LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE FISHERMAN'S PRIZE (SECTION 9)

 

LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC 

 THE FISHERMAN'S PRIZE (SECTION 9)

                                                                                   

After several gulps, Kaimu then expressed his approval of the choice wine.  “This brew you've brought is the best I've tasted.  It's very good.  It's so, so smooth and so, so tasty.”  Again, he downed some more and licked his lips afterwards, showing his pleasure.

His drinking sessions with Zianko had strengthened his resilience and immured him to last out regardless of the quantity consumed.  “We must have Zianko over one evening and show off our superior brew.” 

Yoansu took his father's words as jest and so nodded his head in assent without inquiry.  Kaimu, pleased, settled back in his chair and explained. “As you well know son, she is no relative of ours. In fact, she’s not even a native of this country. That is why she could not engage in any conversation. She can hear and speak well enough, in her own strange dialogue. We only said she was a relation, to placate Tufan, to place your wife's mind at ease.”  Then he snickered, “If we had told her the truth, she might not have slept a wink at all, this night.”  He took another gulp and passed it down his throat with a gurgle. “And no, despite what you may think, I’m far too old to consider such goings on.” Then after a pause, he pitted his harsh gaze on his son and said, “The fact is, Jiense was kept here for the sole purpose of (mating with you) becoming your wife...How were we to know you would return with one of your own choosing?  This is a clear case of one bride too many.”

The son's eyes opened wide as he inwardly reveled in this unexpected good fortune.  Looking in Jiense’s direction he gasped, then feigning ignorance, he exclaimed in amazement. “But, father, we’ve always lacked the funds for the procurement of any wife for me, foreign or otherwise.  We didn't have it when Elder Brother wanted to marry.  I’m aware of the imposed hardships here and scarcity of such a find. Surely, she did not fall from the sky.” Yoansu shook his head.

 As if you didn’t know or couldn’t guess!  Kaimu mused, with a wry smile. Then softening his gaze, he responded. “What you don't understand son, is that she cost us not a single Zukon.  She came to us free, yes, free as a bird! Almost as good as if she’d fallen from the sky.” He then reasserted, seeing utter disbelief in Yoansu’s eyes.

“But how can one as beautiful as she…?” Yoansu’s curiosity had now peaked.

    “Not snatched up by all the ruffians on the prowl?” Kaimu finished the sentence for Yoansu. “Heaven only knows.” Kaimu shrugged, as if indifferently; then after a brief respite, he consented. “Very well, I shall not prolong the suspense any longer.”  Oh, but he so enjoyed the act of stringing along a captive audience.

Yoansu thence (thus) listened with rapt attention to the incredible accounts of Kaimu’s story:

“Well son, it was a strange day, a day like no other, when I picked up my net and headed out to sea in my boat.”  Now it was his turn to embellish the facts of his story, albeit an actual one. 

 Kaimu studied his son’s face carefully as he told in detail the dangers he’d faced. His heart sank, reaffirming his belief, when he saw no sign of surprise, concern or compassion in that well-polished, yet hardened face.

“I hauled the body aboard my small craft.  Since the body was still warm and there was a slight movement of the head, I knew that she was still among the living.  By now you see, I had found out that he was she.  Rowing to shore I carried her back home and left her in the care of your mother.  Not wishing to waste the day, I returned to sea once more and that night returned with a bountiful catch.  You can imagine my happiness at having struck out lucky, twice in one day.”

 Even though his mind raced with millions of questions, Yoansu dared not interrupt, lest his father (with his foul temper) halted and left him hanging in a quandary with the unanswered facts.

 “We nursed her back to life and looked after her all this time, in happy anticipation of your safe return.  We looked forward to surprising you with this lucky chance; instead, you had your own surprise for us.  Little did we think you would return with a wife of your own?”  Slamming his hand on the table, in his somewhat drunken state, he cursed the gods of the sea and with undecipherable mumble aired his heart’s grievances.  After which he gulped down the rest of the wine in the cup.  The son again hurriedly filled it to the brim as he’d been doing all night.  After a thoughtful silence, which Kaimu remained perfectly still his chin cupped in his left hand, he then concluded, “Well, that changes everything. Still, since we spent our time and food on her...Hmm.”

