , while other compartments have long benches facing
hi日 ch巴st，
each other. On days with leftover energy, 1 choose to sit on
there were a lot of money in it. When the train pulled
one of those so as to watch girls. On that day, however, 1
into the station , he would not even wait for the passengers to
withdrew to the last compartment. It was a Monday when one
get off before he shoved his way on. Forget about courtesy, it
was even too lazy to smoke.
both hands tightly clutching a manila envelope to
的 if
was as if he were a refugee running for his life. It was the
But just as the train started, there he was, fumbling
saíné thing when he waited on the platform. He was always
along from the preceding compartment, and , due. to tJ;W
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motion , he fe11 down on the vacant seat right next to mine.
have mbney, JI can pay you. Ybu 1ive'in .T amshuij
Strict1y speaking, ha1f of his body fe11 on me. Because he's
He flashed the manila enve10pe in front of me. His queer
crazy, 1 did not expect him to apo1ogize; I on1y budged
words and gesture made me 1augh. Probab1y he misunder-
slightly to indicate his serious trespassing. Unexpected1y, he
stood my 1augh to mean consent , so he , too , started to 1augh
craw1ed a11 over me to 1ean against the window, panting
happi1y. "Then , it's a dea1 , Huang Man."
E芷 cited1y
and nervous1y ,“ Quick"quick! Did you see? Di d you
dçm~t'you?"
1 couldn't he1p bursting into 1aughter. It's not
tha七 1
had
see? Still 100king for me there. This time 1 got rid of him!" As
become affected by his insanity. My name is Huang T'uan;
he mumb1ed , he pushed my head to 100k with him at the
“t' uan" is an odd word , no wonder he misread it and thought
receding p1atform. Natura11y, there was nothing; at 1east, 1
it was Huang Man. You know what? This name seems to
did not see anyone or anything unusual.“ Did you see? Did
be10ng to those dumb women who on their way to the market
you see?" he insistent1y hurried nie to answer. His excitement
are cheated out of a11 their savmg8 by crooks. Isn't that
interested me , so 1 asked, "See what?" Then he eyed me over
funny? Oh we11, 1 just took it a8 a way to kill time and
for a moment, including my name on the uniform and the
chatted with him a10ng the journey.
name of the stinking high schoo1 on my satchel. A 10ng
pause,
then，的 if
he had made up his mind, he looked very
Who wou1d have known a chat of fifty minutes with him
wou1d cause me 80 much trouble 1ater?
solemn as he answered extreme1y serious1y ,“ Killer number 3.
Let's ta1k about our chat first. Actually, except the thing
1 got rid of the first two." “ Killer number 3? To kill whom?" 1
about his son sending killers to murder him. he seemed very
scrutinized him as 1 asked. Except for a touch of naivete, he
norma1 and understanding, which made
立1e
reeva1uate his
cautious旬， making m巴
case. He said he's a1so from Tamshui , but had been away for
。f
those eyes around us slow1y wi thdra wing their
twenty to thirty years. It was 1ucky for him to have been
的tention.
He 10wered his vOlce intentionally as he leaned
away because , from the viewpoint of geomancy , Tamshuiw 8, s
over to declare into my ear,“ They were sent by my son to kill
1ike a beehive; if the residents did not 1eave and seek a career
虹le."
e1sewhere, they wou1d be 1ike a herd of skinny horses
100ked clear-headed. He 100ked around
aware
“Oh...."
1 finally rea1ized. So it's a detective game he's
penne~
in, getting skinnier and skinnier, not to mention having 叫
Cons七ructibrr
p1aying. But my reaction seemed to mis1ead him; he grabbed
career. Then he ta1ked about the Shih's'
my hand and said earnestly, "Will you be my bodyguard? 1
Company and said the chairman of the co呵呵 was the 叫
J'
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who was trying to kill him. “1 don't know what good it will
course. If you think two country kids could get in there; then
do him by killing me. All that J got 1 have given J;o him. The
you are wrong. We went through a byway by the gym of the
scoundrel knows. he's .an 'unfil.ial son, so he suspects that 1
Tamshui Cöllege of Technology & Commerce. Speaking of the
have hidden something for the second son.... ,1 How would 1
discovery of the byway, it was thanks to the "Entrance
not know Shih's Construction Company? It was building the
Prohibited" sign erected on the slope. which gave us the
Diamond Gemini highrise by the highway near our schoo l.
direction. We were really audacious then; we even got our
Once in a while Chairman Shih appeared in newspapers,
bikes up there; not those Giant cross-country bikes you see
always in connection with charity for the needy in winter or
nowadays, but old heavy bikes for transporting goods. But on
scholarships for
H
poor 自tudents.
Which made me remind myself
the wide , lush, sloping golf course, we learned quite a few
again that 1 was talking to a crazy man. But aside from that,
tricks after many a fal l. Whenever 1 think of those summer
he indeed knew a lot and was very interesting. He said the
evenings when the sun, refusing to sink, rested on the top of
Shihs ran a big business during th Japanese Occupation,
the acacias, when Shih and 1 bumped along, rushing swiftly
specializing in importing Fukien pine to Taiwan. But at that
down the slopes-the excitement and delight-I can't help
time he was only a poor orphan , who was allowed to work on
bursting into laughter even now. Shih moved out of the
the lumber boat for them through the connection of
best boys' high school in Taipei. 1 bet after this summer he'll
òf the Fu chou port and even Shanghai. “All those buildings
enroll in either National Taiwan University or Ch'ing-hua
my son has constructed are nothing compared with them; the
University. What the old man said about leaving the town to
i日
beyond your imagination!"
have a future is true , 1 guess.
There are indeed many Shihs in Tamshui. In' my fourth
He couldn't stop describing what he had seen on first
grade there happened 'to be three teachers who were called
arriving in Shanghai. We didn't realize we had reached the
best friend then was Shih Chun-ch'uan, who lived
Tamshui depot until the passengers had all gotten off. He
I\在y
Shih.
on
有
in junior high; later he went to' Chien-kuo High School , the
the same family name. He described at length the prosperity
classy style
附
b巴 aring
自treet
Ch'ung也hien
Street. He often rode his brother's bicycle
patted my leg with his heavily knuckled hand. “ Workh位d，
stealthily to come to my house. Papa was still alive then. We
young man! Y ou Huangs used to be a big clan too. Who didn't
1ived. at Yo-ch'e-k'o where there was so much fun. Having
know the famous buyer for the British, Huang Tung-mao!"
