Міжзірковий мандрівник

           IwassummonedbeforeYunsan,theBuddhistpriestIhavementioned.Itwashisfirstglimpseofmeandmyfirstofhim.EvenKimhedismissedfromme,andwesataloneondeepmatsinatwilightroom.Lord,Lord,whatamanandamindwasYunsan!Hemadetoprobemysoul.HeknewthingsofotherlandsandplacesthatnooneinCho-Sendreamedtoknow.Didhebelievemyfabledbirth?Icouldnotguess,forhisfacewaslesschangefulthanabowlofbronze.

           WhatYunsan’sthoughtswereonlyYunsanknew.Butinhim,thispoor-clad,lean-belliedpriest,IsensedthepowerbehindpowerinallthepalaceandinallCho-Sen.Isensedalso,throughthedriftofspeech,thathehaduseofme.NowwasthisusesuggestedbytheLadyOm?—anutIgaveHendrikHameltocrack.Ilittleknew,andlessIcared,forIlivedalwaysinthemomentandletothersforecast,forfend,andtravailtheiranxiety.

           Ianswered,too,thesummonsoftheLadyOm,followingasleek-faced,cat-footedeunuchthroughquietpalacebywaystoherapartments.Shelodgedasaprincessofthebloodshouldlodge.She,too,hadapalacetoherself,amonglotuspondswheregrowforestsoftreescenturiesoldbutsodwarfedthattheyreachednohigherthanmymiddle.Bronzebridges,sodelicateandrarethattheylookedasiffashionedbyjewel-smiths,spannedherlilyponds,andabamboogrovescreenedherpalaceapartfromallthepalace.