Chapter 67  

None of the kids would like to open the door. They all stared at the door. The knocks were light at first and then got heavier. An order blasted, “Open the door! We’re from the public security bureau!”

Two policemen with pistols looked into through the glass windows, and found the kids inside. One of them motioned to Big Black to open the door.

Big Black seemed to find the opera “White-haired Woman” put on at the sight of the policemen. He screamed, “PLA!”

Big Black rushed ahead boldly to open the door. The soldiers found that all the people inside were kids. They put away their weapons. All the kids stared at the pistols.

All the entrances and exits were supervised. Then, an order roared, “All the people should gather in the courtyard! Be quick!”

“Get up! Don’t kneel down before God!”

Zhang Yan suddenly realized something. He cried, “Mom!” Then he rushed inside the sitting-room. The other kids followed him.

Before Jesus on the cross, Zhang Yan saw his mom, another two women Christians and a male priest kneeling down before Jesus. The other Christians were frightened, and all declared that they were not Christians, claiming they came here for fun and food. Some of them wanted to leave at the excuse of cooking for their family members, but were stopped by the PLA soldiers, who announced:

“Anybody who violates the order will be severely punished.”

A few Christians were so frightened that one of them sobbed:

“Dear me! I have met a misfortune. Why should I believe in God and Jesus? That brings fuck misfortune to me.”

A PLA soldier yelled, “Be calm, or I’ll tie you up!”

At this time, Tang stood up, and the two female Christians and the male priest beside her also stood up. They came to the courtyard. Then, Tang said to the PLA soldiers, “I don’t know the people here. They came just for fun. Please let them go.”

“No.” The leader said. “All the people must go to the public security office.” He cast a glance at Tang and showed a warrant to her, saying, “We are ordered to search your house. I hope you can co-operate with us.” Then, he motioned to take the other Christians away.

A soldier came, and motioned the two female Christians and the male priest beside Tang to stand in another place. Tang stared at them, and made a cross of prayer in her chest. Then, they were taken away like lambs.

Zhang Yan came up and held his mom’s hands. Tang’s hands were warm to her son. He seemed to feel God’s care and benevolence.

The PLA soldiers ordered, “The children of this family stay, but the others leave.”

Big Black, Little Black and a group of kids ran away. Yan Yuan and Fang Yu held each other’s hands. They were reluctant to leave Zhang Yan. Suddenly Tang let go her son’s hands, and a glare sparked in her eyes. She saw a soldier climb up, ready to cut the statue with an ax.

Tang made a loud shout for the first time in her life, “Stop!” She ran to the altar with all her strength.

Zhang Yan stayed together with Zhang Zhong and Zhang Yong. Yan Yuan and Fang Yu also came close. They held Zhang Yan’s cold hands.

Tang’s voice alarmed the soldier, whose ax fell to the ground. The PLA leader was angry. He came up and picked up the ax and gave it to the soldier again. The soldier saw his leader’s blame in his eyes. Thus, he held the ax and cut the statue.

Tang tumbled on the ground, and looked up at the statue. She seemed to find a contemptuous smile on Lord’s face. She seemed to hear Lord speaking:

“Dear God, my father. I can’t do anything about the evils in this society.”

God replied, “My son, ever since I condemned the snake, the evils have been showing up in the world. Your frustrations come from the worldly sins. My frustration is that I should not have led people to the second ‘Noah’s Ark’. Look! Isn’t the kind Tang asking us for help? I think those who can endure the pains in China will be blessed and glorified, so will their children. Those who torture the others for bad reasons will be damned with stupidity, so will their children.”

Tang seemed to find God and Jesus giving their hands to her. Tang was excited and joyful. Then, she held up her arms and cried to the sky:

“Dear Lord, let me stay together with you!”

She gave a smile at the kids around her, and then prayed silently again.

The statue of Jesus was made of wood. It broke soon with the cutting. The pieces strangely moved to Tang. The PLA leader noticed this. He ordered the soldier to get rid of the pieces. To him, this was a fetter on the Chinese.

The PLA leader spoke to Tang, “Get up! The statue was broken. Why do you still kneel down? For the sake of safety, please get up.”

Tang did not listen. Then, the leader said, “Why do you rich people worship such things? The government has ordered you to remove these superstitious things. The Communists are not afraid of the American and British imperialists. Will they be afraid of you? Get up!”

Tang still knelt down motionlessly.

The PLA soldier saw the whole frame of the statue ready to fall down. He was worried that it might hurt Tang. The leader wanted to help Tang get up, but then realized the disciplines. He saw the kids stay close together, and said, “Come over and help your mom get up!”

Zhang Yan was aware that he should not interrupt his mom in prayer. But maybe his mom had violated the law, Zhang Yan thought. The soldiers were carrying things from upstairs to downstairs, like recorders, telephones and books. These things were piled in the courtyard. A sense of fear and sadness penetrated into the kid’s heart. He held Yan Yuan and Fang Yu’s hands tightly. He was afraid that they would leave him. But his mom seemed to fear nothing. That was strange.

At this time, the leader said again, “Please help your mom get up!”

Zhang Yan, Zhang Zhong and Zhang Yong went over to help Tang get up. Zhang Yan cried, “Mom, get up! Many people are inside our house moving things.”

He found his mom motionless. A sense of fear attacked him. He burst into tears, “Mom!”

Zhang Yan wanted to see Yang and his daddy, but where were they? He saw Dai Min taken away to the back of the courtyard, and Wang took a few soldiers to his parents’ room upstairs. Where were his daddy and Yang? Zhang Yan wiped his tears and ran around.