Eyes Wide Open
(Original story by BoSt.)
Many cultures throughout history have held similar beliefs that eyes, particularly the pupils, are “windows to the soul”. Here’s an original, fictional story that incorporates this particular insight.
Eyes Wide Open Part 1
His uncle
Gang had an only son Tuan Min who happened to be six months older than
Yong. Min had two elder half-sisters but,
being the only male offspring, was terribly fawned upon and spoiled from birth.
A special
tutor was engaged to educate both children but with a particular onus to give
the most attention and care to Min. Yong was pretty much left to his own devices
to learn whatever he can. However Yong had the propensity to develop into a fine,
intelligent, young man with high moral fiber. Gifted with many exceptional abilities,
generous to a fault in nature, as well as, possessing a rather statuesque,
handsome physique, Yong had, in every imaginable way, far surpassed Min. To the further consternation of his uncle
Gang, Yong also possessed added brilliance and aptitude with the literary and
the fine arts. By simply tapping into his vast reserves of imagination on top
of his natural keen insight into nature, Yong would produce with the least
effort dazzling masterpieces in a flash. He was therefore popular and held increasingly
so in high regard by all his peers.
In contrast,
Min, despite his efforts and many inherited advantages, could never measure up,
always falling short in any social or academic endeavor. What’s more, as upstanding
as Yong was in character and ability, Min was the opposite. But instead of acknowledging
his inferiority, Min remained falsely confident, vain and cruel.
Wishing to
advance his only his son Min, Gang chose to be perpetually blinded to all his
shortcomings. He refused to acknowledge the blatant facts when Min took full
credit for Yong’s exemplary deeds and academic accolades. Most often Yong was
also unfairly blamed and punished for many of Min’s loathsome acts. Moreover
poor Yong would be severely reprimanded at each instance for his supposed failing
to protect and deter Min from his nasty endeavors and his increasingly coarse, scandalous
ways.
As they grew
up, to the added consternation of Gang, his son Min had become progressively wicked
and licentious, warranting more additional funds and force to suppress the resulting
damage. To make matters worse Min had become a compulsive gambler and a
womanizer. His idle ways led him to spend most of his time in unsavory places
doing many abhorrent things. All of which of course was covered up with a certain
pressure and occasional bribery; even though this greatly sapped Gang’s coffers.
Then came a
day when Min committed an unpardonable crime; one that could not be so easily
swept under the rug for any amount of finagling, threat or money. The situation
was dire and something extreme needed to resolve it.
In a private conference Uncle Tuan Gang spoke
his mind after laying the blame squarely on Yong’s shoulders. “You should have
been more insistent in your reasoning with Min and strove harder, been more
persistent in order to prevent this catastrophic event. As it is, the authorities will be wizened to
it by morning and will be coming to make an arrest!”
Finally,
after all that ranting and raving, with his fury spent, Gang sat down and in a hissing
voice added, “There might be, however, one last recourse left. That is, if you, Tuan Yong are willing to face
this probable peril. “Looking down he mumbled, “And considering all that I’ve
done for you, you owe me, at least this one favor!”
Yong ‘s life
by any means had not been an easy one, still he felt he owed his Uncle a debt
of gratitude for his upbringing, education and shelter for all these years. He therefore had little choice but to accede
to this unfair demand and shoulder the full blame for Min’s crime.
“I’m not an
entirely unreasonable man however, “His uncle hemmed and hawed. “That is why I’ve facilitated your escape. The
authorities will look the other way till morning. This letter will give you the
proper introductions to my friend Fan Wei who owes me a favor. He lives in the Sekor district in Dara
province. The journey will be hard on you I dare say, as it crosses much
hostile territory and is close to the border, a far, far place from here. He
will take you in all right; he owes me and he can use you in his employ till
such a time that this thing blows over.
Is that agreeable to you?”
“Of course
Uncle,” Yong fell on his knees, “I’m forever indebted to you for your mercy.” What other response could Yong give?
Eyes Wide Open Part 2
Shortly
after leaving all that he had known behind, armed with a letter, Yong made good
his escape under cover of night.
His arduous
trek eventually took him to the foothills of a great mountain range. Looking
up, he observed the snow cowered peaks and just below that the expansive span
of dense forest stretching as far as the eye could see. Subsequently, his
desperate gaze searched for accessible paths. He knew that crossing these mountains
will be the last leg of his journey. From then on a far easier topography but
harsher climate still awaited him. His provisions for sustenance were nearly
exhausted, save for a small portion of dried bread and moldy cheese. Meanwhile though
his foot-gear was threadbare he would still persevere, he was sure of it. He
was only armed with a staff and a short knife for protection; fortunately though
he had been spared from encounters with bandits or carnivorous beasts.
The snaking,
narrow, rocky mountain paths with a sheer precipice on one side, led him ever
upward for many a day, then one fine afternoon he found himself at the maw of a
huge cave. As the weather looked rather
ominous, he entered the cave to seek shelter for the night.
