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Chapter 2
A little girl
is sitting next to a window looking out onto a busseling cobbled
street.. Chinese women are shaking out rugs, engaging in the usual
gossip and chasing unruly children. Men are gathering at the corner
for their daily game of Wei Ch’i… Tis the year of our
Lord 1792..
An older woman walks into the room. Dressed in
travel attire..
Ma Ma
Child are ye ready
to go? Do you have yir doll? Please don’t forget it this time.
We have to leave in a few minutes.
Sarah (10 years old)
Aye.. Ma Ma! I have
Julie. Don’t worry I won’t leave her.
Ma Ma? Why is it that
we have to leave again?
Ma Ma
Auch.. it the Manchus
magistrate..He wants all the Western traders out of Shanghai as
soon as possible. Seems they have had some trouble with illegal
trading of weapons with the Han Chinese. But don’t you worry
we will be back at Glen Affrie before you know it lass..
Sarah
Will Daddy still be coming on the ship?
Ma Ma
No Sarah..this morning
he sent McDougal with a message saying that he would be tied up
and would be able to join us until later. He said that you are not
to worry he has arranged safe passage all the way to Glasgow. Now
we have to hurra. Nannie is waiting doonstairs and the carriage
has arrived…Grab yir Julie..
The docks are busier
than normal. Traders and their crews are frantically running all
over checking their loads and preparing for the journey. I can recognize
some of them but frankly I am surprised at the number trying to
leave all at once..
I am looking out
into the harbour now. Royal British fleet ships have arrived to
assist with the trader’s evacuation.. Chinese junk boats are
manoevering themselves around the great ships with ease..almost
as though they never existed.
Females Voice
I can see him now..
He’s chasing a black cat.. Must be one of the ship rat catchers
trying to slip off the ship to steal some fish from the merchants..
He sees me and
smiles. I know that smile. I have seen it a million times. Sparking
eyes with wee dimples in his cheeks. (Voice in the distance)
Ma’Ma..
Lassy you stay put and don’t move. Ye don’t
want to get mixed up in the chaos and end up in the wrong ship ..Do
ye? I'’ll be back in a minute..
The cat is coming towards
me..He’s rubbing up against my gown. Oh.. here he comes. He
is signaling me to grab the cat for him. I am smiling..
Jet (Chinese)
Thank you lady.. He’s a big
cat.. is he not? I think the ship First Mate will give me a penny
for catching him.
Sarah Smiles
You speak good English.
Why don’t ye keep the cat? Don’t Chinese people eat cats
anyway? (laughs)
Jet
(He senses Sarah joking..and smiles) No..I will
get more money for returning the cat and will be able to purchase
more food for my family.
Sarah
Hmm.. That’s
a better idea. I am sure your Mummy will be very proud of ye! So
how is it that you can speak English?
Jet
My Mother (stubbles over his words)
work right over there in the fish market. She has taught me what
she has learned from the sailors. Are you leaving Shanghai today?
Sarah
Yes..My Mummy should be back any
minute now. Here’s yir cat.. Be nice tae him please..
Sarah passes the
grey tabby back to him and smiles.. His hand touches hers during
the exchange. A jolt of electricity surges up through Sarah’s
veins right to her heart. She looks at him oddly and steps back..
He is looking at her in the same strange way..
Masculine Voice..
Now count backwards
10..98..7..6.. you can hear my voice now..slowly..5…4…3…2…1..
Now open your eyes. Do you remember where you are?
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There is a woman sitting in a
leather lounger chair in a Dr.’s office.
Jennifer
(34 year old attractive American woman) Yes. I know
where I am now. Was I under for a long time? It seemed like a long
session.
Dr. Schultz
No. Only for ten minutes.
Do you remember everything you saw?
Jennifer
Yeah.. But I still
don’t understand how can I go from being in a bomb shelter
during the blitz to being a girl in China in what I think is around
the 1700’s?
Next Chapter
Written by Isabel Hodge
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