Dead Man's Gold and Other Stories Read Online Free Page A

thick as the largest tree he had felled. Shu had counted the rings on that stump, and now calculated that Sky-High was at least two thousand years old. Fellow trees guarded it closely, so he couldn’t see through to the top. In the presence of this grand and natural tower, he felt enormous peace, as if he were at home reading in the family mansion.
    Back at camp, the men were snoring, but the cook was waiting. He bent close and whispered, “Did you hear sounds in the forest today?”
    Shu nodded. “What was it?”
    The cook looked around to make sure no one was listening.
    â€œAfter my first season in the bush,” he said, “a wise man told me it was the forest weeping.”
    â€œLike the sap running out of the stumps!” exclaimed Shu.
    â€œTrees are living things, and the more we chop, the greater the pain of the forest. I used to be a logger but I quit. That’s why I cook now.”
    â€œI’ll do the same,” declared Shu, but the older man shook his head.
    â€œWon’t matter,” he said grimly. “The company will hire someone else. There’s easy money here, so trees will keep falling.”
    â€œWe’re killers!”
    â€œNo, we’re men with families to feed.”
    That night, Shu couldn’t sleep with the sounds of the forest’s moaning. He knew it was only a matter of time before the loggers reached his friend Sky-High and chopped it down.
    That must not happen, he thought.
    Then came a big holiday, and the company boat took the men to town. Shu offered to stay behind to guard the supplies.
    Once the boat had sailed out of sight, he dragged the axes and saws to deep water and let them sink. With several trips, he emptied the camp of all its sharpened steel. Then he punctured all the freshwater barrels and let the drinking water trickle away.
    Shu packed some food, planning to trek down the coast. Before leaving, he visited Sky-High one last time.
    He looked up at the perfect lines of the tree. He breathed in the aromatic sweetness and wished he could catch the view from its top.
    When the loggers returned and discovered the destruction, they stomped through the forest, vowing to beat Shu senseless. The company boat took men and torches to search the coastline.
    They discovered his crumpled body at the foot of the giant tree, and thought he had fallen while climbing to hide from them. The men cursed and hurled dishes around, but nothing could be done. Soon the company boat ferried them away.
    A year later, a new crew arrived at the site and tried to chop down Sky-High. But the loggers ran away, badly frightened. At first, these men refused to discuss what had happened, but slowly a strange story emerged.
    When tools were put down, they vanished into thin air. The loggers thought animals were dragging them off but no tracks were left on the soft ground. Often an unknown voice whispered and chuckled around the men, as if laughing at them. And the air around Sky-Highs trunk stayed icy cold throughout the day, even when sunlight hit the ground.
    Finally, when the loggers raised their axes, a Chinese man with a pale face appeared before them. When they tried to shove him aside, their thick hands passed right through his body.
    * * *
    To this day, the towering tree called Sky-High still stands. The wind rustles through its branches, and lines heard long ago drift to the ground:
    â€œOn northern mountains amidst white clouds,
    Hermits come to seek their peace.
    Climbing high to avoid all crowds,
    Where hearts can soar with wild geese.
    Sadness rises from a quiet dusk,
    As autumn air turns clear and brisk.”

FOUR The Memory Stone
    TO CHINESE PEOPLE, jade is the most magical of stones. When adorning human skin, it absorbs the body’s oils and essences as well as the owner’s nature, whether the person is soft or hard, warm or cold. Its healing touch can cool a fever or calm a chill. It can also be ground into powder and swallowed as