47. Chop Suey
is what Eddie and Rewi eat in the North Korean Airlines Tupolev aircraft, 1 hour before landing.
Once in a British colony the joint is jumpin' thinks Eddie wheeling his one-piece luggage as Rewi walks beside him with only the portable Underwood typewriter he always carries. They quickly pass out of Customs and find a taxi that takes them over the causeway into Hongkong. At the Queens Hilton a black-robe Mandarin-garbed midget with matching Chinese beanie grabs Eddie's luggage at the entrance and Eddie thinks Just like 1960s TV Have Gun Will Travel when Paladin returns to his hotel in San Francisco.
As they pass into the lobby on their way to front desk, Rewi taps Eddie's shoulder "Hey, Mate! Lookie there!" Eddie looks and sees a sign "The prominent author, Han Suyin, will give the 3 PM high-tea talk on What is behind the latest news from Mainland China. Only hotel guests invited."
Rewi says "That old biddy makes her cottage industry outa Mainland China. I know her, Mate. If you hanker after old cunt, the biddy loves to fuck. I been there and it ain't too bad. But that was 10 years ago when I could still raise it. I'll fix it for you, Mate."
At 3 PM Eddie and Rewi are sitting at a table. Brown-jacketed Chinese waiters are delivering plates of black round-top scones that look to Eddie like tarts but without the fruit and cream. And each table has, Eddie estimates, a half-liter Chinese white porcelain teapot that delivers seemingly endless amber British tea that he and Rewi, on his left, sip. Their table is on the edge of a circle of several, all angled to face the speaker.
Rewi pours more tea, "Han Suyin, Mate, is really Rosie Chou. Only half Chink but don't say it in her hearing. Belgian mother and Chink father. She thinks she knows ever'thin' about China." Rewi makes a face. "Shit, she knows. She's one a those lefties everyone calls comminist. Haw! Meanwhile she got a million-dollar manse in Lausanne Switz an' ten times its worth in banks in Zurich. Comminist, me eye!"
He stops as a tall, young Englishman and slim, shorter older woman stand to speak. The man clinks on the microphone with his teaspoon to call the meeting to order.
"Lydies and Gentlemen, here is Madame Han Suyin."
A polite applause.
Eddie notes the Madame is rather wrinkled over her face but has a slim, solid body inside a gray, no nonsense woman's business suit.
For the next fifteen minutes she speaks in British accent of how fine life is in Mainland China, what great heroes the late Mao and Chou were, and how lovely it was during the Great Cultural Revolution. Then she takes question, the meeting ends and Rewi runs up to her and brings her to table.
In a not overly loud voice, Rewi says, after seating her "Rosie, allow me to introduce you to my young friend, Dr Edward."
Eddie is ready with his professional card that he hands her: Physician's Notebooks - How to Achieve health Healthy Longevity - to pass age 80 on feet with wit and wits.
"I am a medical doctor too," the Madame says, favoring Eddie with friendly smile. "What is a young man like you doing in a book on Healthy Longevity?"
Eddie explains he is assisting the original author to pass the wisdoms of a lifetime to make happy, healthy longevity.
Madame Han turns to Rewi with a smile. "Thank you" she laughs and adds "mate, for introducing me to this young bloke." Then turning to Eddie. "Tell me doctor, do you need a girl guide for your stay here? If so I volunteer."
Eddie has a plan to go up river to Canton. He broaches the idea to Madame Han and she says OK.
"By the way, you may call me Rosalee. May I call you Edward?"
So it is agreed they will do an overnight trip to Canton. Rewi excuses self from it, pleading old age. But, actually he wants Eddie to be alone with Madame Han.
Morning next day, at 15 minutes before 6 AM, Eddie and Madame Han stand at dock as a touring boat starts loading about 50 passengers who are traveling from the mouth of the Pearl River in Hongkong to Canton 75 miles, or 120 km upstream, a 3 hour trip.
At 6 AM the boat heads up river. It is a beautiful mid June “bustin’ out all over” as in the song lyric and this lower latitude, warm summer. Eddie sits facing Madame Han at the rail on left forward deck. She sits with back to the forward motion.
A relaxed conversation is interspersed by their sampling the views. Madame Han has done the trip so she is less impressed than Eddie, who is astounded by the 10-tiered temples, the rice paddies in staggered shelves, the small villages passing by, and the river junks.
"Rosalee, excuse me for being nosely (Ha! Ha!). I know you are in your 60's and I've read your autobiographical novels. What is your assessment today in 1985 of the direction of China?'
Madame Han turns from viewing the shore. "I first and foremost love China and I hate the missionaries and I think the Europeans remorselessly, cruelly exploited China. But the old culture was medieval and classist. So I have backed the communist revolution and regime." She becomes silent. Eddie decides better not to delve further. He thinks he understands her silence to mean a disappointment for what has happened since China under Mao and now during Deng's leadership
"What most surprises you about our world today in 1985 compared to the 1960's and before?"
"Oh, that is easy. First, the bugaboo has changed from atom bombs to overpopulation by its effect on the environment, especially global warming. No one thought about that in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Everyone was going crazy over nuclear. None of us realized the simple fossil fuel fired energy was the real nigger in the woodshed." She chuckles at her very politically incorrect phrase.
"What do you hope for in future?"
