by Chu, Wesley
A group of guards rushed past as she weaved her way through the crowds. Several sharp shouts cut through the air as they pushed their way through the crowds toward a plume of smoke on the eastern side of the settlement. Elena didn’t mind the commotion. Whatever it was had to be bad. In any case, any problem within the Beacon’s walls was under the guards’ jurisdiction. Short of the jiāngshī breaking through the walls, this was none of her business.
Humming, she hopped over a trickle of mud slurping down the slope serving as drainage and weaved through the maze of tents, makeshift shacks, and shipping containers. She frowned when she reached the block of love suites. The door to the suite on the note was open. Elena double-checked the note and peeked inside. No Zhu, but the bed appeared used.
Well, she had no qualms about hanging out on the bed until he returned. The infirmary cots were little more than linen wrapped over a plywood plank. Elena kicked off her shoes and, mindful of her injured shoulder, eased herself down. She stretched, swinging her arms and legs out as if she were making a snow angel. As she inched up, her foot pressed down on something hard under the blanket.
Curious, she pawed under the sheets and produced a red point-and-shoot camera. It was Zhu’s, and he must have snapped new photos. She had seen his entire library dozens of times before. The one on the screen was of him standing on a small ledge in front of several levels of terraced rice fields. His arms were splayed out and he was grinning from ear to ear. Elena couldn’t remember seeing him this happy in months, possibly since before the outbreak. This was definitely a recent picture. When—and where, for that matter—had he taken this?
Elena slid her finger to the next photo. Zhu was sitting on a log next to a bonfire slurping soup. She frowned. Where had he gotten that? The following picture was Zhu surrounded by a group of kids. It looked like he was teaching them how to pin down a jiāngshī. There were several more of the same. Zhu in a pen wrangling an ox. Zhu skipping rocks along a pond. It was idyllic, almost, and a complete mystery.
Elena scrolled to the next photo, and nearly dropped the camera. It was Zhu with a strange woman. Their face was close together—cheeks touching—and they had their tongues out in a stupid way. The next was them both trying to look seductive, looking up toward the corner. The two throwing up peace signs. Making funny faces. The images went on and on, each one slicing another wound in her heart. She checked the timestamp of all the photos. They were all taken when he disappeared in Fongyuan. All this time she thought he was hurt or kidnapped, but he had just been with another woman.
“That cheating asshole liar!” Hot rage sparked in Elena’s soul. It seethed and burned, consuming her memories. All that time she had fretted about his well-being, terrified that he was hurt, dead, a jiāngshī. The lengths she had gone to in order to find him. The emotional space she had given him. The truth hurt so much worse.
Elena’s hands curled into fists. She squeezed back the tears welling in her eyes. At the very worst, she had always tried her best not to blame him for her being trapped here, but it had always stuck with her like a splinter embedded beneath the skin. If it hadn’t been for Wenzhu, Elena could very well have been spending her days with her parents and Robbie, sleeping in her own bed. Even if things were as bad over there as they were here, at least she would be with family. She had thrown it all away. For him. Elena’s chest heaved and she bit down on her lip as a pained cry—half heartbreak, half rage—escaped her chest.
“When I find him, I’m going to kill him. And when he comes back as a jiāngshī, I’m going to let him live forever as a stupid walking corpse!” She clenched the camera and, without thinking, hurled it as hard as she could. It smacked the container wall with a loud echo like a gong. It fell to the floor faceup, the back screen webbed with cracks. Roaring, she stomped over and was about to smash it under her heel when she noticed several figures standing at the entrance. She froze.
There were six guards blocking her only way out. All with weapons drawn and ready to use. In any other moment, Elena would have been worried and more than a little frightened. Now she just wasn’t in the mood. “What do you want?”
The guards looked taken back, and uncomfortable. One of them finally spoke. “Windrunner Wenzhu had reserved this suite. Where is he?”
“Hell if I know. What do you want with him?”