,
f宮的tenζtired
of games in the river, we played on th golf
“Aren't
yοù.
getting öff?" 1 was stiirtled. He shook his head
,
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smiling happily. “ My grandson
Chia也hia
doesn't have a
be home late? Actually, there isn l t much to do during those
piano lesson today, so he'll be home early." "You have a
hours. Most ofthe time I go to Wang' Cheng-chieh's home to
grandson?" “ Chia-chia is the youngest child of my elder son,"
watch videos with Darkie who sits in front of me in class.
he pulled his legs in so I could pass. “ You live together. You
Anyway, there are several video stores on the way from
and your eldest son , the one who tries to kill you?" I
school to Wang's house , and his parents are almost never
regretted it after asking , for having believed what he had
home for dinner. 80 we always go to his place to while away
said. “ Of course we live together. That' s why he can't do it
time. I hope you don't think that we must be always watching
himself, has to hire someone. Get off quick!" Looking
those erotic videos. Partly because Wang has a sister who
around , he hurried me , as those who were going to
goes to Fu Jen University and it's inconvenient with her
Taipei were getting on one by one. 1 had to walk quickly
walking in and out all the time. And partly , it's because I
toward the exit.
actually enjoy those Japanese variety shows more. They are
“Huang
Man!" Just as I was stepping off, he called me.
more “ practical." I believe you know what I mean by
What could I say about my name being changed? I had to
“ practical." 8imply put , it means this: no matter how rich and
turn around to heed him. He raised the manila envelope in
famous those girls I like are (Akina makes several billion
the air for a second and then quickly held it back. I knew he
yens a year!) , I think I can marry them al l. They are not
was reminding me of my being his bodyguard. As soon as I
totally unreachable. I mean, you wouldn't think they are too
stepped onto the platform, the train started with a groan. I
pretty or there's a language barrier or something. On the
watched the old man with his face against the windowpane ,
contrary, take someone like Brook 8hields. Though I think
waving wildly, his mouth open wide with neat, white false
she's the prettiest girl , just in height she is a l-ready four
teeth.
centimeters taller than I am. At present, I am one hundred
After that-you guessed
right!間.r
sat with him on the train
and seventy-six centimeters tall and though maybe I will st,ill
almost every day. It's not that I was after his money; in fact , I
grow taller before I'm twenty, if she wears high heels , t，her\'l'自
wouldn't be surprised if in the envelope there were only a few
no way I can be taller than she. Not to say
dead mice , some dried steamed bread, and a
she be content to be my wife? I'.m not sure at a ll! Akina
broken
m叮叮 her.
embroidered shoe which belonged to his wife when she was
different. I think you must know Akina is Nakampri
young. I was just too bored. Di dn't I say before that I tried to
w抽 a ro叫恤，心d
eyes,
a 心悅 m叫，
a
l
Will :
i自
i
ni叫電ll
Aki~ ll.，
335
L)L)'企
but not dumb-looking like Yakushimaru Hiroko , I think only
What a budget! “ If I take care of Chia-ch鼠， and she does the
someone as childish as Darkie would be crazy about her , But
housework , we'll save the kindergarten fee and the salaries of
no matter what, we háve seen The Legend of the Eight Dogs of
the two maids , and the senseless money paid senselessly for
Shinlimi more than ten .times; Darkie did it because of
sweating in the gym! "
,
Yakushimaru Hiroko , of course. As for me, to be frank , I
He was so angry. as if it were for rea l. At times like this ,
think I look_a lot like .the leading male, Masada Hiroshi; we
I especia:lly did not like to hear about his son trying to kill
both have an elongated face with broad cheek bones. Now
him , because it was like reminding myself not to forget he's
that I think back, maybe it's the “ skinny horse" look that the
crazy - a very cruel fact. I was willing to see him as a normal
old man talked about.
old man. I mean , if he was really crazy, I would be very sad.
-The old man Shih! Sorry, I' ve digressed again. Back to
But I don't want you to misunderstand that i t' s because I
the old m ø.n. After a while, I really thought he might be
gained something from him that I said thes things. The truth
to Chairman Shih. At least, he was related to some
is , as I said before , I never had the slightest intention of
rich family and wasn't just a half-crazy old man wandering on
getting anything from him. On the contrary, I treated him
the streets , otherwise he could not have invented those
once. No big deal , we were eating fish ball soup and sausages
gimmicks of the rich from sheer imagination. For example, he
by the fo r.d. The real fun thing was , as we ate the grilled
complained to me that his daughter-in-Iaw .woul.d, not let his
sausages. he pointed at the bank on the other side and said
grandson Chia-chia be with him 司o she started sending him to
that when he was young; he made a bet with someone to swim
a kindergarten run by the wife of the general manager of a
across to Pa-li. Bragging is no crime anyway. Which old man
T.V. station , The kindergarten only admitted kids of movie
did not have some kind of
stars and rich folk. The fees were, of course, exorbitant; just
my laughing seemed to upset him so that he even brought up
the transportation by taxi alone cost nearly ten thousand a
his wife. He' said his wife had agreed to marry him just
month! He also complained about the daughter-in-law's
because she had heard about the legend of his feat. His wife
laziness and inability to keep a budget. There were two
had been dead for six or seven years but whenever she was
Philippine maids , one taking care of Chia-chi且， the other
mentioned, he became very despondent. Seeing he was
doing housework. Heavier chores went to the chauffeur.
beginning to look that way again, I changed the topic
Every month the daughter-in-Iaw spent a fortune in the gym.
quickly, "Tell me again the story about the mosquito and ,the
relat巴d
,
exoti巴，
interesting adventure? But
frog."
It was really an interesting story! Except on days when
UJHi 盯 M
Chia-chia did not take piano lessons , he did not alway.s go
long walks in and out of town , talking about this and that.
ZHU
刊川 ? " ! i i f l
back to Taipei on the same train. 80metimes , he took me on
當鄭義草草草草
Lt'RMHUVHYUKUFU 的時
(1!:(2lil--J
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pole erected by the river , symbolizing angling for the frog.
Wh at do you know? The power of the frog nest was destroyed;
one of the wells ran dry , and the frog became one-eyed. The
Temple has dëclined ever since.
“Really?" every time 1 heard it 1 couldn't help but ask.
