Love In No Man's Land

by Duo Ji Zhuo Ga

  ‘He wants a divorce? Why?’

  ‘That’s what his older brother said. Shida left the grassland very suddenly. Everyone was saying that you’d been eaten by wolves and Shida was broken-hearted. He didn’t want to stay on the grassland, so he decided to take the college entrance exam and leave.’

  ‘Oh…’ Yangji sighed. ‘When I think back to that time, it’s like it’s a dream.’

  ‘Don’t you want to go back and see Shida?’

  ‘Forget it, Gongzha. Shida and I couldn’t be together back then and we can’t be together now. He’s been to college and is a national cadre. What am I? I’m not even a herder. I’m just the poachers’ cook – how could I be with a national cadre? Luckily, I have a daughter. Dawacuo has a good head on her shoulders and with her as my companion, I’m happy enough.’

  After Yangji left, Gongzha sat on by himself in the cave. Meeting her had been so strange and unexpected – he felt like he was in a dream. He had never imagined that Yangji might be alive still, let alone that they’d meet in a mountain cave in No Man’s Land. What other surprises lay in wait for him? Where would he be tomorrow? These were not really things people could control. Cuomu, if only you were here, we would be happy… Cuomu… Gongzha’s eyes were red.

  *

  Bears were most active at night; it was then that they came out to drink and to hunt for food. Gongzha had found the only spring on the mountain and he knew that for as long as Kaguo stayed on the mountain, she would always need to come there for water. If he waited patiently and did nothing to scare her, he was certain he’d see her one night.

  He lay on a pile of broken rocks near the spring, as still as a leopard preparing to pounce. Two bharals came to drink, followed by some antelopes and some deer, but there was no sign of Kaguo’s silhouette in the moonlight. Gongzha quietly picked up his gun and headed off.

  Age-old enemies could sense one another, Gongzha thought as he made his way back to the cave. Had Kaguo detected his arrival on the mountain? After so many years of being pursued, her sensitivity to danger had got sharper. Could Kaguo pick up his presence on the breeze just like he could smell her musk on the wind?

  As he approached the cave where he’d been hiding, he heard a rustling sound from inside. There was meat in the cave, and any wild animal on the mountain – fox, wolf or even bear – would be able to smell it. He lifted his gun off his shoulder.

  When he reached the cave, there was a figure moving around inside it, and he heard Sega’s voice. ‘Gongzha!’

  ‘Yangji said that you were watching Jijia’s child – how did you get away?’ Gongzha hung up his gun by the mouth of the cave. He saw that Sega was wearing a red robe with otter-skin collar and cuffs. Her hair was freshly washed and sat gleaming on her shoulders. She’d lost some of her swagger and seemed gentler, beautiful.

  ‘Tajiapu is sleeping. I told Dawacuo to watch him and sneaked off. How are you? Did you see Kaguo?’ Sega began to tidy up. She laid the sheepskin blanket she’d brought on the ground and threw the discarded bones out of the cave. ‘Come in, I’ve brought you some good things to eat.’

  ‘What sort of good things?’ Gongzha smiled a little and stooped to come into the cave.

  Sega opened the bamboo basket beside her, took out the food and set it on a rock between them.

  ‘Yak’s tongue, blood sausage and baijiu?’ Gongzha sat down cross-legged and looked with astonishment at the things laid out on the rock.

  ‘They just brought some back – I stole two bottles.’ Sega picked up one of them, bit off the cap, and handed it to Gongzha. ‘Yangji said that you liked baijiu.’

  Gongzha took it and downed a large mouthful. ‘Thank you, Sega.’

  ‘Just for this bottle of baijiu?’ Laughing, Sega grabbed the bottle, took a large swig and handed it back to him.

  ‘Thank you for bringing me here to find Kaguo. And for Yangji. She came yesterday. If it wasn’t for you, I’d still be thinking she was dead.’

  ‘What of it? Yangji’s been alive all along.’ Sega took a piece of tongue and passed it to him, then bit into some herself. ‘As for Kaguo, after all these years, it’s obvious you’re not going to be able to move on until you’ve had your revenge.’

  Gongzha didn’t say anything, just took another slug of baijiu. It was a long time since he’d last had any alcohol – out there in the wilderness, he had no way of getting any.

