Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Waterwasgiventhemthattheymightlivelongertoyearnforthefood,steaminghotandsavouryandchangedhourly,thatwasplacetemptinglybeforethem.TheysayoldJohannesMaartenslivedlongest,notgivinguptheghostforafullfifteendays.

           Kimwasslowlycrushedtodeath,bonebyboneandjointbyjoint,bythetorturers,andwasalongtimeindying.Hamel,whomChongMong-judivinedasmybrains,wasexecutedbythepaddle—inshort,waspromptlyandexpeditiouslybeatentodeathtothedelightedshoutsoftheKeijopopulace.Yunsanwasgivenabravedeath.Hewasplayingagameofchesswiththejailer,whentheEmperor’s,or,rather,ChongMong-ju’s,messengerarrivedwiththepoison-cup.“Waitamoment,”saidYunsan.“Youshouldbebetter-manneredthantodisturbamaninthemidstofagameofchess.Ishalldrinkdirectlythegameisover.”AndwhilethemessengerwaitedYunsanfinishedthegame,winningit,thendrainedthecup.

           IttakesanAsiatictotemperhisspleentosteady,persistent,life-longrevenge.ThisChongMong-judidwiththeLadyOmandme.Hedidnotdestroyus.Wewerenotevenimprisoned.TheLadyOmwasdegradedofallrankanddivestedofallpossessions.AnimperialdecreewaspromulgatedandpostedinthelastleastvillageofCho-SentotheeffectthatIwasofthehouseofKoryuandthatnomanmightkillme.Itwasfurtherdeclaredthattheeightsea-cunieswhosurvivedmustnotbekilled.Neitherweretheytobefavoured.