Ch'in-shan Temple on Academy Road parallel to English
building!" he always replied.
叫咱
things. First, of course , let me explain to you. There is a
“ Why would 1 lie to a kid? 1 saw with my own eyes the
flag pole set up by the geomancist, as high as a five-storied
The story of the mosqmto and the frog was one of those
Academy Road (at first 1 didn't know the name of that
But, on the night the accident happened , it was different
crummy temple, even though in elementary schöol we passed
on the
It was a 8unday , aboú. t two weeks after we made our
acquaintance. h在e and Darkie and a few others (whom I
hilltop). The story goes like this: from the viewpoint of
haven't mentioned to you before) hung around at Wang
geomancy , the Ch'in-shan Temple
Cheng-chieh'自 place
by it on our excursion to 8t. Benedict
1S
且在 onastery
a
.frog
nest; the
till ten o'clock. Actually it was prettyy
crescent-shaped pond on the slope in front of the temple is the
boring. They played mahjong while 1 watched videos for over
mouth of the frog , the two wells behind the temple are its
ten hours. You are right, it was lousy! Wang's sister who goes
eyes. Though the main deity the temple worships is the Ting-
to Fu Jen University was also in the ganie. One girl against
kuang Buddha , originally it was the clan hall of people from
three men, she was bound to win. 1 wasn't faring much better
the Ting Prefecture. No matter what, it was very prosperous.
either. I saw Masada Hiroshi
But something strange happened. Whenever the ritual bell
moreover , with that porno star , Matsuita Keiko , who always
tolled at the Ch'in-shan
Temple，七he
ghettoes along the river
near the present Tamshui Theater would catch fire. It
co司stars
1n
a bedroom scene, and,
with innocent young men. All in all , it was pretty
upsetting.
happened time after time. 80 , the residents in the ghettoes
Luc~ily，
1 caught the last train to Tamshui at ten-fifty.
hired a geomancist who said the area around the Tamshui
Before the train started, 1 jumped on to the last compartme:ilt
River was a mosquito nest. 80 naturally the frog of the Ch'in.
1n
shan Temple overpowered the mosquito. At the residents'
compartment are different from the others where you have
request, the geomancist told them a solution. He had a flag
bright fluorescent lighting - the old man was snuggled on the
time. Under the dim lights
even the lights in. this
.:lü ö
ûû"
seat where we often sat, his face leaning on the window. 1
with my upper body hanging over the armrest, and my head
wondered if he was asleep. As 1 walked toward him , perhaps
dangling in the aisle. 1 felt the vertigo of a stroke , but 1 was
the tremor of the train woke him up - he raised his eyes to
comfortable.
look at me. The light fell on. his face on which there were
turn , 1 could almost see through the aisle of the whole train -
traces of half.dried tears. The old man in tears made me feel
a pair of blue jeans and Lotto sneakers flashed into the seat
embarrassed and helpless. 1 looked around; it was 8unday
in the preceding compartment. The mysterious behavior
night and without the students from night schooI , there was
probably belongs to the killer! - here it comes again! How
no one else in the compartment , .1 asked him,“ This is the last
horrible, 1 began to feel that insanity was
train. Why are you going to Tamshui? How are you gonna
long run 1 could get it too. Frankly, at first , 1 was pretending
come back later?" Though we often hung around in Tamshui ,
to agree with him when he pointed here and there, as if there
he always returned to Taipei.
were someone following him. But none of them were the
He slanted his head; fresh tears began to flow again. As
you know ,
n巴ver
Beside日，的 long
as the train did not make a
contagiou日;
in the
killer type, at least no dark glasses , no raincoat, no
when he spoke of his deceased wife, he
newspaper covering the face. There was only a boy slightly
looked so downcast. Even when he talked about his son
bigger than 1 am , in blue jeans and sneakers , with an
e芷 cept
trying tö kill him, he was
more 且ngry
than sad. Then it
ordinary face , like a student at Tamkang
Univer自 ity.
That's
occurred to me. “ How many trips have you taken today?" He
right, how could he be the killer? But the strange thing was
raised a hand and brushed it across his face , wiping the tears
everywhere we went we ran into him , at the Taipei train
away at random , and then made the gesture of seven. with
station , on the train. 8everal times in or out of town we
the other hand still clinging tightly to the manila envelope
caught sight of him in the distance; even last week when we
with dead mice: ,The pitiful look annoyed me. “80 since noon?
went to 8ha-lun Beach , we saw him too. Anyway , whenever 1
You can't. blame me. 1 don't owe you anything. Today's
was with the old man - a loud gust of humid wind surged in
sa祠，
from the river; the train was on the Yuan-shan Bridge. 1
the more upset 1 became. Am 1 really his bodyguard? Those
straightened up so as not to miss the night view of the Grand
annoying tears of an old man!
Hote l. You must have seen it too. All the lights are on; it's
8unday, I' m not
obligat~d
to be with you!" The more 1
8eeing him with his mouth tightly shut, refusing to talk,
Ltoo became listless and sank down on the seat next to him,
like the whole building is floating in mid air, transparent.
Howe芷otic
and interesting! If 1 have money in the future (1
d‘金"
。坐υ
don't know how rich 1 will have to be) , 1'll go in there just
are most hurtfuJ; that's why 1 doit't like to argue with my
once. Though Wang Cheng-chieh told me that it only costs
mom. Nevertheless , ther巴's no need to be so sad. You know
forty or fifty dollars to sit in the coffee shop in the basement
what he said? He said his son had made up his mind; the
1 don't believe my dream can be that cheap. “ Huang Man!"
killer had been following him the whole day, he would
the old man interrupted my appraisal of the dream. 1 looked
probably take action that night. “ There's no sense for me to
at him , he was still in tears , with a red , shiny nose. 1 couldn't
keep on living. Why not let him do it! You won't have to keep
“Tell
me the story
me company either. 1 appreciate your time very much.
about the mosquito and the frog. Is it really true that the
Chia-chia's older sister and brother dqn't even want to watch
ritual of erecting the flag pole lasted a whole day and a whole
T.V. with me." At the mention of Chia-chi且， his tears fell like
night?"
rain again. 1 was about to comfort him , but he raised his hand
bear the sight , so 1 used the old trick.
