***** Vol.2 Chap.53 Help finally came *****

May-Ling also got ready for bed, but she was far from asleep. After a hard day of labor, of course, she was tired. But this sudden turn of events, this meeting with Jar-Li, had fully invigorated her again.

As she lay there quietly, her mind went into overdrive, planning her escape. After considering her predicament, she decided she would take nothing with her, not even her doctor’s bag, so as not to arouse any suspicion. She would just leave quietly and simply disappear. If the village was only a day away, she could reach the village with no need to bring any food or water with her.

Ah-Ching and Ah-Wen came back noisily. May-Ling tried to quiet them down.

“Ah-Ming is asleep already.” May-Ling told them in a hushed voice.

“Don’t worry about the old goat. Once she is out, she is out.” They laughed.

Ah-Ching and Ah-Wen chatted noisily for a long time. May-Ling kept wishing that they would go to sleep. She did not know when Jar-Li would come and did not want Ah-Ching and Ah-Wen to be awake when Jar-Li came. She did not know what to do. Even though she looked like she was sleeping, but inside of her, she had butterflies all over her stomach.

She was worried sick. She felt like jumping up and knocking the two chatty girls unconscious. Finally, they settled down to sleep. They fell asleep quickly. May-Ling also pretended to sleep, but was wide awake. She was too excited about meeting Jar-Li earlier and now about the possibility of leaving the compound.

After a while, she did not want to risk Jar-Li waking the sleeping women. So, she got up quietly and tiptoed to the back and sat next to the door.

She waited and waited and waited.

She was not sure if this was for real or if this was a test. Perhaps Jar-Li was sent by the Boss to test her. But it seemed good at the time, and Jar-Li sounded so sincere. Besides, she had nothing to lose.

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She waited for a long time and was about to give up when she heard a twig break outside. She wanted to open the door and see, but she was not sure if it was Jar-Li or a passing guard. After what seemed like an eternity, she thought she heard some tapping on the door. She quickly but quietly opened the door and right in front of her was Jar-Li, standing there with his finger to his mouth. She quickly closed the door.

After making sure that no one was following them, Jar-Li started his way briskly to the back of the compound. She followed him gingerly. They walked briskly through the chicken farm. Most of the chickens were gathered near the feed trough. It was too early for the cock to crow yet. They tried to be extra quiet so as not to arouse the chickens.

Behind the chicken farm was the hog farm. Most of the hogs were in a makeshift barn and barely made a stir. One pig raised its head to investigate what was going on, but she doubted if it saw anything because the night was dark. Jar-Li must have known the path well, as he walked rather rapidly through the path. This was, of course, her first time and she did not know where they were going.

After passing the hog farm, Jar-Li made a sudden turn to the left and headed for the hills. She struggled to follow. There was no proper path to go up the hill, but she trusted that Jar-Li knew where he was going. They walked for another five minutes and Jar-Li stopped.

“I need to go back before I am missed.”

“Jar-Li, I don’t know how to thank you for what you have done tonight.”

“Just a small favor in return for everything you have done for me. … Especially for what I have done to Doctor Tsai.” Jar-Li almost broke out in tears.

“Jar-Li, you are very bold tonight. You risked your life to help me.”

“You have risked your life to help me for so long.” The words choked in his throat. “I have brought you some bread and some water.”

Jar-Li gave her a small bag.

“Thank you so much.”

“Listen carefully. Stay off the main trail. Just keep going up the hill in this direction.” Jar-Li pointed to a distant peak. She could barely make out the silhouette of the peak. “The men would be all over the hill looking for you tomorrow, particularly along the main trail. Stay off the trail and you will find the village in this direction. It is in the valley beyond this hill before you get to the next peak. Now go.”

“Thank you, Jar-Li.”

“Go.”

“I will never forget you.” She turned and started walking.

Jar-Li abruptly turned around and hurried back. In the distance, she thought she heard a distant sob.

She walked as fast as she could. The progress was much slower since she was not familiar with the terrain and had never been here before. But she moved steadily on. Even though her body was tired and her mind was drowsy because of lack of sleep, she prodded onwards. She must put as much distance as she can away from the compound. It was sheer determination and discipline that kept her going.

Mechanically, she prodded on and on.