  Sega shrugged off one sleeve of her chuba and tied it round her waist, revealing the white dress she was wearing underneath. ‘Drink up,’ she said, smiling. ‘There’s another bottle, to make sure you get enough to drink tonight.’

  ‘From your accent, I think you’re not from here, are you, Sega?’

  ‘I’m from Ngawa. I joined the poachers’ posse after my mother and father died. Brother Jijia and his men found me on a road somewhere. I’d fainted and luckily they came across me while they were out hunting and rescued me.’

  Gongzha nodded. ‘Don’t you want to go back to Ngawa?’

  ‘What would be the point? I don’t have family there. Besides, no one cares whether women like me live or die.’ She passed Gongzha a piece of sausage.

  ‘Don’t say that, Sega.’ He lifted the bottle and took another mouthful. ‘You need to live well. A beautiful woman like you should find a man to spend your days with. Staying with the poachers is not a long-term plan.’

  ‘I agree. I want to find myself a man,’ Sega said pointedly.

  Gongzha gulped down the rest of the baijiu, put the empty bottle to the side and wiped the corner of his mouth, not yet satisfied.

  Sega passed him the second bottle with a smile.

  Gongzha smiled his thanks. The atmosphere in the cave grew strained; neither of them knew what else to talk about. Gongzha knocked back the baijiu in swift gulps. Sega kept passing him meat, taking the occasional sip herself.

  By the time all the baijiu had been drunk and all the meat eaten, the moon’s rays were slanting into the cave. That night, the moonlight seemed a little different, the wind a little softer.

  Sega pushed away the rock they’d been eating off, looked at Gongzha leaning against the wall in a drunken haze, and blurted out, ‘Gongzha, be my man – don’t go looking for Kaguo.’

  ‘What?’ Gongzha opened his eyes and stared at her in surprise.

  ‘Be my man,’ Sega repeated clearly. ‘Let’s set up a tent together: you can hunt and I’ll herd.’

  Gongzha sat up. ‘I have a woman, Sega.’ He swayed a little, but he spoke with conviction.

  Sega looked at him straight. ‘What grasslander commits themselves to just one woman? And anyway, Cuomu isn’t here any more, she’s gone to Shambhala; let me take care of you in her place,’ she said passionately.

  ‘No, no, no…’ Gongzha swayed again. His head had begun to hurt. ‘You’re a good woman, Sega. Find a man who loves you. I already have Cuomu. I will never forget her, no matter where she is – in Shambhala or on the grassland, she will always be in my heart.’

  Sega looked at him and flushed. How could he be so stupid? The woman was dead and yet he continued to yearn for her. Could he really sacrifice his whole life for a dead woman? She knelt down in front of him, patted his chest, looked into his reddened eyes and said, ‘Gongzha, Cuomu isn’t here any more. You need to start living again. You need to find another woman and set up a tent. Cuomu is in the past. You still have tomorrow, and a long life thereafter.’

  ‘Don’t you understand, when Cuomu died, so did my future.’ Gongzha shook his head and stumbled back against the wall, his face dark. ‘When she left, she took my heart with her. When you’ve lost your heart, what else is there to do but wander?’

  Sega shook her head in defeat. She wanted to scream, wanted to scratch him and kick him. But she didn’t. She just turned and scrambled out of the cave.

  The moonlight was stark and lonely, just like her heart.

  Abruptly she turned round and went back inside, but Gongzha had already fallen asleep, slumped against t
he cave wall. He repeatedly called, ‘Cuomu! Cuomu!’ and his face was wet with tears.

  *

  A familiar shape flitted past the mouth of the cave. Gongzha woke suddenly, as if he’d sensed it in his dream.

  Kaguo!

  Without thinking, and in a single swift move, he snatched his gun off the wall, crouched down and fired at the lumbering figure.

  The ping of the gunshot lingered for a long time in the quiet night.

  The tents at the foot of the mountain erupted in sudden commotion: torches and butter lamps began to light up, and then came a chorus of human shouts and neighing horses.

  People began to race up the mountain.

  ‘You…’ Sega darted over. When she saw that Gongzha was hunched down and about to pursue Kaguo with his gun, she ran over to stop him. ‘Don’t follow Kaguo. You need to find somewhere to hide – and quick! I’ll work out the rest.’

