. The Big Joker. The Big Joker
Upon awakening, it took a few moments to realize where I was. I had never slept in a bed with curtains before.
“Baron, are you awake?” the Marquis’s voice rang out from across the chamber.
“Yes, Marquis, I just woke.”
“Did you sleep well? Any dreams?”
I am not sure I want to tell him about my ongoing nightly adventures. “Some dreams, yes. Why do you ask?”
He coughed. “I had the most fascinating reverie, and I wish to share it with you.”
I may not be able to comprehend everything at this early hour, but he seems resolute about relating his sleep adventure. “Please, huoban, do tell me.” I can at least hear the words even though I may not comprehend.
The fabric of the curtains parted. Lao Peng You climbed upon my bed and sat cross-legged. “Good morrow,” he beamed.
“Good morrow,” I repeated.
“Today we have an audience with the Emperor. Are you excited?”
I was not certain how I feel about meeting our ruler. Part of me thinks it will be a grand experience, but another part is fearful, knowing I have a duty to perform that might get us both into big trouble.
“Excited is not exactly the word I would use, more like apprehensive.”
“Emperor Qin is a most imposing man, but he has a human side as well,” he said as if he has had many encounters with the man. “You should not worry, I shall be with you.”
I guess there is some solace in that. I have never met anyone that important before. Lao Peng You certainly has. “Thank you, huoban. That is comforting to know.”
“Indeed,” he affirmed. “Now, let me tell you about this fascinating reverie.”
“Yes, please.” I arranged the silken pillows to make myself as comfortable as was possible.
He cleared his throat the way a lecturer would before starting the day’s lesson. “In my dream, I stood watching three blind men near an elephant. Each would touch the beast and report his finding. The first reached out to the tusk and said, ‘This is a spear carrier.’ The second stood near the flank of the elephant, reached out and reported, ‘This is a wall.’ I think that bit is funny: the poor blind man thinks he is touching a wall, and it is actually an elephant.”
Lao Peng You has an unusual sense of humor.
“The third blind man pulls the tail and says, ‘There is a rope dangling here.’ The first man then asks, ‘Where do you think we are?’ The second says, ‘I believe it is obvious. A spear, a wall and a rope. Gentlemen, we have all been here before.’ ‘Yes,’ adds the third man, ‘the Emperor’s dungeon.’” He looked at me as if I had something to add to the story.
“Interesting,” I suggested.
“Interesting, indeed,” he agreed. “I find it odd that today we are to visit with the Emperor and I had a dream about his dungeon. What do you make of that?”
“I hope it does not mean we end up blinded and locked in the Emperor’s dungeon with an elephant.”
The Marquis laughed, “Baron, you never cease to amuse me.”
We could hear the door to the chamber open. “Baron, are you in there?” called Lady Xing. I guess this means it is time to meet our Emperor.
“Yes, my Lady. However, I am still abed.” I hoped this was not an invitation for her to join me.
“Very good. I have brought some things for you which I shall leave on the table.”
Things? Nothing too embarrassing, I hoped.
“Thank you, my Lady. May I enquire as to your gifts?”
“Of course,” she murmured. “I took the liberty of having your suit cleaned. You do not want to have an audience with the Emperor in muddy clothes.” She spoke in a more business-like manner than before.
“Thank you, my Lady. That is very kind of you.”
“Also,” she continued, “I am leaving an empty box for you to conceal your gift to the Emperor. It is probably best not to have it on view during our excursion to his chambers.”
“A wonderful idea, Lady Xing. I shall begin to prepare myself now.”
“Excellent, Baron. Shall I wait for you here?” she asked eagerly.
I was sitting in a curtained bed with my huoban. It might have looked odd for both of us to leave it together. Also, I believed she might have had an ulterior motive.
“Thank you, but please allow me a few moments of privacy.”
“Of course,” she sounded crestfallen. “I shall wait outside.”
We could hear the door closing, and I peeked through the fabric to make sure she had not remained inside. “All clear,” I announced as I stepped down.
On the table next to the door was my suit, cleaned and folded neatly. Next to that was a lacquered box, cochineal, to match her lip paint. Inlaid gold strips formed an intricate, interweaving border pattern. It was slightly larger than the jade piece and lined with soft fabric.
Lao Peng You climbed down from my bed. “I think that woman is fascinated with you.”
