Hawaii by James A. Michener & Steve Berry

Author:James A. Michener & Steve Berry [Michener, James A. & Berry, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781417709823
Google: VtdQPwAACAAJ
Amazon: 0375760377
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2002-03-14T18:30:00+00:00

456 HAWAII

between them�until one morning, when she heard her husband scratching his legs, she went to him boldly, took him by the hands and said, "Wu Chow's Father, I must go to see the Chinese doctor." He dropped his eyes away from hers, sat staring at the floor and finally agreed: "You had better see him."

After the noonday meal was served, Nyuk Tsin slipped out through the garden gate and hurried downtown to the Chinese temple, where after much bowing she lighted incense before the compassionate picture of Lu Tsu, to whose wisdom she confided these facts: "Wu Chow's Father has an itching that will not go away, and his finger is sore. We are afraid, Lu Tsu, and hope that you who know all medicines will aid us." She prayed for a long time, then sought out the priest, a shaven-headed man with a kindly face and a bamboo holder containing nearly a hundred numbered slivers of wood. Carefully he moved the bamboo in an arc, repeating old prayers of proved efficiency, and gradually one of the sticks worked itself loose from the others, and it was number fortyone, a number which contained elements of hope. On a small piece of paper the priest wrote "Fortyone" and for a dime he gave it to Nyuk Tsin.

She took her prescription across the river to a dirty little drug shop in Rat Alley, and when she handed it to the herb doctor he said, "Ah, fortyone is a very good medicine. You're lucky today." Behind him he had row after row of boxes containing precious herbs, and from box fortyone he measured out a spoonful and said, "You must brew a strong tea and drink it with a prayer. Is it for pregnancy?"

"No," the honest woman replied, "it's for Wu Chow's Father."

The doctor's expression did not change, but he thought quickly: "Aha! Another one who is afraid to come in person!" To Nyuk Tsin he said casually, "This is a fine medicine for itching legs."

"I'm glad," Nyuk Tsin said, not noticing that it was not she who had introduced the subject of itching legs.

Then, as she was about to leave, the doctor said in an offhand manner, "I'm sure this will cure your man, but if it doesn't, remember! I know all the medicines. Remember." And as soon as Nyuk Tsin had gone, the doctor ran into another alley and cried, "Look Sing! Look Sing! Follow that one."

"Which one?" the loafer asked.

"The Hakka woman, with the big feet." But Nyuk Tsin was hurrying home by a different route, and that day the spy did not overtake her. When he reported his failure to the herbalist the latter shrugged his shoulders and said, "She'll be back."

Medicine fortyone was completely ineffective and the growing agony in Nyuk Tsin's mind could not be put to rest. "Wu Chow's Father," she implored, "you must come with me to the Chinese doctor."

"I am afraid," Mun Ki said.

"He told me he knew all the medicines," Nyuk Tsin assured

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