As if he hadn't heard my question , he started pouring out
and stopped me. Then he told me this and that, some of which
a torrent of complaints that had been dammed up all day. He
1 had never heard , some 1 could tell it better than he. Still , 1
told me he had had a fierce fight with his daughter-in -law;
dozed off amid his tearful voice. How could 1 have fallen
which
asleep under those circumstances? It mu的 have hurt him
meant he would be deprived of the little tíme they had
terribly! 一 if only time could be turned back! 1 was probably
together in the evening. He couldn't understand why they
wakened by the bright light outside. When 1 opened my eyes,
tried to sever him completely from Chia-chia. The .second son
1 could clearly see the word "Chu-wei" on the well-lit
was emigrating to Canada next week; from the time of his
platform outside the window., Then 1 realized he was not with
decision to the completion of the immigratory procedures
me! 1 got up' hurriedly. There was no sight of him in the
nothing had ever been mentioned to him. Now there was no
whole compartment. 1 seemed to have vaguely heard hi h1
alternative. 1 asked him why didn't he simply go with the
when the train passed by Kuan-tu. There is nó stop between
second son, because , in my impression , he was. much nicer.
Kuan-tu and Chu-wei. A thought flàshed through my mind; 1
“They all speak ABC;
like a duck listening to the thunder, 1
panicked and ran forward. What do you know? In the aisle 1
won't understand it. 1 can't be an American!" Then. he voiced
bumped into the killer who was running too. No mistàke, i t' s
the grievance that after learning English , Chia-chia would be
that man who has been following him. Why does he lQo k' 80
even less able to talk to him. 1 know fights within the family
panicky? Probably.... In the few seconds in which we 胸和d'Íl.t
she had decided to hire an English tutor for
Chia司 chia，
ij4Ö."
one another, he seemed to have guessed my thinking.
around except the humming of the engines. Again , 1 trìed沌Hf ﹒、
Suddenly he turned sround and jumped off through the
sort out what had taken place that night. “ Maybe , maybe tlÎE!.
entrance. Darn , you're trying to get away! Did the old man
old man is fine and already in Tamshui; he just went to ti:Uì
get killed? 1 ran off; he had. disappeared into the dark at the
restroo l)1 or, out of boredom , went for a walk in the preceding
other end of the platform , running in the opposite direction.
compartment - he was so scared of the killer he
Momentarily; 1 couldn't make up my mind whether to ca11 the
approach him. Unless it's like what he said , he no longer had
police at the station , or to find the station director, or to run
the wi ll- to live and let the killer do
after the ki11er , or to s a,ve the old man first. "Maybe the old
Anyway, no matter whether he took the initiative or he was
man was pushed off the train and is still alive. As long as he
approached, the panic and escape of the killer is the best
is alive, the killer can be identified.
proof." After thus straightening things out , 1 continued to
B 巴sides ，
the killer was
sent by the old man'.s son. Damn it, what a lowlife! After the
killer first! 1f 1 can't get him, then 1' 11 fo11ow the railway to
尬，
wouldn'七
a form of suicide.
search along the .railroad track.
That night, 1 walked to the Kuan-tu Tunnel and then
back tü Tamshui , and found nothing I didn't go home.
find the old man."
on both sides o f. the railway. Soon 1
1nstead 1 walked slowly toward the Tamshui police station ,
lost sight of the killer. The train was long gone; it was very
a11 the while thinking how to report the crime. After a long
quiet a11 around , only chirping
night's walk , 1 had calmed down. Having seen many Japanese
There're wild
fi 巴 lds
insec徊，
trickling water, and
und巴r
cars swishing by on the highway. 1 didn't have much time to
videos of detective stories; 1 knew if 1 reported the case
figure out what it was a11 about; 1 was panicky , even on the
the circumstances , the police would only think 1 was joking
verge of tears. Stumbling along , 1 ca11ed out (1 wasn't calling
or I was nuts
the old man, for 1 didn't even kQow his name) ,“ Huang Man's
remorseful and lonely. Now 1 understood the pain of the old
here! Huang Man's here!" If .he was p'J. shed offthe train , he
man's no t' being trusted for a long time. 1 decided to go back
shouldn't be too far from the railroad track. As long as he's
to Chu-wei and Kuan-tu to do a thorough search when the
alive , he can hear me.
day broke.
the word nuts suddenly made
立le
rea11y
1 didn't sit down to catch my breath until 1 reached the
While waiting for daybreak , 1 ambled to the Shrine of Ch'
construction site at the Kuan-tu Bridge. Though the huge,
ing-shui Patriarch. Though the old man said the Patriarch
lonβ旬，
defeated those Western barbarians during the Sinò-Fralicó
uncompleted bridge was a11 lit up , there was no one
345
044
War and gave warnings by dropping his nose time after time,
and 1 started walking toward Chu-wei.
(after the disaster was over, they would simply use incense
The first morning train to Taipei just passed by. 1 found
ash and water to stick it back on!) 1 didn't come to pray
the maniia envelope on the river band between the Kuan-tu
because of his efficacy, not like my mom who comes here
Bridge and the tunne l. Fortunately , it was far away from the
several times a month , a habit , 1 guess , formed when my pa
water line; except for some wetness from the dew , it had no.t
was a fisherman. Pa died of a heart attack at home from too
been soaked in the tide during the night. Where's the man
then? 1 picked up the extremely familiar envelope with
much alcoho l. Now we live on Ch'ing-shui Street below , very
here now was to stand in the top courtyard in front of the
trembling hands. The anxiety and fatigue of the night
exploded finally; 1 held it against my face and let out a few
shrine to look down at the town , the river, and the Kuan-yin
screams...But where's the man? 1 opened the
Mountain in the distance. This is also the first time that 1
realized you can actually see things in darkness. The river,
wasn't dead mice nor an embroidered shoe 一 i t' s money! 1
emptied the envelope, batches and batches of money! Som巴
for instance, is white beyond imagining. The old man once
old , somenew. The only thing they had in common was they
said, if you look at Tamshui from the side of the Kuan-yin
were all thousand-dollar bills! Roughly estimated , there must
Mountain , the whole Tamshui is like a dragon crouching, and
be around two or three hundred thousand! 1 became scared
close to here , but 1 never come with Mom. The reason 1 came
the shrine is the dragon's head. At this moment, I' m standing
l.~
envelope 一 it
and quickly put the money back in the envelope. “ If the killer
on the dragon's head. But so what? The night is cool , the
had found the old man before me and had done away with the
wind is so chilly that 1 have to force myself to rethink , yet
body, how could he have missed the envelope always close to
probably dying
the old man? Maybe he didn't find out until now and is on hi日
somewhere...Every morning Mom runs a noodle stand with
way back. 1 can't let him destroy this piece of evidence!" 1
someone else in front of the Lung-sha:l Temple, at night she
took the envelope and ran off.
fear makes
口1e
g1ve up. The 。 ld man
1S
washes dishes in a seafood restaurant on Chung-cheng Road.