Now that he knew all the facts, Yoansu remained most unwilling to let go of this golden opportunity.  In fact, he would like nothing better than to dispose of his tiresome old wife and indulge in pleasure with this tender shoot of a rare find.

Failing that, he would have them both.

Nevertheless, Yoansu knew that it would be a daunting task to convince his upright mother to accept this sort of bigamous relationship. On the other hand, he might have a better chance with this old relic, as Kaimu was an ordinary, ignoble man and hence, more open to such notions.

 In that awkward repose, he’d therefore had pondered on his persuasive arguments:

  Yes, bigamy was unlawful in Wenjenkun, but who abided by laws here, in this remote corner, with no real enforcement to speak of?  Besides, provided one had the monetary means, one could always maintain a mistress or have illicit liaisons (consort) with servants.  After all, was it not men’s prerogative to fulfill their destinies by appeasing their ferocious sexual appetites that ultimately perpetuated the human species and ensured their domination of the world? As many held this viewpoint, no one had paid any genuine heed to this unnatural and unrealistic mockery of a law in the doctrines that imposed quixotic monogamy on the citizens of a civilized society. As proof throughout the land, polygamy had secretly, under the very noses of authorities, had flourished (thrived) even amongst (with) didactic, well-established families. Emperor himself was rumored to have had numerous illicit relations with those noble young ladies, ones in the close company of the Empress.  Meanwhile, houses of pleasure flourished, feeding the egos of lesser, indigent classes. 

As his own wife was in a family way and he meant to leave her to Ensa’s competent care anyhow, why not take Jiense back to town with him as his mistress, a companion of sorts, to ward off temptations from other illicit women (prostitutes). What could be better than that, as it would certainly keep him on the righteous course?”

 “Why can't I have her as my mistress?” Instead, Yoansu suddenly proposed (blurted out).  “I can take Jiense back to the city with me and leave Tufan, as it would be difficult for her in her family way, to adjust to a new lifestyle with you guys and to moreover in future, take good care of you both in your old age. My resourceful wife has a big mouth; everyone back in town will think Jiense’s a relative. Meanwhile, if anything happened to my wife, I would have a perfectly good one for (as) a standby.”

 “You would like that, wouldn’t you?” Kaimu frowned. “Supposed virtuous son; what about the feelings and needs of your pregnant wife… you would forsake her as callously as that?” He growled.

Yoansu bowed his head feigning shame. It wasn’t going to be that easy convincing this old coot!

Kaimu relented; striving for peace, he smiled mischievously and nodded.

“Then again, Jiense is quite a beauty, how can I blame you. Nevertheless, you must constrain your wayward (capricious) love interests, for woman, your wife, can always sense these things.”

Ensa, who had strained her ears and had heard only the last part of what had been said, now seething in anger, bolted to her feet (jumped up in a big hurry) and burst out of the room. Shaking an accusing finger to her husband and then to her son, she scoffed.

 “The pair of you is shameless, talking of her as if she was a tender piece of fish or meat, ready to be consumed!” 

Turning to her husband in a more accusatory tone, she snarled. “You’re the worst. Just because you saved her life and gave her shelter, that doesn’t give you the right to act as if you owned her. She is a living, breathing, independent human being…not some animal to do with as you liked! I thought we’d kept her because we had a good reason to, and that even now, we would strive to do the right thing for her.  But you two...” Then, turning again to face her son, “And you!  Have you no shame?  A brand-new wife in there, already with a child and you talk of having another.  I thought I had brought you up right, but now I am disappointed in you.  Too bad...”

“Hush up, woman!” Kaimu stormed at her.  “Who asked your opinion? This does not concern you.  Now get out of here before I really lose my temper and give you a taste of this.” He showed a threatening clenched fist in the air. And don't think your son being here is going to change anything.”

“Go ahead, I dare you to!” Ensa stuck her chest out in defiance.  