“We have orders to bring him in. There are things he needs to clear up.”
“Get in line,” she growled.
Another guard muttered something to the one speaking. He nodded and added. “We are to bring you in as well if we do not find him.”
These guys weren’t messing around. The only reason security would deploy six guards was to arrest Zhu. What had he done? Other than cheat on her? Only one way to find out, not that she had much of a choice.
Elena picked up his smashed camera and stuffed it into her back pocket. “I suppose you’re going to arrest me too?”
“Not unless you want us to,” the speaking guard shrugged. “We’ll need your weapons.”
“Why, if I’m not getting arrested?”
“Nobody meets with the secretary armed.”
Now a tinge of worry touched her. This was serious. She slowly drew the knife at her thigh and the one at her ankle, and tossed them both to the floor in front of the guards. The group parted ways down the middle.
“I want all my weapons back after this meeting,” she hissed as she passed by.
“Of course, windrunner.” One made a move as if to grab her elbow.
“Touch me and you’ll lose all your fingers.”
The guy’s hand stopped, and he ended up stuffing it into his pocket.
The parade through the settlement was a little embarrassing. Elena felt like a criminal on death row as they passed people going about their business and children playing and training. Every set of eyes fell on her as the six guards at her flanks barked for them to make room to let them pass. She wished they would shut up. The entire settlement would probably know about this within the hour. Rumors were bound to follow.
The scrutiny followed them all the way into the administration building. The hallways were cluttered. This was the first time she had come in here, and she was amazed by how normal things looked in the building, as if there were no apocalypse and society hadn’t fallen apart just outside these walls. The guards escorted her to a door and ordered her to wait just outside. She could hear loud but muffled voices on the other side. Just like outside in the market, everyone threw sideway glances as they passed.
Thanks again, Zhu. Asshole. Piece of sh—
The door next to her swung open and a blast of cool air blew into her face. Elena’s eyes widened, and the hairs on her arm prickled. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt air conditioning. The yearning for home almost brought a tear to her eye, however illogical that was. It just made her all the more terribly homesick, especially now that she realized that the only thing that meant anything to her here was a lie.
She was surprised to see Bo walk out of the room. His face was sheet white and there were stains under his armpits. What did they do to him in there? He looked shocked to see her and mouthed something silently. Elena couldn’t make it out. Her Mandarin competency did not extend to lip reading. She watched as he was escorted down the hallway and out of sight.
Windmaster Hengyen appeared at the door a moment later. He looked grim-faced as he beckoned for her to follow him inside. Secretary Guo and Wangfa were there as well. The defensemaster looked as serious as the windmaster. What was all this about?
The secretary shot her a bright smile and gestured at the chair. “Come in, Elena Anderson. Please, don’t be scared. Sit, sit.”
What did she have to be scared about? She hadn’t done anything wrong. But Elena was now terrified, and Guo’s words only made it worse. She did as ordered and sat with deference to the leaders of the Beacon of Light. “How can I serve the Living Revolution?”
“Where is Chen Wenzhu, and when are you two
planning on leaving?” asked Guo.
Elena was startled. “Leaving for where? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You expect us to believe that?” Wangfa demanded. “That he would not take his woman with him when he deserted?”
A scowl inadvertently betrayed her face. “I’m nobody’s woman. I’m looking for him myself.”
Hengyen looked thoughtful. “You don’t know about his plans to flee the Beacon?”
She shook her head. “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Wangfa looked ready to hang her up to dry. Hengyen and Guo exchanged glances before the windmaster finally spoke. “Earlier today, Windrunner Wenzhu went to the quotamaster and spent all his points on survival gear and rations for either a long journey or a large number of people.”
Elena’s mouth fell open. “What?”
Hengyen continued. “Usually when someone at the settlement does this, they are planning on leaving the Beacon or ending their life. Based on the items he procured, it’s the former. People who no longer wish to be of this world do not purchase necessities to survive in the wilderness.”
