Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | страница 152

“Wait here,” he said, as he pushed open the doors. Bright jazz music and the clinking sounds of glasses slipped out
onto the street. I peered in and saw some white Russians, doubling over with laughter, pointing at Du. He stood
up, glaring, and walked back out, his head held high.
“Don,” he said, approaching me, “I want you to take those mangy, filthy brats to their homes tonight. I have a
plan.”
When the White Russians strolled out, I walked up to them, my rickshaw behind me. They daintily stepped in.
As I pulled them home, many eyes followed the queer sight: a plain, old rickshaw driver, pulling two beautifully
dressed former aristocrats.
Suddenly, there was a yell, and men began to run at us from all directions, out from bushes and dropping from
trees. They stalked us, creating a ring around us. There was nowhere to run. We were cornered. I dropped the
rickshaw and the Russians tumbled to the ground. But in my heart, something stirred – was it pity, again? The
men rushed forward.
“Stop!” A voice rang through the commotion.
Shopkeepers walked out of their shops. Waiters walked out of restaurants. All of them stared at the commotion. I
stood there, defiant.
“Will you show no mercy, will you stand there and watch your fellow human beings beaten by merciless cruel
men?” I cried to everyone around me.
Members of the Green Gang dropped their clubs. Their gazes were filled with understanding, and some walked
away. Tears of relief and remorse formed in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.
Why had I ever joined the Green Gang? You did it for him , the soft tender voice replied inside my head, to care
for a young boy . But then, the angry voice inside me said: the Green Gang poisoned the soul of an innocent
youth .
At that moment, however, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned.
“Thank you,” his voice was trembling. “You’re right after all. I, Du Yuesheng, will devote the rest of my life to
bringing peace to Shanghai.”
And that is when I woke from my dream, the tears still rolling down my face.