"Ha! I have a short future now at 68 my next birthday. Have you asked Rewi Alley what he hopes for at 80?"
Eddie tells her Rewis's Eat, drink and be merry 'cause tomorrow I die philosophy.
"He is right. We old persons - Rewi and I - who have intelligence - do not care about a future that does not include us. Whatever happens will. I am not losing sleep over it." She turns her eyes on him. Speaking of that "Would you like to sleep with a 67-year-old woman who still knows how to?"
Eddie nods Yes. She gets up. And he follows to a private cabin they have rented.
End of Chapter. To continue next, click 16.48 Oh Kolkata
At 3 PM Eddie and Rewi are sitting at a table. Brown-jacketed Chinese waiters are delivering plates of black round-top scones that look to Eddie like tarts but without the fruit and cream. And each table has, Eddie estimates, a half-liter Chinese white porcelain teapot that delivers seemingly endless amber British tea that he and Rewi, on his left, sip. Their table is on the edge of a circle of several, all angled to face the speaker.
Rewi pours more tea, "Han Suyin, Mate, is really Rosie Chou. Only half Chink but don't say it in her hearing. Belgian mother and Chink father. She thinks she knows ever'thin' about China." Rewi makes a face. "Shit, she knows. She's one a those lefties everyone calls comminist. Haw! Meanwhile she got a million-dollar manse in Lausanne Switz an' ten times its worth in banks in Zurich. Comminist, me eye!"
He stops as a tall, young Englishman and slim, shorter older woman stand to speak. The man clinks on the microphone with his teaspoon to call the meeting to order.
"Lydies and Gentlemen, here is Madame Han Suyin."
A polite applause.
Eddie notes the Madame is rather wrinkled over her face but has a slim, solid body inside a gray, no nonsense woman's business suit.
For the next fifteen minutes she speaks in British accent of how fine life is in Mainland China, what great heroes the late Mao and Chou were, and how lovely it was during the Great Cultural Revolution. Then she takes question, the meeting ends and Rewi runs up to her and brings her to table.
In a not overly loud voice, Rewi says, after seating her "Rosie, allow me to introduce you to my young friend, Dr Edward."
Eddie is ready with his professional card that he hands her: Physician's Notebooks - How to Achieve health Healthy Longevity - to pass age 80 on feet with wit and wits.
"I am a medical doctor too," the Madame says, favoring Eddie with friendly smile. "What is a young man like you doing in a book on Healthy Longevity?"
Eddie explains he is assisting the original author to pass the wisdoms of a lifetime to make happy, healthy longevity.
Madame Han turns to Rewi with a smile. "Thank you" she laughs and adds "mate, for introducing me to this young bloke." Then turning to Eddie. "Tell me doctor, do you need a girl guide for your stay here? If so I volunteer."
Eddie has a plan to go up river to Canton. He broaches the idea to Madame Han and she says OK.
"By the way, you may call me Rosalee. May I call you Edward?"
So it is agreed they will do an overnight trip to Canton. Rewi excuses self from it, pleading old age. But, actually he wants Eddie to be alone with Madame Han.
Morning next day, at 15 minutes before 6 AM, Eddie and Madame Han stand at dock as a touring boat starts loading about 50 passengers who are traveling from the mouth of the Pearl River in Hongkong to Canton 75 miles, or 120 km upstream, a 3 hour trip.
At 6 AM the boat heads up river. It is a beautiful mid June “bustin’ out all over” as in the song lyric and this lower latitude, warm summer. Eddie sits facing Madame Han at the rail on left forward deck. She sits with back to the forward motion.
A relaxed conversation is interspersed by their sampling the views. Madame Han has done the trip so she is less impressed than Eddie, who is astounded by the 10-tiered temples, the rice paddies in staggered shelves, the small villages passing by, and the river junks.
"Rosalee, excuse me for being nosely (Ha! Ha!). I know you are in your 60's and I've read your autobiographical novels. What is your assessment today in 1985 of the direction of China?'
Madame Han turns from viewing the shore. "I first and foremost love China and I hate the missionaries and I think the Europeans remorselessly, cruelly exploited China. But the old culture was medieval and classist. So I have backed the communist revolution and regime." She becomes silent. Eddie decides better not to delve further. He thinks he understands her silence to mean a disappointment for what has happened since China under Mao and now during Deng's leadership
"What most surprises you about our world today in 1985 compared to the 1960's and before?"
"Oh, that is easy. First, the bugaboo has changed from atom bombs to overpopulation by its effect on the environment, especially global warming. No one thought about that in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Everyone was going crazy over nuclear. None of us realized the simple fossil fuel fired energy was the real nigger in the woodshed." She chuckles at her very politically incorrect phrase.
"What do you hope for in future?"
"Ha! I have a short future now at 68 my next birthday. Have you asked Rewi Alley what he hopes for at 80?"
Eddie tells her Rewis's Eat, drink and be merry 'cause tomorrow I die philosophy.
"He is right. We old persons - Rewi and I - who have intelligence - do not care about a future that does not include us. Whatever happens will. I am not losing sleep over it." She turns her eyes on him. Speaking of that "Would you like to sleep with a 67-year-old woman who still knows how to?"
Eddie nods Yes. She gets up. And he follows to a private cabin they have rented.
End of Chapter. To continue next, click 16.48 Oh Kolkata
No comments:
Post a Comment