“There is little we can do to stop a man from being a coward,” added Guo, “but desertion cannot be tolerated.”
Elena’s anger deepened. Everything made so much sense. “That asshole. He was planning on abandoning me.”
Wangfa’s eyes narrowed. He jabbed a finger into her face. “You expect us to believe that? I think you’re covering for him. Tell us the truth, or you’ll serve penance until your last day on this earth.”
Now Elena was relieved that she didn’t destroy the evidence. She pulled out Zhu’s cracked camera and showed them the photos. Her voice cracked. “I found these today. Just now, actually. She sat there red-faced, humiliated as the three men looked over her evidence. The secretary and the defensemaster were carefully poring over every picture, including the ones that had nothing to do with Zhu’s infidelity. The windmaster only looked at her thoughtfully.
“Well,” said Guo finally after what felt like forever. “We have suspicious activity, and now we have a motive. Defensemaster Wangfa, have your men pick up Wenzhu and bring him here for questioning.”
Wangfa nodded. “I’ll send out a general alert across the loudspeakers.”
Hengyen held up a hand. “Secretary, this evidence, while strong, is circumstantial. Zhu has been a loyal patriot to the Living Revolution. Shouldn’t we give him the benefit of the doubt? He hasn’t been found guilty of anything yet. What if this was just a series of unfortunate coincidences? There is no turning back if you publicly announce his arrest over the loudspeakers.”
Guo considered the windmaster’s request. “Very well. Bring Wenzhu in discreetly, Wangfa. Call it over the loudspeakers only if he resists or if you cannot locate his whereabouts. The windrunner will have plenty of opportunities to prove his innocence.”
Wangfa saluted and left the room. Elena got up to leave as well, but the secretary motioned for her to stay put. She crossed her arms and waited. The minutes stretched on. She became restless, and caught herself staring at the sliced oranges on the secretary’s desk. It had been a long time since she had eaten an orange. Elena must have been projecting her desires, but at some point, Guo slid the plate toward her. She thankfully helped herself to a few slices.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the loudspeaker came on announcing Zhu’s arrest, declaring him a potential enemy of the state and the Living Revolution. All three in the room looked up. Elena’s heart began to beat quicker. What was happening?
“It appears our windrunner is guilty,” declared Guo.
“Or maybe Wangfa just couldn’t find him.”
Wangfa returned shortly after the announcement. He looked irritated but also a little smug. “We’re too late, Secretary. By the time we located him, Wenzhu was already on the cable transport passing over the Charred Fields.”
Hengyen frowned. “How did he escape? Why didn’t the guards just pull the transport back?”
“He had an accomplice.”
“Who would dare?” Guo demanded. “Bring the traitor to me immediately.”
Wangfa shot Hengyen almost a knowing side-eye. “You have some housekeeping to do, Windmaster.” He signaled toward the door.
Elena gasped and shot to her feet when two guards walked inside. Standing between them was Bo. His wrists were bound, and his shirt was torn and stained red. His body was a mess of red and purple, and his face was so puffy his eyes had been reduced to thin slits. A deep cut ran along the side of one cheek down his face until it split both his lips. He looked dazed on his feet.
She tried to move to her friend. “What have you done?”
Hengyen grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “Stay here if you know what’s good for you.”
“Don’t tell them anything,” said Bo, his words coming out mushy. Blood trickled down the side of his mouth.
Wangfa walked up to the big man and punched him across the jaw. Bo’s knees buckled and he crumpled to the floor.
Secretary Guo walked over to her fallen friend, towering over him. He nudged Bo’s body with a toe, and then he glanced over at Elena, once again shooting her that wide politician smile. “What else do you have to tell us, Elena Anderson?”