1 took the bus on the highway and went back to Tamshui ,
Someday when she's rich , 1 would never ever kill her because
of money. What a world is it where sons kill fathers! 1 was so
1 went home first; anyway Mom was busy at the noodle stand
and wouldn't be home to question 虹1e why 1 hadn't come
angry that tears welled up , running warmly down my cold
home last night. 1 hid the money under my bed in several
cheeks. They were timely though in dispelling my drowsiness ,
pairs of sneakers which were so old and dirty that even Mo rn,
。全 t
wouldn't wash them , but I. hadn't let her throw them away
Illi--4!
t!!
t1
Well , then , everything was rea l.
either. Then 1 took a good look at the .envelope. Except for
It was not yet twelve when 1 r巴 ached Taipei. 1 dialed the
being old and dirty, the paper was of fine quality. On the left
phone again and had no problem getting from the operator to
were printed gold çhar a. cte:r:s giving the address and telphone
the secretary. to Chairman Shih. An ordinary voice ,“ This is
number of the Shih's Construction Company. 1 folded the
Shih Teh-huei of Shih's Construction. You said you havè
envelope and then , carrymg it with
news 且bout
口1e ，
walked around
my father?" How could he be so calm? 1 nodded.
aimlessly on the street for a while. 1 also obs!!rved the poIice
“ Mm!" “ Would you come to my house tonight? 1 would like to
station across the street for a minute. Finally, 1 bought some
talk to you in person. The address is so and so." After taking
cigarettes at the grocery store , got some. change, and dialed
down
the number of Shih's Construction at the pay phone by the
“ Near Acme Market. May 1 ask your name?" “ Well ,
market. The line went through , it was the operator. 1 asked
Huang, I' II see you at seven." He hung up the phone.
the 令address
1 asked him for some directions. He said,
h在r.
for the chairman, Mr. Shih Teh-huei , while 1 deposited the
Want to see me? To bribe me or to shut me up? With his
coins. Then 1 was transferred. to a girl who said the chairman
wife , kids , and maids around , 1 bet he won't dare. But judging
was in a meeting and asked who 1 was and what it was about.
from his cool
1 said 1 would like to talk to him about his father and hung
killed , every day , at least the killer should have reported to
up. 1 decided to go to Taipei. “ A big company like that won't
about last night. Even if by a slight chance he's
h m
reaction ，的 if
the old man disappeared and got
take any rash action against me. Underhanded deals are only
innocent , doesn't the old man's disappearance all night make
for helpless old men!"
him wory or call the police? How can he keep on working and
On the train to
Taip訟， 1
examined the river bank from
Chu-wei to Kuan-tu carefully again. Though looking down
not immediately pursue it until tonight?
It's still a long time before seven o' c1 ock. 1 had to watch
from up high, plus the slowing of the train due to the
two movles downtown , during one and three quarters
construction at the Ku a,n-tu Bridge , I still didn't spot
which 1 was asleep. After 1 got out of the theater it was not
anything unusua l. The sparkling reflections on the rlver
dark yet, so I went to a computer information research
made me dizzy. Under broad daylight, 1 began to doubt if it
institute and played electronic games for a while, till 1 spent
was all a dream last night. Was 1 dreaming? Feeling in my
all my money except a few dimes on “ research fee."
pockets with sweaty hands , 1 did produce the folded envelope.
口f 、
Seven o' c1 ock sharp , 1 found the place with no. probl i"m
.348
and
349
pass巴 d
through the heavy security of the highrise. In the
taking care of him. I'm sorry we met under these Clrcum-
elevator, as if consciousness regained , 1 started to pamc.
stances. Even though 1
“ Except for the manila 巴nvelope in my pocket, 1 really have
night, to the best of my knowledge, it's not too pessimistic.
nothing to go by!
I' m glad you've taken the initiative to help us search for my
孔在oreover ，
what can the envelope prove?
執/a s
surprised at the accident last
Will what I' m doing help? Maybe 1 should have reported to
father.
the police to search for the old man's body , which is more
While he was talking, a
likely to expose damned Shih Teh-huei..." - Too late , the
rambled out. She scowled , pouted her lips , and gave me a
elevator door opened.
helpless smile. 1 couldn't believe she's Shih Teh-huei's wife,
Getting out of the elevator , 1 had to ring the doorbell of
Unit A. The door opened almost immediately. A face of a
芷江y
wife and 1 would like to express our thanks."
執/0虹lan
ln a pink casual dress
the elder daughter-in-law of the old man! She looked too
•
young and too elegant. But what 1 really couldn't believe was
thirtyish woman. 1 hurried to give my greetings “ Are you
the words Shih just said. .How could he totally deny reality
Mrs. Shih?" She smiled and said something to me , then
turned around and said some more in a louder voice. 1 know
with a faked sincere look. How could he! “ But he told me you
she's speaking Mandarin , but how come 1 can't understand it?
it. 1 believe he has reported his success to you." 1 threw every
After taking off my sneakers , 1 put on the slippers she laid on
word
the f1 00r for me on her knees. How can my feet stink so! 1
expected, he groaned painfully as if wounded. “ The other day
hesitated. She was smiling and waiting there for me. 1 had to
my wife had a little fight with him. Heartbroke n. he said
maid the old man had mentioned.