I glanced at him with irony in my eyes. “I believe you might be right about that, Marquis.” Then a thought struck me. “It might be me, or it might be something I possess.”
Retrieving the jade piece from my bag, I took a few moments to study it before placing it in the pretty box. The ornate inscription in the Imperial Seal read: ‘Having received the Mandate from Heaven, may our Emperor lead a long and prosperous life.’
“Priceless,” whispered Lao Peng You while eying the green stone.
“Perhaps,” I mused, “but valued highly by one particular person.”
“Get dressed, then. We do not want to keep that one particular person waiting.”
⊚
Outside our room, Lady Xing stood patiently. Her demeanor seemed more demure than last evening. As soon as she saw the lacquered box in my hand, her gaze magnetically snapped to it.
“You have the gift for the Emperor?” she queried.
I nodded affirmatively.
“May I see it?” Her eyes opened in question.
I lifted the top slightly to give her a peek at the prize. Her eyes opened even wider. Then I closed the lid.
“Gentlemen,” she waved her hand to point the way, her long, gangly fingernails like misleading signposts.
We followed the Lady through a few doors until she stood at the top of a ramp going down.
She pointed for us to descend. The Marquis and I took a few steps and then looked back to see if she still followed us. I could see her walking a few paces behind us, a curious change in protocol.
The ramp sloped downward and curved so that we were standing about a chi below the top. Rows of torches lined the walls of the cavern where we stood, illuminating a fantastic subterranean world of hills and trees.
A lavish barge, like a royal palanquin, sat tied to a mooring in front of us. The river on which it rode was like no other I have ever seen or heard of. The shiny surface rippled in the torchlight, the waves moving very slowly.
“Be careful,” Lady Xing advised, “you do not want to touch the mercury.”
So that is what this liquid is. Metallic and watery, most likely refined out of ore from the mine where I had worked in my previous life. It looked like silver water.
“Do you think it dangerous, Lady Xing?” the Marquis asked.
“No,” she responded, “The Emperor does not wish any of it to inadvertently disappear, either on your clothing or skin. It took him many, many years to acquire.”
She stepped onto the barge and beckoned us to follow. Four bare-chested polemen stood at the corners. I tip-toed over cautiously, fearing any contact with the undulating liquid metal. The boat barely moved as I placed my foot on it. We moved to the chairs under the canopy at the center, and the Lady bade us to sit.
Once the three of us had taken our places, the polemen began to conduct the palanquin along the fluid path.
“Lady Xing,” I remarked, “this is an amazing feat of engineering. A river of mercury?”
She nodded. “The Emperor has designed this large map, a replica of his vast territory, complete with waterways. We currently follow the path of the Yellow River and shall arrive at the Emperor’s undisclosed location shortly. Please enjoy the ride.” Her gaze then followed along the banks and occasionally the bare chests of the polemen.
I could see artificial hills and artificial trees beside the artificial river. While beautifully designed and constructed, this caused me some concern. If our Emperor chose to live his life amid this simulated scenery, did he possess sound reason to leave the world above and live in his own personal version below?
A few minutes later we pulled up to another dock. Once the polemen had secured the boat, we followed Lady Xing onto a stone path that led to a large metal door. She knocked and a small panel at eye-level opened.
“I have the Emperor’s guests,” she announced.
The door opened fully and we followed her through. Three attendants stepped forward with long strips of black cloth, moving to put the bands around each of our heads.
“What is going on?” the Marquis demanded.
Lady Xing held up a hand, the fingernails pointing in many directions. “We are to be blindfolded so that we do not know the exact location of the Emperor. These servants have had their tongues removed so that they are unable to tell anyone. If you prefer not to be blindfolded, you may choose to have your tongue cut out. However, I suggest you accept the blindfolds.”
Lao Peng You and I looked at each other questioningly but then realized there was only one way we were going to get to meet the Emperor, his way, and we willingly submitted to the blindfolds.
Once the cloth was in place, someone, presumably one of the mute attendants, took my hand and led me along a meandering pathway. When we stopped, I had no idea how far we had walked or where we might be. When the blindfold was removed, I could then see we were in a throne room, the great chair of the Emperor, atop a small ziggurat of stairs, filling our view. Gilded with gold leaf and silver plate, the decorative seat looked large enough to hold a giant. An oversized silk-covered, brocade pillow occupied the center. Two well-appointed men with short, grey beards stood next to the throne, one on the left and one on the right.
