Clarkesworld Magazine Issue 196 by Neil Clarke

Author:Neil Clarke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: magazine, science fiction, Science Fiction - Short Stories, Science Fiction & Fantasy, science fiction magazine, short fiction, short stories
Publisher: Wyrm Publishing
Published: 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

About the Author

R.T Ester does some writing on the side while working professionally as a visual designer. However, most of his time is spent raising two young kids with his wife and drawing any inspiration he can from the Texas heat. His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Clarkesworld and Interzone.

Zhuangzi’s Dream

Cao Baiyu, translated by Stella Jiayue Zhu

Latent summer stirred while spring lay dormant. April had come to the Kingdom of S’ong and brought with it spells of rain. Tadpoles in the pond recently developed hind legs; above, a stray shower had been drumming at the water pit-a-pat. The rain-rinsed sky was tinged a darkening hue from horizon to zenith all the way to the concealed, eternal stars. When clouds were few, they resembled freshly picked cotton. Other times, they flocked to build elaborate pavilions in the sky.

A barefooted young man sauntered up a sun-facing, sloped meadow. At this time of the year, the pasture was succulent. Thin grass blades peeked through between his toes and dampened the back of his feet. Draped over his body was a ragged hemp robe with uneven patches at the elbows and around the cuffs. In his hands, he held a folding book, made of bamboo slips. It had been opened countless times, so much so that it had fallen apart at the leather-threaded seams and was scrupulously sewn back together.

He held a lesser office at a lacquer tree plantation and earned his daily millet and rice by performing the same bureaucratic duties that had hardened into a routine. Here and now, he was known as Zhuang Zhou. In the ages to come, he shall be revered as Master Zhuangzi.

Young Zhuangzi lay down on the meadow on his side and made a pillow of his forearm. Nature breathed, in and out. The wind came forth, coursing through the grass to find him and caress his cheeks. Wind also lent dandelion seeds wings, so light, so airy, like downy barbs on a feather.

What a balmy day. Heat from the sun coddled him like a blanket. Zhuangzi yawned and scratched his back with the folding book as slumber inched up his shoulders and closed his eyes.

He fell asleep.

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