After 1 sat down , the overly soft, huge sofa made me lose
也ZALI心}吋
「q
y
2114
follow her right away , thinking this must be the Philippina
were
half of my morale. Sunk in it , 1 could!l 't even straighten up
my back. Afte the maid served tea , Shih Teh-huei appeared ,
tr夕ing
;主t
to kill him. And last night 1 saw the man who did
'n m
like a
dagger to avenge the old man
As
things like that." “ But ever since we knew each other, he has
said you wanted to ikll him. The fact is you did send someone
after him , didn't you?" “If you believed it and have witnessed
the murder, why didn't you go to the police?" he showed the
九畫
trump card. “ You know that except the motivation for
unexpectedly in a jogging suit. It's strange that he wasn't
murder, the killer and the body have not been found ye t..."
surprised to see “ Mr. Huang" so young. With knitted
“ Then you are here for the killer and the body?" He smiled
eyebrows , he said, “ 1 know you have been with my father
bitterly , turned around and spoke to the woman who was
recently, but 1 haven't had the opportunity to;thank you for
curled up in the sofa with.lowered head. “孔I{ ake a phone call
VVV
δ。
to hurryy him up. If he's still home , tell him to take a cab."
lot like Akina! If 1 really marry Akina and she's lazy ån
As if angry , she stared at Shih Teh-huei with puffed cheeks ,
doesn't get along with Mom, 1 think it would really. b
struggled up , and walked lazily toward the room.
difficult.
moment, Shih simply ignored me in my
The doorbell brok巴 up my train of thought in time. Th
bewilderment. Picking up a foreign magazine , he began
Philippina maid answered the door. Shin Teh占uei ordered hi
browsing through it. A little kid came up, glanced at me
wife,“Take Chia-chia inside." and warned me,“ You st a'
indifferently, and crawled up next to Shih. Without taking
his eyes off the magazine, Shih patted and. pinched the kid
calm." Then he instructed his wife again ,“ Tell Ah-ch'un.tt
holdall my phone cal! s."
playfully with his hand. The kid said ,“ Daddy , Wang P'in-p'in'
As the door opened, it was that killer! 1 jumped up anl
s dad just got an Audi 100." Shih was now pinching his face ,
leaped on him. It was strange that he not only didn't escaþi
“ Did Chia-chia bother his older sister doing her homework?"
It 's Chia-chia! How eome 1 didn't associate the innocent,
but walked up to me as if to fight. We were tangled up an<
At this
understanding lad the old man had talked about with this
cursed at each other using the same words ,“ Damn, it's al
your fault..."
kid! The kid then shouted.in delight,“ Daddy, Volkswagon!"
After yelling and pulling, Shih separated us. We botl
tone , the kid
trie .d tù te l! our stories by shouting. Shih raised his hand tc
shouted again, "Pontiac Firebird!" Shih patted him on the
stop the killer and said to me , "Now that things have comet~
head as if in praise. As Shih turned the pages , the kid uttered
this且 don't you want to hear the whole story?" “ Tell me! Tel;
non-stop fluent English or other foreign. words. Then 1
me what it's all about!" 1 shouted and collapsed on the sofa...'
realized Shih was reading. an automobile magazine. Funny , a
“ To put it simply," Shih, pondering, said, "since he lef1
Shih's Construction , about the time when my mother passêd
away, he began acting strange. At first we didn't pay mucn
attention , because we took very good care of him. But on亞
Shih gave his nose a. pinch. With a
na自 al.
five or six-year-old can't even read Chinese, how can he be so
smart? No wonder the old man was worried that he wouldn't
be able to communicate with
“No
Chia-chi且 and
was saddened!
one answered. He's probably on the way." The lazy
day some department store notified me that he was found
woman sauntered out again , having changed into something
shoplifting there , and it was not the first time. Luckily;
neater, also had let down and combed her messy hair. Even at
because the building the Department Store was leasing
such a time , 1 still had the heart to notice that she looked a .
belonged to us; they didn't turn him to the police. But ,who
年:
.352
353
knows if he' l1 be so lucky next time? 80 , since then , I have
What the guy said embarrassed me somewhat. He said
to fo11ow him, to pay right after he takes
the train slowed down due to the èonstruction at the Kuan-tu
something. I have told him numerous times. Every time he
Bridge and almost stopped; (I was taking my shameful nap
went out, no matter how much money I gave him, he never
then!) he didn't know if the old man got off then. He also said
used it. We couldn'七 bear to lock him up in the house. My
he regretted that he didn't fo11ow us closely but only looked
wife and I are very busy, the children go to schoo l. Perhaps
in on us before the train arrived at
hired
so虹leone
Chu司wei ，
then he ran into
referring to was hired by me to look after my father secretly.
“ What did he get off there for?" 8hih asked himself.
8uddenly I remembered the old man't tears. “ That day the old
I'm sorry the accident happened and caused you two.to fight."
man said he didn't want to live any more. Would he..." 8hih
Then 8hih brief1 y introduced the young man , who turned out
dropped his head. I think their words were probably true ,
to be a senior in a vocational co11ege. He .had been hired for
because the envelope was found around that area. Maybe in
only a few months....But the strange thing is: “If you didn't
despair he decided , on an impulse , to get off the train. The
he was too bored so he started doing it....The killer you were
虹le.
重
push the old man
0缸，
railway was close to the river, so he left the envelope 。f
why did you panic when you saw me ,
money on the bank so it wouldn't be damaged by water, and
and why did you run so fast?"
On hearing these words , he stood up in anger. “ 8houldn't
then walked into the river himself.... A11 three of us were
I look for him now that he's lost? A man's life is at stake
probably envisioning the same thing and our faces grew sad.
here. How am I to report to Chairman 8hih! Why shouldn't I
But almost at the same time , 8hih and I shouted,“ But he can
blame you! Before Mr. 8hih met you , my job was very easy
swim. It 's impossible!" Right! How could a good swimmer
and secure. But you took him running around everywhere.
choose to drown himsel f? The killer also chimed in by saying
Fun for you , but I had to be on my toes. till I' followed him
he
back here. 80 , how am I to answer to Chairman 8hih now?"
or article of the old man. For some reason , I didn't tell them
8hih made a gesture to stop and pacify him. “ I don't blame
當
w巴nt
to the river in the morning and didn't find any sign
about the envelope of money. It's not that I intended to keep
K
you for it. You're not responsible for what happened. Well ,
the reason I brought you two together
1日
to ask you to
deliberate on the situation at the time and make à judgment
as to what might have happened so we can deal with it."
it, but I wanted to withold it from them just in case what they i
said was not the truth...
After a whole night's discussion , we did not come to any
i
concrete conclusion. But that was all we could do.. Befdr8
!
355
leaving the Shihs ,. 1 couldn't help asking Shih Teh-huei why
he didn't call the police. He hesitated and said,“ Even we don'
t know what's going.o.n, what. can the police do? 1 have some
people who will ask around , better than the
po~ice﹒ But
what'
s more important, 1 don't want this thing to be publicized.
