Глава 8

...Then you should get mad at me.

You haven't done anything wrong.

I told her I was gonna go with her. But then I got scared... I... let go of her hand. I didn't go with her...

She looked... really scared. I was really scared, and she was too. I... I did something wrong.

...Hui-chieh, she made the mistake, not you.

Huh? B-but you said you wouldn't blame her, Uncle!

No, I won't.

But didn't... didn't she do something wrong? If she does something wrong, you're... not gonna get mad at her?

She doesn't know the truth. It's not a truth anyone should be privy to, so of course she'd make a mistake. If not now, she would in the future.

...In so many cases, the wrong thing shouldn't be punished. Not only do we make mistakes, we'll make so many of them. If there's some mistake, we will make it. We can't dodge that, nor escape it.

Talulah simply made the mistake she was bound to.

Is that still doing something wrong, then?

Yes, of course it is. This world of ours wouldn't forgive something just because it was bound to happen.

The world is harsh, the people are harsh, the regimes are harsh. Apart from right and wrong, they don't care a damn. As if it's right and wrong keeping them alive, and not what they breathe and swallow...!

I don't get what you're saying, Uncle.

Does... does it mean Tal can still come back?

—I don't know, Hui-chieh. I don't know.

...*sob*... Is it because of me... Tal won't come back? It's my fault... it's my fault... Tal...

Hui-chieh!

*whimper*...!

Wipe your tears away.

*sob*... I...

Or cry, then. I'll give you five minutes. After you're done crying, if there's not still tears in your eyes, I'll tell you what you should do.

Mm...!

...Waaah...! Tal...!

Wei Yenwu gazes towards the sky. He considers bending down to comfort the tiny girl, but after hesitating, feels as if he isn't suited to the task.

You're done crying, then.

...Mm-hm. I want Tal back. What should I do?

I'll teach you a world of things. I'll teach you how to supervise a city, how to fend off villains, how to treat your friends.

Do as I say, and Talulah will have a chance of coming back.

Wh-what do I do? Will Tal be able to come back, really? Are you tricking me, Uncle?

...Mama... Mama said, you only know howta trick people. Can... can I really believe you?

Perhaps.

I've made a massive mistake of my own, and it led to your mother despising me for her whole life. Even on her deathbed, she couldn't have let go. What she told you is understandable.

But mistakes can be made right.

Hui-chieh, listen carefully. Proper conduct is worth striving your whole life for. Correcting a mistake is worth putting life itself at stake for.

Talulah's departure was a mistake. Every consequence it brings, I will bear.

And you, Hui-chieh. You'd better grow up fast.

What'll it be like when I grow up?

Hmm. When you grow up... you'll be able to change everything.

Really?!

Perhaps. Or let's put it this way: so long as you believe, it will be real.

I'll teach you to wield a sword, Hui-chieh.

To wield Chi Xiao.

'As move unsheathing blade, cleave now as cleft.'