“Show obeisance, please,” Lady Xing commanded before placing her own face on the floor before the throne platform.
The Marquis and I prostrated ourselves accordingly on the woven grass mat. I could hear heavy footsteps ascending the stairs, and the chair creaked.
“Lady Xing,” the Emperor’s deep voice boomed and echoed. He sounded tall and impressive. “I appreciate your service. Please remove yourself.”
She stood and turned away.
“Pichan,” he continued, “how curious to see you once again. Staying out of trouble? I would wager not.” He laughed in a staccato style. “Please follow the Lady Xing.”
He stood and walked out with the Lady.
“So you are Hao Lan, the Baron Dongting,” the Emperor bellowed. “I hear you have something for me. Is it in that box you have brought with you?”
I began to look up, but a silent hand pushed my face back to the floor. Instead, I nodded in answer to his question. I could hear the box being taken away and then lighter footsteps on the platform.
“Ah! My wayward Imperial Seal. Where have you been hiding?”
A foot nudged me. “I found the jade piece in a bog along the Pearl River in Guizhou Province, my Lord.”
“Interesting. There were tales that it had vanished somewhere into the south. I had begun to wonder if we would ever find it again. Were you hunting for this particular treasure, Baron?”
“No, my Lord. We were gathering Jiaogulan leaves for tea, and I accidentally got stuck in the mud. My foot fortuitously dislodged the stone from under the muck.”
“Jiaogulan? The Tea of the Immortals?” His voice elevated in pitch. “Whom do you serve, Hao Lan?”
This was a question I did not know how to answer. If I told about him my assignment from Shen Lung, he might have royal guards cut me into little immortal pieces. If I did not answer the question, he might have me thrown into the royal dungeon for all of eternity.
He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions, a voice in my head reverberated. Perhaps I should just convey the message and hope for the best.
“Zhao Gao calls a –”
“Zhao Gao?” he questioned. “You work for that eggless grandson of a turtle?”
“No, my Lord, but I wish to inform you that Zhao Gao calls a deer a horse.” There I had said it, my mission complete.
“A deer? A horse? What kind of nonsense is this?”
I could hear coarse whispering but could not understand the words.
“Ah, that is the loyalty test he administers to potential subordinates. Now I understand. But you have not yet told me for whom you were gathering the Jiaogulan leaves. That is only enjoyed by a select few.”
“Yes, my Lord. I serve one of the Immortals.” I figured that was the only way to be honest yet not divulge my true loyalty.
“Ah, yes, the Immortals.”
More whispering.
“Hao Lan, I thank you for returning the Imperial Seal to its rightful owner. How much ransom do you request?”
I do not want any money as I already have more than I know what to do with. My job is done and I just want to get out of here.
“August Emperor, I do not wish monetary compensation for performing an act of filial piety.”
He laughed in his staccato manner again. “What? No desire for wealth?”
“No, my Lord.”
“You puzzle me, Baron Dongting. You have returned a royal treasure and believe I owe you something valuable in return. Is there anything else you might desire?”
There was really nothing material that I could ask for. It has been said that the journey itself is the reward. However, there was one thing in particular I would like, if possible.
“My Lord, could you provide transportation for myself and the Baron Pichan back to Changshou Shan? We play Mahjong there as a therapeutic treatment.”
“Mahjong? Therapeutic? How quaint. That game is for swindlers and miscreants.”
“Yes, my Lord. You have reasoned well.”
“Well, if that is what you wish, and it is truly important to you, I shall instruct my yellow dragons to take both of you to Changshou Shan. I cannot decipher whether you are astoundingly wise or astoundingly foolish to ask for so little in return for so valuable a prize.”
I heard his footsteps descend the platform. “Zhao Gao calls a deer a horse,” he mused to himself. “I must consider what that could possibly mean.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder and one of the attendants indicated that I should stand. He led me to the room where Lady Xing and Lao Peng You waited for me in silence and whispered something to the Lady.
“Follow me,” she said and walked away.
Again we were blindfolded and led along a twisting pathway. This time we also walked up another curving ramp. At the top, the cloths were removed and we stood upon another tiled courtyard. Two yellow dragons sat staring at us.
An attendant brought us our bags and helped us up onto the beasts.