  Gongzha glanced down at the troop of dancing torch beams and very unwillingly retreated into the cave.

  Sega berated him a bit more, then went down another way.

  22

  Everyone heard the gunshot, but no one knew where it had come from.

  Jijia grabbed his gun and scanned the surrounding snow mountains. He gestured at the man beside him and barked, ‘You! Stay here with three others, organise the women and make sure we’re ready to decamp at a moment’s notice. Everyone else, split into three groups and search the mountains, one group on each side of the encampment. I want you to be so thorough, even a rabbit couldn’t get through.’

  ‘Yes, boss!’ The men raced off.

  Sega came in all dishevelled, looking as if she’d been frightened awake, and holding Tajiapu sound asleep in her arms. When she saw the group leaders preparing to take their men up into the mountains, a worried expression came over her face; she turned and took the child away.

  Yangji was already in Sega’s tent, pacing back and forth, wrapped in a shawl. As soon as Sega returned, Yangji quickly took Tajiapu, laid him on a cushion and covered him with a blanket.

  Sega gripped her hand in desperation. ‘What do we do now, Auntie? What will we do if they find Gongzha?’

  Yangji patted her hand and said quietly, ‘Let’s see how things play out. There’s no point getting upset.’

  But Sega was in tears. ‘The mountain is only so big – they’ll find that cave very soon. He’s just one man, how will he fend off so many?’

  ‘Don’t worry yourself. Have a seat.’ Yangji was actually frightened to death herself, but she still comforted Sega. ‘Dawacuo, make your auntie some tea.’

  Dawacuo poured a glass of tea for Sega and then went to look out of the door.

  Sega held her glass and stared at Yangji, tears streaming down her face. Even the most heroic woman would lose control seeing the man she loved in such danger. To care was to be distraught. ‘Auntie, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t brought him here, he wouldn’t be in this mess.’

  ‘How is it your fault? Gongzha is desperate to find Kaguo. He would follow her no matter where she went. Don’t cry; it won’t do you any good to cry. Dawacuo, go and see what’s happening outside.’

  Dawacuo went out and came back shortly after. ‘They’re still looking. Uncle Jijia sent lots of men to guard the road out and others are searching around the lake.’

  Sega looked at Yangji and burst into tears again.

  Just before dawn, the sound of gunfire came from the mountain. Sega and Yangji immediately rushed out of the tent.

  Jijia, who was halfway up the mountain on the left, laughed coldly and shouted into the darkness. ‘Gongzha, come out! Why are you hiding in the rocks like a sparrow instead of soaring through the sky like an eagle?’

  Gongzha replied calmly from somewhere on the mountain. ‘I’m a hunter, Jijia. Hunters have to be patient.’

  ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You really have some nerve, stealing into my lair like this. It seems you and I have some kind of shared destiny. Why don’t you come out and show us your face? Let my comrades see the great hunter, the man so hated by the wolves.’ He fired a shot up the slope. The bullet hit a rock and sparks flew in all directions.

  ‘I’m here to look for Kaguo, Jijia. The Buddha knows what you’ve done and there are people on the grassland who will deal with you.’

  ‘Are you afraid? You dare to come into my lair, but you don’t dare show yourself? What kind of grassland eagle are you? Comrades, he looks down on us; he thinks we’re poachers. Why don’t we go up and invite this brave hero down?’ Jijia laughed darkly and waved his hand towards the peak.

  The men crouched down again and resumed their search up the mountain.

  A shot rang out. Someone called back, ‘Over here, Brother, he’s over here!’ As soon as the man finished shouting, another shot rang out and the same man fell to the ground. ‘Argh, my leg. You bastard! He’s shot me in the leg – come and get me!’

  Everyone rushed to where he’d fallen.

  Yangji and Sega stood at the foot of the mountain, staring up anxiously. They could just make out a lone figure flitting around close to the peak, with others in pursuit.

  Every so often an injured man was helped down the mountain. ‘He’s a really good shot, that man – definitely a match for the boss,’ Qiangba said as he handed over one of his wounded comrades to the waiting women. ‘No one but Gongzha would dare come into No Man’s Land with just a gun and his horse, that’s what the boss said. He’s tough, for sure – he answered as soon as the boss called out to him.’

  ‘What will Brother do?’