The son at this point hastily interjected to placate his father, meanwhile asking his mother to please stop her goading diatribe and withdraw quietly from this highly volatile scene (the room).  As she with hurtful countenance, reluctantly, seeing sense, turned to go, Kaimu quite incensed still, bellowed after her. “You are always meddling in my affairs and stirring up trouble! What business is it of yours, what I do with her?” Then turning to face his son, he grumbled.  “See what I have to put up with, day in and day out?”

Yoansu nodded; for how else he was to respond.

 Emboldened by this, Kaimu shouted after Ensa once more. “If you continue to anger me, I may dispose of you altogether and take her as my wife instead.  Or better still, give her to Zianko!” Then in that moment being reminded of something, he reverted (turned) his attention back on Yoansu. “That’s right, the rogue knows all about her! The scoundrel wormed it out of me one night during our drinking bout.”

Just one more reason to, (dispose) off that cur, Yoansu mused coldly.

 Now who could sleep through that entire racket?  But one, that should have understood and taken due caution, could not tell what was being said, while the new bride, Tufan had only woken up midway from her deep slumber, missing most of it, except for the last part. Nevertheless, Kaimu's abusive words to his wife had been enough to cause disgust and a bit of a fright in Tufan. From their last exchange, she now concluded that the old man must have been carrying on impure thoughts or perhaps an illicit affair with someone, and having been confronted with it by his wife, it had spurred his outrage. At this point Tufan had cursed her ill fate, for allowing her to be part of such an ignoble, vulgar family.  She cursed her uncle for deliberately withholding this fact from her and she cursed herself for being so completely beguiled (duped) by one with such base, humble origins.  She would have been more mortified had she heard all that had been said and came to know the truth about Jiense.

Subsequently, as things had quieted down, the already exhausted women folk had succumbed to an uneasy sleep.   In that seeming quietude, Yoansu with his duplicitous design had deliberately plied his father with added drinks.

Precipitately, Kaimu refusing next refill, proposed: “The atmosphere is quite stifling in here, why don’t we go outside for a bit of fresh air.”

Finding this most agreeable, Yoansu nodded in concurrence.

And so, they’d walked quietly for some time under the blanket of night’s sky, their seemingly capricious steps leading them towards the shed and even going beyond it, as far as safety had allowed.

Satisfied that they had gone beyond everyone’s hearing range- Kaimu then abruptly halting grabbed hold of Yoansu’s arm and brusquely pulled him aside. Cocking (tilting) his head to one side, he spoke in a stern voice: “If you’ve had your fill of games son, I would like to now delve into the truth…You still know what that is, right?” Then curtly turning away grumbled under his breath. “I really should be furious with him, far more than I am, for his arrogance and his audacity!”

Yoansu was too amazed, to see his father after the volume (amount) of snifter (alcoholic drink, consumption) being still in full faculty of his senses, to take any offense. “Father, back in there, I did not mean what I said about the girl….” He started to say, but Kaimu put a hand over his son’s mouth to stop him. “Save your breath!” He ejected tersely. “But there’s another matter that warrants clarification.” He then added sternly, as he deliberately turned his back to his son and walked brusquely away. 

Now Kaimu had excellent night vision, but Yoansu stumbled over a rock or two as he hastily rushed to catch up with him. Thank Heaven the moon periodically peeped from the clouds to provide him with some illumination.

“Father, please stop!” The urgency of the latter’s voice brought Kaimu to a reluctant halt. With a wry smile he waited rooted to the spot for his son to reach him.

“Back inside, your claims as to how you’d acquired your wife. That was quite a tale you told son.”

When Yoansu tried to protest, showing indignation in face, Kaimu raised his hand to stop him. “Don’t insult my intelligence!” He scoffed. “I’m not as gullible as your mother. Her love for you is so great; she’ll swallow any lie you utter, always believing in the best of you. I went along, not wishing to dishearten her. But honestly, who is she, your wife? Would you, also care to tell me the real account of how you came to amass your apparent wealth? Gambling, teahouses… feed that chum to the sharks!” Kaimu snarled.

 

(END OF SECTION 9)

                                                                                 

(BE SURE TO CHECK BACK AND LEARN, WHAT FACTS WILL BE REVEALED IN NEXT POST OF THE FISHERMAN’S PRIZE, SECTION 10)

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