“Baron, Marquis, I bid you a safe trip.” Lady Xing smiled, turned and walked away from us. Just as she was about to go around a corner, she looked at me and winked.
The dragons launched up into the sky and we flew back over the woodlands to our mountain retreat.
⊚
It was late morning when we returned to the hilltop where I first met Lao Peng You. Moisture on the leaves suggested overnight rain, and everything smelled flowery sweet.
Once we dismounted, the yellow dragons flew away. No one took much notice of our conveyance. It was as if this kind of thing happened every day.
“I do not know about you, Baron, but I am quite hungry, having had no morning meal. Let us see about satiating our hunger.” He started off toward the food table, carrying the bag of leaves in one hand.
“Marquis, I don’t have much of an appetite after that flight. I am going to my room to rest.”
“As you wish, huoban. Perhaps we shall play Mahjong later. I feel like I might need some seed soon.” He walked back and handed me his bag, then he headed off to the dining area.
It had been a few days since our last encounter with men. Perhaps I should consider finding a source of seed as well. So many things to think about as an Immortal.
Back in the room I dropped our bags on the floor, took out my extra set of clothes and laid some of the leaves out on the bed to dry. I forgot to ask if there were any special preparation necessary before we could make Dragon Longevity Tea. Some varieties of tea leaves require roasting, some prefer smoking, and some must ferment. I shall have to consult Shen Lung during our next encounter.
“Hao Lan!” The angry voice belonged to the Marquis. “Hao Lan!”
I opened the door to my room and observed Lao Peng You in a state of disconcerted percolation I had never witnessed before. “What is it, my huoban, that has caused you such distress?”
His breathing slowed from gale force to bracing breeze. “I just went to my suite only to find another person’s belongings there!”
“Oh, my. Have you asked the house mother about this?”
“Yes! She says a wealthy man appeared yesterday and wanted all the suites for himself, including mine. Knowing I was away, she packed up my belongings and rented it to him, even though I had paid for a month in advance!” He paced haphazardly in front of me, huffing and grimacing.
I also would like to procure a suite for long-term use, as I no longer have a home, nor a town to call home. Even though I am the bogus Baron of Dongting, I do not believe I could live there, even with all its innate beauty. One of the towns along the river might be nice at some point, but for now, I wish to stay here a while longer.
“What can we do, huoban?” At this point, anything I can do to help him would also fulfill my requirements.
“I hear the unfortunate trespasser is at the Mahjong table right now. Let us proceed there to have a look at the squatter.”
“Yes. We must rectify this situation straightaway.”
I attempted to walk alongside Lao Peng You as he strutted hastily toward the playing area. Three men I recognized from previous games. However, one person sat with his back facing us. He seemed very tall, very round and very pale. The high-pitched squeal of laughter disclosed his identity.
“Wang Yue!” the Marquis accused as he stomped up to the game. “How dare you usurp my living quarters! Surrender them at once!”
Rotating slowly, like the full moon he was, Wang Yue turned to face the accuser. With his tunic open, we could see the Moon Rabbit plainly.
“Ah, Lao Peng You. I wish I could say it is pleasant to see you again, but that would be a patent falsehood.” He turned to me, “Baron Dongting. A veritable delight. Perhaps we can find some time later to reconnoiter.” A wink of an eye insinuated his desires. As disgusting as he was, his seed has been the most tasty so far. However, I am not sure I wish to repeat that experience, at least not so soon.
“I paid for that suite a month in advance. You have no right to occupy it,” the Marquis charged.
Wang Yue turned back to him, “That room was unoccupied when I arrived. Apparently, you and your companion hired my niece, Xin Yue, to transport you to the nether regions of our great country for some paltry leaf-collecting expedition.”
Ah, Xin Yue. Why must Wang Yue be your uncle? You are most beautiful, like the new moon against a darkened, cloudless sky. And like the moon above, I am obliged to admire you from afar.
“I hear she left you behind once she discovered your true identity. Lao Peng You, I thought I had seen the last of you. How did you ever get back here? And, more to the point, why ever did you even bother to return?”
My huoban balled his fists a few times before responding through gritted teeth, “That, you ugly piyan, is all of my business and none of yours.”
Wang Yue feigned offense, “Tut, tut, little man. There is no need for insults. We are all gentlemen here.” He smiled insincerely.
