and Ai-Mei and her cousin feared for his life.
Panting with exhaustion as they climbed the many steps to get where Chong-Mei had seen his
grandfather, Ai-Mei looked around. The country was beautiful. Thick grass, clusters of tall Horsetail Pine filled
the vast landscape, their branches decorated with King Fisher nests. She wished she could stop a while and
enjoy the scenery. It wasn't often she got to go outside. She shook that thought from her head and continued
onward behind Chong-Mei.
After walking in silence, the two reached the same guard tower, located in the middle of The Great Wall,
in which Chong-Mei had seen their grandfather. They entered the crumbling doorway and Ai-Mei closed her
eyes, allowing the cool shade of the room to pass over her face. She remembered the times her grandfather had
taken her up here when she was young and told her stories of the battle. She turned to Chong-Mei.
"
Is this it? Is he here?" she questioned impatiently.
A stony expression was fixed on Chong-Mei’s face, and he pointed in the direction of where the
guardhouse’s other doorway met the rest of the wall.
Ai-Mei took a step closer.
"
Grandfather? Ye-Ye?" she whispered, peering through the shadows. "Are you all right?"
"
Stay back! The enemy is near. I sense them," her grandfather’s gravely voice called out from behind the
side of the wall.
Ai-Mei looked back at Chong-Mei. He nodded, imploring her to go closer, and began to make his way
over. Ai-Mei turned back to her grandfather and peered around the pillar.
The old man was crouched down, his back pressed against the cracked side of the wall. His head was
bald; the only wisps of hair were on his chin. His wrinkled skin was tanned and dotted with sunspots. Ai-Mei's
heart dropped when she saw him. His eyes where round like saucers, and his body was tucked and crooked.
Shaking, his beady eyes met hers.
"
What are you doing, Wan-Shan?" he hissed, pulling Ai-Mei hard by her wrist so she fell to his side.
"
Are you suicidal? If the enemy sees you, you're a dead man!"
"
Ye-ye. It's me, Ai-Mei. Your granddaughter," Ai-Mei urged, her eyes tearing up. "Don't you recognize
me?"
"
Shhhh!! Keep quite Wan-Shan! I think I just saw a soldier," he murmured, holding his hand up to hush
Ai-Mei. His eyes shifted back and fourth. "Shi-Yeh, Han-Zou! Are you in position?"
There was no answer. Ai-Mei sighed, and looked up at Chong-Mei. He shook his head. All of a sudden,
their grandfather let out a scream.
"
Get back! This is our land!" he hollered, standing up to fight off imaginary soldiers.
"
Grandfather!" Ai-Mei ordered, jumping up. "Sit down! Please! You are going to hurt yourself!" she
pleaded, tugging him back.
"
Wan-Shan! What do you think you're doing? Who's side are you on?" he screeched at her, ripping his
arm from her grasp.