  ‘What can he do? Our orders are that no matter what happens, Gongzha can’t be left alive, otherwise our base will be in danger.’

  ‘I don’t think Gongzha is the kind of coward who’d squeal on us to the government.’ Sega glanced at Qiangba and flashed him a smile.

  ‘We don’t know whether he would or not, Sega, but we can’t risk it. As the boss says, it’s better to be wrong ten thousand times than to have just one regret.’ And with that, Qiangba headed back up the mountain.

  As it slowly started to get light, the sun daubed the horizon red. Men began coming down the mountain one after the other, wanting meat, baijiu or water.

  Jijia came down at about noon. He propped his reddened eyes open, looked in on Tajiapu, rubbed his forehead as if his heart hurt, then went back to his tent. He changed into light clothes, put on his black leather hat and took out an automatic pistol.

  ‘Brother, Brother…’ Sega burst out.

  Jijia looked at her worried face and smiled. ‘Take good care of the child, Sega, and don’t worry, Brother will be fine.’

  ‘Brother… you’re… really going to kill him?’

  ‘We’ve lived here for many years now – we don’t want to have to move just because of Gongzha. Besides, he’s your brother’s enemy.’

  ‘I… I’m afraid…’

  Jijia patted her shoulder comfortingly, thinking she was worried for him. ‘Your brother is here, Sega. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Don’t worry, he’s just one man.’

  ‘No, Bro… Brother, I… I’m afraid Auntie Yongxi… she… she… she won’t forgive you!’ As soon as the words were out, Sega regretted them. Everyone knew Jijia hated Gongzha because of Yongxi, and bringing Yongxi into this was like throwing oil onto the fire.

  Jijia’s face darkened, his eyes flashed and he turned and strode off towards the mountain.

  Through the following hours they heard occasional shouts from the mountain and occasional gunshots. In the afternoon, Qiangba came down with ten or more sheep-gut water bags to refill. ‘The boss got him.’

  Sega was in the middle of ladling out the water. When she heard the news, she dropped the bag into the water and stared at him.

  ‘What’s up, Sega?’

  ‘You… Who did you say was hurt?’ Sega looked fixedly at him and spat out every word.

  ‘Don’t worry, your brother’s fine.’ Yangji came over and gave Sega’s clothes
a tug. Then she turned to Qiangba. ‘Look at her, she’s been worried about her brother since last night – she barely slept. Sega, hurry up and get Qiangba the water; they’re waiting for it up on the mountain.’

  ‘You scared me, Sega. From the expression on your face, I was starting to think you were Gongzha’s woman.’ Qiangba laughed. He took one of the water bags and hung it from his belt. ‘I meant that Gongzha got hit by the boss. There’s no one like the boss, is there! I’ve never seen a shot like him. Although our friend Gongzha is pretty good – he’d have made a useful addition to our posse. Shame!’

  As soon as Qiangba left the tent, Sega collapsed onto the ground. Yangji quickly helped her over to a cushion, then poured a cup of tea and passed it to her. Sega drained it, thumped down the cup, stood up resolutely and snatched up her gun ready to head out.

  Yangji held her back. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I’m going to rescue him.’

  ‘You’re going to rescue him? Aren’t you just following him to his death?’

  ‘I don’t really care.’ Sega looked at Yangji. ‘I can’t watch him be killed, Auntie. He’s my man. If he dies, I want to die with him.’ There was a new determination in her voice.

  ‘Who says he’s going to die?’ Yangji took Sega’s gun and forced her back onto the cushion. ‘Sit down, we need to give this some more thought. There has to be something else we can do.’

  Sega sat. Her heart felt as if it had been clawed by a cat. She grabbed hold of the cup beside her and hurled it across the floor in frustration.

  Yangji paid no attention to Sega. Instead, she gazed at the flames leaping in the stove and the meat turning as it cooked. Dawacuo kept working the bellows, and the yak pats burnt fiercely. Tajiapu lay in her arms, chuckling as he watched the little fox. The flames from the stove lit up his face and his cheeks glowed red.

  ‘I have a plan, Sega.’ Yangji glanced at the two children and her voice trembled a little.

  Sega darted over to her. ‘Auntie…’

  Yangji put her mouth to Sega’s ear and quietly explained her plan. Sega nodded repeatedly, and a little smile finally appeared at the corners of her mouth.