“You are occupying my suite, sir,” the Marquis accused. “Vacate it at once.”
“When we arrived at this sanctuary, given your sad, unfortunate fate, it was thought that you might never return. Your complaint is with the house mother, not me,” and he resumed playing.
Lao Peng You quickly sized up the table. “I can see that someone will be leaving soon. I shall take that seat, and then you and I shall play for the honor of my suite.” His face reddened with wrath.
“Marquis, please do as you wish. If we play at the same table it does not need to be for blood. Mahjong is supposed to be a therapeutic game. That is the reason for my stay here. Does this mountain retreat not impart a healthful air to you?” The hint of a smile tainted his sarcasm.
My huoban looked as though he were about to blast off the surface of the planet without the assistance of fire medicine.
I touched his hand lightly, “Please come for a walk with me.” I started to lead him toward the garden path.
“Yes, Lao, go with your toady. Come back when you are ready to behave like a civilized man.” His sparrow-like laughter penetrated the hillside.
Once in the garden, Lao Peng You decompressed slightly. “I absolutely loathe, hate and detest that man! I never wanted to see him again, and here he is, sitting at my table, eating my food and sleeping in my bed!” He marched in small loops.
“Huoban,” I tried to be calming, “we shall prevail in time. As Confucius said: In any game between power and patience, bet on patience.”
He stopped and stood still. “You are quite correct, huoban, even though you quote that pathetic, old inebriated harebrain. When did you get to be so wise for one so young?” He looked at me as if he were meeting me for the first time. “Patience is our secret weapon, is it not?” He grinned that malicious little smile of his. “Yes. Let us return to the Mahjong table and teach that bottomless rice bucket a little lesson.” Off he went back the way we came. I ran after him.
Just as we arrived at the table, Fa Sha stood up, “Once again Wang Yue, you have managed to empty my purse, moths and all.” He blinked his one remaining eye and walked off with slumped shoulders.
“Ah, Marquis,” the big, pale man proclaimed, “I now have a seat for you at the table. I hope you have brought enough coins to defend your honor.” He indicated the recently-vacated chair. “I am sorry that there is only one open seat. Your auntie will just have to observe for now.”
No insult can provoke me. I have little ego or self-value.
As my huoban sat, a tender young girl came to the table with a pot of tea and one cup, which she set before Wang Yue.
“Thank you, Tian Mei.” He smiled at the pretty youth. “Gentlemen, this is Tian Mei, my new servant.” He motioned for her to leave.
“New servant?” questioned Lao Peng You. “What happened to the old man, Chang Hu?”
“Ah, Chang Hu,” Wang Yue sighed sentimentally. “Poor fellow ate some poisoned octopus and died.”
This seemed all too familiar. “You did not feed him the octopus you prepared for me, did you?” I needed to ask because that would make him a murderer.
“Horrors, no, my friend,” he pretended innocence. “I fed him the octopus he had prepared for me. It was a test. He failed. Shall we begin?”
⊚
I stood near the table and watched Lao Peng You play Mahjong with his mortal enemy, Wang Yue, for the honor of occupying one particular suite at this resort. The Marquis would not be able to execute his usual ploy of having me feed him honor tiles. For most likely the first time at Changshou Shan, he had to rely on his own skills and talents.
The coins moved back and forth, sometimes my huoban won, and sometimes Wang Yue. Each had acquired and lost a modest fortune. At one point, it looked like the man with the Moon Rabbit tattoo was nearing the end of his funds. The Marquis needed but one tile to win.
“Mahjong!” Wang Yue declared. He pushed his concealed hand over so that we could see the tiles.
One of the tiles looked unfamiliar. I had never seen such a thing before. The little pictures looked like a lotus flower and a floating candle; the inscription read ‘One Hundred Uses.’
“What is that?” questioned Lao Peng You pointing at the unusual tile with an accusatory finger.
“What is what?” responded Wang Yue with feigned ignorance.
“That unusual tile. What is it and where did it come from.” The Marquis picked it up and handed it to Wang Yue.
“Oh, this,” he tried to be nonchalant. “It is a Big Joker. It can represent any other tile you want, except for Flowers or as part of a pair. Have you never seen one before?”
“Not in this set I have not. One hundred forty-and-four various tiles I have seen on this table, but never one like that. You are attempting to cheat us!” He stood, but was still not as tall as Wang Yue sitting down.
