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Chapter 15
Theyweretobeoutcasts,beggarsonthehighways.AndthatiswhattheLadyOmandIbecame,beggarsonthehighways.
Fortylongyearsofpersecutionfollowed,forChongMong-ju’shatredoftheLadyOmandmewasdeathless.Worseluck,hewasfavouredwithlonglifeaswellaswerewecursedwithit.IhavesaidtheLadyOmwasawonderofawoman.Beyondendlesslyrepeatingthatstatement,wordsfailme,withwhichtogiveherjustappreciation.SomewhereIhaveheardthatagreatladyoncesaidtoherlover:“Atentandacrustofbreadwithyou.”IneffectthatiswhattheLadyOmsaidtome.Morethantosayit,shelivedthelastletterofit,whenmoreoftenthannotcrustswerenotplentifulandtheskyitselfwasourtent.
EveryeffortImadetoescapebeggarywasintheendfrustratedbyChongMong-ju.InSongdoIbecameafuel-carrier,andtheLadyOmandIsharedahutthatwasvastlymorecomfortablethantheopenroadinbitterwinterweather.ButChongMong-jufoundmeout,andIwasbeatenandplankedandputoutupontheroad.Thatwasaterriblewinter,thewinterpoor“What-Now”VandervootfrozetodeathonthestreetsofKeijo.
InPyeng-yangIbecameawater-carrier,forknowthatthatoldcity,whosewallswereancienteveninthetimeofDavid,wasconsideredbythepeopletobeacanoe,andthat,therefore,tosinkawellinsidethewallswouldbetoscupperthecity.