Before, 1 didn't put him in .a convalescence hospital or a
retirement home because 1 didn't want peüple. to say I'm
unfilial. If this thing is madé known , they w il1 say 1 must
have done something to drive him to this.
Beside日，
what he
said about my trying to murder him to get his money he has
told more than one person. They can use it to defame me. Y ou
should be able to imagine the situation." Sensing' my
dissatisfaction , he patted me on my shoulder. “ You are still
youngi you cannot fully comprehend the difficulty of th.e
adult world. 1 have done all 1 can. If my father knows your
concern for him, he'll be happy."
What! He's already affi. rmed his death! 1 left the Shihs in
indignation.
For a long time after .that, 1 paid close attention to
newspapers to spot if there's any news about.a. drowned man
in the Tamshui River. There were some , but the age and
features of the dead did not match. My feeling became
complicated. Almost everyday 1 called Shih Teh-huei for
information. He said no when he's bUSYi sometimes when he
had time, he would chat for a while , even recall some things ,
big and.small , about the old man. At times like these 1 really
一心
hoped. that the old man had committed suicide instead òf
being murdered by Shih Teh-huei. But 1 often fell intö..a
trance Ïn cl a:ss, on the train , or on the road , thinking of a:ll
thatthe old man had said. 1 also hoped that his suspicion atid
judgement were correct, that he's not crazy and his son did
send a '.killer. Then the old man was normal after al l. How.I
wished he was normal , though 1 can't say why the old man's
sanity was of such great importance to me.
On Sunday日， 1 didn't hang around at Wang Cheng-chieh's
place any more. 1 stayed at Tamshui , walking around in and
out of town , hoping to discover something. The newly built
six-lane highway from Chen-hsien and Chen-li Streets tò
Shalun was near completion. It was jammed with men and
women on bicycles-built-for-two. Actually this type of highway 旭、 the best for cross-country motorcycles. The fierce'lòoking red and black cross-country Yamaha has long been my
dream. There was a flicker of a moment when 1 even thought
of usirig the twenty or thirty thousand dollars in my sneakers
under the bed. The fact is , even till then 1 had not counted
the moneYi 1 didn't like to do so. 1 quickly canceled my
thought of buying the motorcycle too , for it's as if 1 were
calculating against the oId man , counting on his death.
So the whole day 1 sat on the stone pier by the highway
where the river converged with the sea, not far from FoH
Dominica. Might as well let the sun scorch me so my brairt
would stop thìnking. But everywhere 1 saw things the.6Ia
man had ta1ked about. The old man once scared me about the
golf course behind me. He said it was originally a graveyard
where many brave soldiers from Honan under Liu ]1，在ing-ch'uan
who died in the 8ino-Franco War were buried. Not far from the
right was the 10cation of Yo-ch'e-k'o the old fort. The old man
said , when he was young, he used to take a wa1k there with his
Iong before 1 was born...Wrong, everything was wrong from the
beginning. On1y when it's exposed to the wor1d will there be
The first thing 1 did after getting back in town .was ca11 the
J
》會
8hih residence. Ah-ch'un said Chairman 8hih had gone to
蒙主
ir
justice!
1壘，才哩哇
wife and 8hih Teh-huei who had just 1earned to wa1k. It was
仿、信本企憲章草草-piE輩
E輩子
'356
357
everyone ]oòk for the ò1d mari. Thát!s doing oUf'best!'! 8hih
said ginger1y,“ Have you thought abut my situa七ion?" “ lcan
on1y think about the number one victim." 8hih didn't say
anything e1se. Then 1 1eft the 8hihs for good.
The following afternoon, 1 met the boyfriend of Wang
Cheng-chieh's sister through Wang's
arrang巴ment;
reporter with a 1arge newspaper. 1 tried my best
he's a
e芷p1aining
to
him the who1e thing , emphasizing repeated1y that the most
important thing was to findthe 01d man. 8hih's unfiliality and
even the murder were secondary and totally unverified. He
kept nodding his head trying to contro1 his excitement. “ Don't
worry, no matter how it's written , the story itse1f
IS
8ingapore and wou1dn't be back till Tuesday. Wednesday was
news-worthy. Just think , 8hih Teh-huei!" His uncontrollab1e
the Dragon Boat Festiva1 , he wou1d be in then. 80 1 1eft a
de1ight really worried me; 1 even regretted having done it.
message with Ah-ch'un that I' d be there Wednesday afternoon.
That night 1 hurried home , because it was the sixth day of
Finally, Wednesday came. 8hih Teh-huei was home. 1
the fourth month on the 1unar ca1endar, the festeva1 in honor
came straight out and asked him if he was still investigating
of Ch'ing-shui Patriarch, the most glorious sacrificia1 ritual of
the who1e thing. He said yeah casually. On the side, ]1，在rs.8hih
the year. 8evera1 days earlier Mom had to1d me to go to the
cou1dn't stop chuck1ing and , dragging him aside , exp1ained to
a七 the
kindergarten."
Chia也hia
was saying indignant1y,“ 1 to1d
you not to p1ay with Wang P'in-p'in. He's a bad k泊， he doesn、
eat, that's why he's so short!" The two adu1ts burst out
1aughing. 1 fe1t despair and opened my mouth weak1y ,“I' ve
decided to call the po1ice." 8hih Teh-huei 100ked
a七 me
ln
fatigue ,“ Then 1'11 go to the reporters. Publicize it and have
P令
NK
全
苦尋莘莘草告單位甜點
me whi1e pointing at Chia-chia on the phone,“ His girl-friend
i?F
shrine with her , to pray to the Patriarch that 1 get into ai
unlVers句 this year. Before, the most 1 did was to watch the i
stage shows in front of the shrine. In recent
year日，
1 have bee n: I
too 1azy to shove around in the crowd even for that. But on:
吭伽
前tday
a
仇
F几札，
叫H
跆
'e1t
I' d done 剖
a II口Ic
∞
ou
叫
l址1d
向;
mymir
泊
吋
n
dwaωsa
叫11em
呻
pty.80 直
i
削 owe
吋
dMom
叫1I岫 tl叫lr
血巴 Wl伽u
叫tp
叫
戶叫
ro
仰附
Oωt叫 Whi1e巴 MdmW船
busy offering incense , 1 picked up the clappers on' the â~ta:r;，i， ~id
list1ess
叫
W試
:
an
吋
dp
抖
叫
u11山
}土;正
。 00
359
way to the middle of the hal l. Through the haze and between
the heads of those offering incense , 1 looked at the dark face of
,
the Patriarch from a distance. “Tell me what you're supposed
to tell me." 1 followed from memory the way Mom consulted
the fortune clappers and threw them on the floor three times.