With
intermixed trepidation and eagerness in his heart, his feet carried him further
and further in. As it was still daylight, he took advantage of the scant light
streaming in. Eventually he arrived at a large opening, a huge chamber bathed in
plenty of light. Up ahead, his eyes
beheld the source; an unexpected huge opening that looked out onto a distant
forested mountain. Incredibly a person
clad in strange priestly garments was seated at a bench table, brush in hand, quite
engaged in painting on a silk cloth. Unable to believe his eyes, he tentatively
advanced until he was right behind the seated stranger. Leaning over he observed a most remarkable
painting. It depicted the scene outside of the opening so perfectly, so
lifelike. An exclamation escaped Yong’s
lips as he marveled at the artistry.
He took hold of his senses however and pulled
back; then quickly apologized, “Please excuse me for this intrusion, but what
an amazing ....” He’d suddenly found himself lost for words.
The stranger
had at first remained perfectly still and quite unperturbed. Presently he half turned to glance at Yong.
At once Yong
bowed to the stranger who had by then risen to his feet and squarely faced
him. After his repeated apology for his
infringement of the painter’s privacy, Yong formally introduced himself, and
then exclaimed his deep admiration of the painting in progress. He rambled on
without intending to for several minutes. A profusion of words and concepts
mainly extrapolating on the points of the painting he admired streamed from his
mouth; followed by other historical references and artists relating to the
style and subject of the painting.
“You seem quite knowledgeable of the arts” the
stranger, who’d listened with unusual patience, finally smiled. He then introduced himself as Liong Xiá and
further inquired, “But what is this person Zhang Shen Yao you’ve made mention
of? I am not familiar with that person.”
Yong could
hardly believe his ears, “Surely you jest, sir?” He politely smiled. “He is a legendary artist, known far and wide
in the realm.”
But the
stranger simply shook his head. In the ensuing silence, Yong was obliged to
offer more explanations; and so, he succinctly told the account of the story of
Zhang Seng Yao’s painting of Dragons:
He was a famous
painter, during Wei-Jin the South and North Dynasties who excelled in painting
animals, birds and particularly dragons.
According to
legend, the Emperor had ordered him to paint dragons on the wall of AnLe
temple. After he drew four dragons,
Zhang invited the emperor to take a look.
“But the
work is incomplete! “The emperor was displeased, having at once noted that the
dragons were drawn without the pupils.
“The absence
of the pupils is purposeful, “Zhang quickly explained, “as they are the essence
of the dragons. To do otherwise would
bring the creatures to life and usher in unwarranted consequences.”
The emperor,
thinking this to be a high exaggeration of an egotistical artist, demanded
Zhang complete his work. Zhang Shen Yao was therefore forced to do as he was
bid. No sooner did he complete the eyes of two of the dragons, lightening flashed
and thunders roared. There was a strange
mist that filled the air and in that chaos the two mighty dragons emerged
through the mist. In a flash they dashed through the cave’s ceiling to instantly
disappear without a trace into the sky. When the smoke and mist cleared, the
emperor saw that only two dragons remained on the wall.
“Quite an
interesting account” Xiá nodded at the conclusion of Yong’s retelling of the story. You have a flare with words, sir that
enlivens the scene. Thank you for that.
“Nevertheless,
“Yong added thoughtfully. “ As enduring as this legend is, and there are even supposed
to be documented historical accounts of its validity in the Royal Library. Now that I’ve said it out loud.... “Yong
shrugged, doubting his original firm belief.
“Perhaps it’s nothing more than a high exaggeration to beguile or
entertain the masses.”
“Who’s to
say” Xia shrugged. “Then again...” He picked up and unrolled one of the scrolls
then spread it across the table.
Yong was
amazed at the lifelike painting of a bird... But what’s this? There were no
pupils.
He looked up
at Xie questioningly.
Xiá smiled, “Would you like to know?”
“Yes,” Yong
eagerly nodded.
At which
point Xie took a brush, dipped the tip in ink and simply painted in the pupils.
No sooner
had he done that then, to the amazement of Yong, the bird blinked, his feathers
ruffled, and then instantaneously came to life and simply flew away, escaping through the wide
opening of the cave.
Yong knew at
once that this was no ordinary mortal.
But his thoughts suddenly, for some reason, turned instead to the letter
in his inner pocket.
“What’s
this? “But then, when he reached for it, he discovered that it was
missing. Had he dropped it along the
way?
Yong,
looking up and saw the very letter with its seal intact in the hands of Xiá.
“Are you looking
for this? “ Xia looked grim as he glanced at the letter. Then suddenly he fixed
his eyes on Jiang and asked, “You’ve never once had the temptation to open it
to see what’s inside?”
“Of course
not! It was not addressed to me.” Yong gave his frank response.
”Then again,
this once, perhaps you should have.” Xia pursed his lips.
Yong
understood at once the peril that awaited him at the end of his journey. After
all his survival would have been a bane to Gang with so much at stake. It
saddened Yong however that his Uncle had so little regard for him. Then again,
perhaps his Uncle’s love for his son was far greater.
Having
decided quickly he knelt before Liong Xiá . He then pleaded to be his pupil.
Xiá smiled
and nodded. Then he held out the letter which disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The End.