19 PREPARATIONS
Hengyen walked along the uneven terrain on the southwestern edge of the Charred Fields making final preparations. The fighting would be thickest at the southern walls of the Beacon of Light. He stood on top of a mound of soft dirt that was designed to melt into a mudslide and peered through a pair of binoculars at the main stretch of land in the Charred Fields. Satisfied, he made several markings on a map to update the latest fortifications.
The newest additions were two wooden angled walls slanted inward along both sides of the main road at the far end of the field. The engineers had worked night and day to design these to withstand as much direct force as possible, using the terrain, an intricate support structure, and outward-leaning leverage to impede the oncoming rush. The way the jagged points alternated, the jiāngshī would not only get impaled trying to pass, their bodies would help block the ones coming behind them. When the jiāngshī did eventually knock over the wall, the entire thing was rigged to collapse on top of them. The fields were now cluttered with fortifications, from sharpened wooden stakes to flammable tar pits to piles of dirt that when doused with water would cause avalanches of mud to further impede the dead.
Hengyen was proud of his windrunners. They had achieved what he had thought was impossible. This was the culmination of thousands of man-hours using innumerable resources. Not only had they managed to round up nearly a thousand vultures to aid in the Beacon’s defense, the Beacon was stocked with enough food and supplies to keep the expanded population fed and clothed for two months.
It was a good thing they wouldn’t have to wait that long. The secretary had confirmed that reinforcements were on their way. However, they were moving behind the typhoon, and rather than shatter their ranks needlessly against so many dead, the army was content to follow at a safe distance until the typhoon passed the Beacon. From the perspective of a military tactician, Hengyen saw the logic in this plan. However, it certainly didn’t help the residents of the Beacon with the immediate threat. He just hoped there were still people left alive by the time the army arrived. By his estimation, at the rate the typhoon was traveling, the Beacon would have to weather this storm for about three weeks. That was a long time to hold.
Hengyen continued across the field to the settlement walls, calling out words of encouragement to the workers laboring in the humid conditions. Along the way, he passed a line of former vultures digging a trench. The vultures were divided into groups of four, with plastic binds linked around their waists. Hengyen looked past their sullen faces. He didn’t mind that they hated him, just like he didn’t hold their selfishness in looking out for themselves instead of helping their country fight the outbreak against them. Winning them over was option
al and could certainly wait. What was important was that they were helping now.
He returned to the shipping-container wall and quickly scaled the ladder onto the parapet, which unfortunately was only one container-level high. Hengyen surveyed the field, checking the map’s accuracy to make sure everything was up-to-date. There were now six wooden walls, a maze of deep trenches and hundreds of spikes staked into the ground. Any jiāngshī that wandered onto the fields would be subjected to a veritable meat grinder. There was no way the Beacon could actually combat the full brunt of the jiāngshī, but they didn’t need to. The plan was to inflict so much destruction that jiāngshī bodies formed a natural barrier until the danger passed.
That was assuming their defenses didn’t crack, which was anything but guaranteed. The settlement could at best leverage two-thirds of the population for its defenses. That was every man, woman, and child over twelve fighting around the clock.
If he were a betting man, Hengyen would not put money down on their survival.
The windmaster peered through the binoculars toward the horizon. Today would be the settlement’s very first test. The vanguard of the typhoon had arrived, approaching in staggered waves about a week ahead of the main body. It was a manageable trickle, but their numbers would only grow. The key would be to hold their lines as the dead relentlessly broke against their defenses.
He signaled to the flag bearer standing close by, who began waving a long green flag known as the dragon’s tail. The laborers still in the field began to pull back. They were soon followed by teams of windrunners who pulled away from the outer perimeter. Next was a long red flag, the dragon’s tongue, which sent three hundred armed men, women, and children as the first shift to meet this vanguard.
Two people joined Hengyen on the parapet a moment later. He didn’t bother turning around. By the scent of soap and sweat, Hengyen knew it was the secretary and Wangfa, respectively.
Hengyen handed the binoculars to the secretary.
“Only three hundred?” asked Guo.