Each time it was
ón巴 ýin
and one yang. 1 then nudged my way
to the fortune cabinet to pick up my fortune; it's number 36:
“Y ou have been
gr且p.ted admission to the dragon gate, /Who
knows the roe has not been trimsformed?/ When the wind and
the clouds gather ,/Cat'tle and' horses wíll gallop together." 1
put my palms together and thanked the Patriarch, not
understanding why he was so willing to talk to me yet 1
couldn't understand a word of'what he said. 1 told Mom 1 was
going out for some air, and shoved my way out of the shrine.
As 1 was pushed by the crowd unfeelingly, 1 recited the fortune
in my mind - suddenly, something ftashed by among the crowd.
1 pushed through the crowd and rushed over, it was the old
man! The old man was chatting leisurely with three to five old
men who looked all alike. “ Damn it!" 1 shouted,“Old-Man!" 1
was so loud they all turned to look at me , including the old
man. He was everi smiling in surprise. How could it be?
By thetime 1 dragged him on to the last train to Taipei in
time , all that 1 wanted to ask got asked. Then he asked
me ,“ Where are we hurrying to?" There were too many things 1
didn:t know where to start, so 1 answered simply, "To stop the
new，s、aboù.t
Shin Ten-huei murderig you from appearing in the
paper 'tomorrow." Seeing his muddled look, 1 got mad
“How
could you not think of your family , think of how worried
I'd
be? You're too much!" As ifnot hearing me, he pointed out thè
windów，的 the Kuan-tu Bridge, and made gestures with his
hand. “ At that time 1 was walking into the water, not wanting
to live, but when the water came up to my nose, my limbs
started to move by themselves, 1 couldn't control them. Sö 1
thought I' d swim 切 the mouth ofthe river; and I' d be drowned
when 1 was exhausted....When 1 woke up , 1 was on the bank;
the people there、 saved me and took me home. 1 couldn't
remember my name at all , so they sent me to a retirement
home. Then 1 found out 1 was eight miles on the other side of
Tamshlli. 1 enjoyed living there with many companions.
Actually, in a.few days 1 remembered everything, but 1 liked it
there and didn't want to go back to Taipei. Things won't
change without me there. 1 often sneak out of the home and
take the ferry to Tamshui, or 1 look at beautiful Tamshui from
Pa-li .faraway, especially when it's getting dark; the sky is so
beautiful. The lantern posts in front of the shrine are like the
dragon's eyes, 1 can hear the tolling ofthe bell and the beating
ofthe drù.m in the shrine from the other side ofthe river...."
Speaking thus , he smiled , with tears running dowil
his face. The train had 10ng passed Kuan-tu , passed the
Wang C1an Shrine , Pei-t'ou , Shih-p'ai , and we'd be iil
Taipei Ïn 1eSB than thirty minutes. By then , our tears.
wou1d be dried by the wind, 1 was sure.
.360
361
不
Biographical Note: Chu T'ien-hsin
(Published in 1984)
Translated by Michelle Yeh
叮且也拓海
bFft串E
通，甜苦
4tfT
Chu T'ien-hsin was born on 孔在arch 12, 1958. She graduated
from the History Department of National Taiwan University
and
1日
now the general manager of San-san Bookstore ln
Taipei. Her first short story, "One Day in LiangHsiao-chγs
Life," was published in 1973. To date she has published two
volumes of short stories , a novella, and three volumes of prose
essays (the last one of which is a collaboration with her two
sisters).
UJJ
υυυ
362
Like all .s torie .s wo:i-tny' of re;reading,“ The La .s t Train to
Tamshui" can be under..s tood at .s everallevel.s ofmeaning.s that
are not only interrelated but al .s o mutually enhancing. At the
foreign , tnainly
訂e
Japanese ，的位自.
Foreign tastes and behavior
pitched against consoling images of the native land-the
serene countryside along the Tamshui River with its ancient
legends and customs. The author seems to lament the loss of
mo .st ba .sic level , it i .s a .s tory of .sú .s pen .s e which-except for the
traditional values and the displacement of cultural identity for
very end-a .s.s ume .s the appearance öf a murder plot. Then , it i .s
the young and the middle-aged in a prosperous society.
al .s o a .s tory about friend .s hip between two people who , despite
their age difference and under wholly fortuitous circumstances , develop a deep , genuine affection for each other.
,
from a woi:king .d ass background is familiar with and idolizes
發獸般。"恥
Commentary:
Finally , it is a story that has many reverberations 'of the rapid
changes in the .s ocial and economic life in Taiwan since the
early 1980日. Together, these three angles from whiêh to read
the .s tory create a rewarding experience for the reader.
If the inimediate cause of the old man's .s trange behavior is
the loss of his wife , a .s the .s tory develops it becomes clear that
the continuing and pròbably worsening of his behavior i .s a
subcon.s icous reaction to hi.s increasing alienation from his
son .s and grandchildren. Ooniing from a poor family and
working his way up in the world , the old man' cah neither
under.s tand nor accept the afflÚ: ent and highly Westernized
lifestyle of his sons and daughters-in-law. That ün且 ofhi日 sons'
is emigrating to Oanada and another hires an Engli .s h tutor for
his child going to the kindergarten is indicative of the
epidemic , especially among the upper-class , of itnitating and
worshiping the West. By the same token, the teenage narrator
Whereas there is a rather harsh , albeit implicít, critique of
contemporary Taiwan society, we cannot fail to find an
equally strong confirmation of uníversal human values in the
relationship between the old man and the young narrator. If
initially it was curiosity as well as boredom that led Huang to
befríend the old man, his innate sympathy for the weak and
uncompromi .s ing demand for truth reveal a heartwarming
affectíon for the old man. The bond between people that
ultimately transcends physical , economic, and social
diι
ferences is movingly intimated by the concludíng image of
tears drying on both of their faces when the narrator never
tells (or admits to) us that he was crying too.
h在ichelle
Yeh