Page 94 (1/2)
“Nature must be allowed to take its course”
“Why? So people can die? You seeet the thousands of years of floods and deaths”
“You look like a modern woman, Hulan, but you’re so old-fashioned Confucian ethics won’t work on the river”
With that, the Taoist elements of the All-Patriotic Society’s beliefs that had eluded her began to make sense He’d used them with the people as shorthand to decry the benefits of technology
“Froed about hydraulic engineering,” Michael said, veering back into the stylized language of Xiao Da “Do we confine nature or let it run free? Do we let raage pollute the reservoir or let it flow to the sea? Do we build high dams that barricade nature or deepen channels? Do we let the silt gather behind those high walls or do we let it fertilize the fields downstream? It is the classic battle between the h walls are masculine, while the excavation of deep concavities is feminine—”
“You are so full of shit!”
“Kun failed to prevent floods because he tried to repress nature His son guided the waters to the seas”
“Confucian and Taoist practices have no place in a Communist state”
“The state can resist, but the old beliefs run through the body of China like dragon veins—hidden, so those who live on the surface”
“Stop talking to me like I’m one of your followers!”
“All right then Let ood Communist, but can you tell me you haven’t lived your life heht? Filial duty—”
Officer Su stepped back through the opening “They are ready, Xiao Da”
Michael kept his eyes on Hulan as he raised his voice so that it would resonate through the cave systee Do notin pleasure Subdue the wild tribes in your heart Rerade, remember your tribute” He paused to lower his voice for a final blessing “Be reverent,” he said, and below the tithing began
David put his left hand on the wall to serve as a guide as he maneuvered down the tunnel, but he pulled it away after just a few yards His hand was covered in so, he wiped it on his pants leg and continued on He rounded a corner and entered a srazed over the jade chirove’s auction and some pots still whole, but noas not the time to stop
The tunnel began to lead down, breaking off here and there in new directions Leaning his head into one shaft, he heard water rushing below Focusing on another s silence He listened at every shaft, tunnel, alcove, and indentation, trying to ho Even when it stopped, he could still hear voices Hulan was down there soh he couldn’t make out the words, he could catch her inflections and cadences floating to hih the darkness A turitty determination pushed him forward