作家按语：《传教士和他的女儿》（原书名：裸拜）！故事叙述富有的喜欢生物硏究的英国青年亨利，32年走进神奇的贵州山区，他宣扬真爱，拯救生命、制止血腥与残杀…在边远的贵州山区建立了基督教堂，传播主的福音，他的美德和仁爱精神，使他受到众多山里基督徒的裸拜和崇敬！

作品引领喜欢旅游和民族风情的欧洲人、美国人进入美丽的贵州山区，去领略那里与世无争的宁静和鲜为人知的民族风情……中国解放后，当共产党人要驱逐亨利牧师时，桀骜的双溪坪教徒爆发了反抗……许多扑朔迷离的山村故事，皆在此书中！

The Missionaryand His Daughter

传教士和他的女儿

Zongming Zhang

张宗銘 著

Translated by Tangjin Xiao

肖唐金 译

Henry had studied biology in London University, and was especially interested in botany. He came to Guizhou for two reasons. First, he would like to preach God’s love and care to the people here. Second, there were many unknown species of fauna and flora here. These species were even absent in the British Museum.

But Henry was a layman to the medical effects of Chinese herbs. The moment he saw Ah Cai catch the crisp snake, he began to have a strong curiosity in Chinese herbs. Also, it seemed strange to him that the villagers would accommodate him rather than the pregnant Ah Cai. He was amazed that Ah Cai could get a special type of ointment by mixing up the crisp snake and some herbs. The ointment did anaesthetize the wounded, but would it cure him of the wound? Henry wanted to know why and how.

Cen Linshan and Dry Stick were both from Shuangxiping. Why didn’t he go there for a visit? Why didn’t he take care of Dry Stick there? Henry decided to go to Shuangxiping with the two men.

To preach gospel, you must have the courage to face the hardships ahead and take fame and fortune light. And you couldn’t stay away from evils and bad luck around you. As a missionary, you must shoulder the cross, sacrificing selflessly for Him. To you, money, sex and power meant less than care and love.

Henry felt himself purified in his mental communication with God. He was thankful to God for His guide to him in the mountains where truth and chaos as well as purity and puzzlement existed side by side.

Ah Cai put the musk into her own herbal bag as Henry fixed the bandages with tree branches over Dry Stick’s wound. She drank the salty soup and ate the meat tastefully. Henry finished the leftovers in the pot. Ah Cai was now moved by Henry. She wondered why Henry came to the mountains. He had salt, and salt meant wealth. Why did he come to the mountains then? He didn’t look like a peddler collecting furs, musk, gutta-percha and other herbs. What did he do then?

Then, Ah Cai saw Cen Linshan give a big piece of roe-deer meat to Henry and invite him to Shuangxiping for a visit. She thought: Henry would be a distinguished guest from now on in the mountains.

Henry was about to lie down for a rest like the hunters when Ah Cai went up to him with a bag in her left hand and a basket on her back. She asked:

“Henry the British Christian, would you please accompany me for the trip?”

Henry pointed at the dark mountains, answering, “Now?”

“Yes!”

Henry pointed at the mountains and woods ahead, asking, “Why don’t you leave at daybreak?”

The hunters looked up at Ah Cai with a sign of contempt. Ah Cai realized that she was inferior now. Yet she had nobody but Henry to turn to for help. She was aware of her notoriety. Probably others would consider her request as a means of seducing a foreigner. And now it was dark. That kind of understanding was normal, wasn’t it? Wasn’t she looking for trouble by herself?

Henry looked much different from the hunters. He was blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Would he do anything bad to her if she went out with her? Would he turn into a monster in the dark?

Ah Cai was worried and nervous. She lit up a torch and went on her trip. It was dark and the yells of wolves could be heard in the distance.