“Cheat, sir?” came the reply. “Cheat? That is the charge of a whimpering, feeble loser. Pay up and be gone!”
With a deep scowl, Lao Peng You sat and counted out the proper amount of coins to settle his debt. He then stood and walked away without even looking at me. I followed him mostly because he had no place to go, and I feared he might choose my room as a convalescence cave.
He headed to the garden instead. When he heard my clumsy footsteps, he turned.
“That big, fat cheat called me a cheat! I have lived for generations upon generations and never encountered the likes of him.” He paced in small columns and rows. “You and I are going back to that table and we are going to exhaust his coin purse until there is not even one speck of dust in it!” He pointed toward the area we had just left.
“Huoban,” again I attempted to function as calming agent, “that man did a very bad thing, and he upset you very much, but I do not believe today is the day to reap our crop of vengeance.”
His eyes opened wide in disbelief.
“Remember that patience is the ultimate winner of this contest. If we go back there now, he will be exceptionally vigilant, and he might even inadvertently uncover our clandestine maneuvers. Please let us approach this mountain-sized task one stone at a time. Eat, sleep. Tomorrow we shall be well-rested and better prepared to strike.”
“My huoban, once again you are the voice of reason.” His breathing returned to near normal. “But where shall I sleep tonight?”
I do not want to let this man out of my sight for fear he would return directly to the Mahjong table in an unsuccessful attempt to take down his nemesis. “You may sleep with me, Marquis. The floor looks quite comfortable.”
He nodded his assent. We walked to the food table and grabbed a light dinner. I could hear the wheels turning and the gears grinding inside his continuously-plotting cranium.
Afterward we returned to my room where he fell asleep on my bed after brushing the dried leaves away. I discovered that the floor was not exactly as comfortable as I had indicated.
“Well done, Hao Lan, well done.” The Blue Dragon sat next to the golden wall with the three stones. “You have completed this assignment.” He smiles at me.
“But what about the Emperor? Is he going to die at the hands of Zhao Gao?”
“Yes, he will die on Zhifu island from an overdose of mercury.”
“Then he will be murdered by his own men. I thought if I gave him the message he would understand they were trying to poison him.”
“Little one,” the dragon purrs, “The Emperor received and understood the message. He did figure out that Zhao Gao was plotting to murder him. That is why he will take the mercury. He believes it will convey immortality upon him, thus being immune to any poison his minister might offer him.”
I am feeling like an accomplice to a murder. “But did I hasten his demise by giving him the message? I do not want to believe that my actions may have killed our Emperor.”
Shen Lung looks down at me like a caring parent. “Your performance had no effect on the actions of the Emperor. Had he not gotten the message, he would take the mercury all the same. This way, he knows who his real enemy is before he dies.”
I feel a bit better now, but it may take a while before I can fully accept not having any responsibility. And now I have a question I need to ask the Blue Dragon. “Shen Lung, if I understand correctly, the Emperor was seeking immortality.” He nods. “Lao Peng You and I could have bestowed immortality upon the Emperor.” He nods again. “Why were we not instructed to give the gift of longevity? Did the Emperor even know he was so close to that which he sought?”
I could discern a hint of a smile. “Many times we are so near to that which we seek without knowing it. Wild-eyed men are blind to that in front of them, and sometimes it is difficult to believe that what is so valuable can be right within our grasp.”
“Did you not want us to make the Emperor immortal?”
“No, indeed not. Qin Shi Huang was a great ruler who united many warring tribes. However, he became drunk on his own wine, and it was time for him to relinquish the reins of government.”
Sometime I forget it is the gods who control our fates.
“Do you have any further interrogatories for me, my little servant?”
Indeed I do. “My Lord, I thank you for the gift of the Jiaogulan leaves. How are they to be prepared? Do I need to roast or ferment them before steeping?”
“Little one, the gift of Jiaogulan is that it is ready to use directly from the bush. Fresh or dried, steep for no more, and no less, than five minutes. There is no need to do anything else. Any more questions?”
“No, my Lord. I thank you for your generosity.” I bow in reverence.
“So sour,” I hear a familiar voice, “to swallow your own poison.”
“Ever so bitter,” another voice, “to discover your own mortality.”
“It is the sweetest thing,” the third voice rang out, “to comply with fate.”