the device.
Now, no one could hear our words and I was sure that Isabella was a terrorist. My life was just like a candle,
which was nearly burned up.
‘
You saw a man yesterday. He was a cadre of the People’s Liberation Army and he told you everything,
didn’t he?’ She asked this matter of factly but I was shocked by her question.
‘
You followed me?’
‘
No, I wanted to join you, but when I saw the man I stopped. He has followed me for a long time.’
‘
Why didn’t you just kill me and the cadre at that time? You cruel terrorist!’ I yelled furiously.
‘
We aren’t terrorists! Although we have guns, we just use them to protect ourselves. I know it’s a bitter pill
to swallow, but you have no time to digest it. Leave now! My companions will come soon and they will be
followed by the army. I don’t want to see anybody die,’ she said softly and sadly. This made me curious. ‘Why
do you fight against the Communist Party? China is in excellent condition now under the Party!’ I asked her the
question that had been hidden in my heart. She fell silent for a few seconds.
‘
Tell me, what do you feel about the Great Wall?’
‘
It is glorious,’ I answered unthinkingly. ‘Don’t you feel the same as me?’
‘
Yes, but just a little. Mostly I feel sorrowful and angry. Many people died because of the Great Wall. It was
built with the blood and bones of more than three million people.’
I was startled by her words. I didn’t know what was behind the glory of the Great Wall.
‘
I am also angry that people don’t treasure the Great Wall. They daub it with paint, or even camp on it.
People have carried away the bricks of the Great Wall, and the government hasn’t been able to prevent it. Some
scholars estimate that the Great Wall will disappear in twenty years. As I see it, China is in a similar condition
too,’ she sighed and then continued.
‘
The Communist Party directed our attention to their great economic achievement. However, what was
behind the great achievement? Corruption, collusion between the government and businessmen, officials abusing
their authority… As the government’s power grows bigger, the rights of nationals diminish. This is just like the
condition whereby people forget that the rights of nationals diminish. This is just like the condition whereby
people forget that the Great Wall was built with blood and bones. Or maybe they don’t forget it; they just don’t
care about it. After the Communist Party initiated different reforms, people have just become concerned about
how to make money as quickly as possible. Reforms simply meant that the ends justified any means. The
government was concerned only with results, and used any way it liked to achieve its goals. The minds of the
Chinese people were altered. They threw away their consciences and dyed their values black. The original
Chinese character has been washed away bit by bit. This led to a chapter of accidents. Scandals involving the use
of gutter oil, different fake products, jerry-built projects… China is the same as the Great Wall, which is being
destroyed gradually, by the government and our own hands. We have to change people’s minds and this country
through resistance.’
‘
You can give comments to the government, or talk with the officials rationally. These ways can also solve
the problems,’ I opposed her words.
‘
It is no use doing that. The government just turns a deaf ear to our words. Moreover, the Communist Party
won’t accept any opposing voices and monitors resistance. Although we are nationals of China, we can’t even
exercise our right to give comments on the government’s policy! Furthermore, the police can arrest us if we say
something against the Communist Party. Don’t you think this is deplorable?’
This time, her words silenced me. Meanwhile, some helicopters flew over us.
‘
We didn’t kill anyone. We just reminded people of the negatives of the Communist Party.
The June 4th Incident, the Content and Bloom Campaign, the Cultural Revolution… Chinese people hide all
these memories deep inside their hearts since they want to stay alive. However, should those things be
forgotten? Just like the Great Wall, should we forget three million
people died because of it?’ she said in a sorrowful tone, undercut with anger. ‘I have to go now. Our original
plan was discovered by the army. We have to leave quickly; if not, many people will die.’ She turned around
and walked away.
‘
You know what will happen, right? You and others will die. And China will be destroyed because of your
actions. Do you still want to fight, just for some changes?’ I stopped her. She was right, but was it worth dying
for?
Isabella seemed unconcerned. My eyes followed hers, from the direction of the helicopters, to the scenery
around the Great Wall, and finally to a far-away place. I didn’t know what she
was looking at, but I saw one thing in her eyes. Sadness.
‘
Many people were killed and committed suicide because of the Communist Party. Their minds were
changed during the Cultural Revolution and other events. Our cultures and customs were lost in different