The music of the train Sam Foy was taking rang faintly through his ears. After the unpredictable offer, what
Sam Foy had to do was to go to the Great Wall immediately. Yes, it was a very quiet evening. Sam Foy thought
again as a bowl of shark fin soup landed on a round table in front of him, which already was full of dishes Sam
Foy had never tasted in his life. Trees and mountains raced past the train in blurs, the sun hung proudly over
everything, and the beautiful sunset had already passed. The soft cushions under his legs seemed to glow with
light.
Imere, opposite him, didn’t seem to notice anything; he just ate all the dishes they were offering with a big
smile. He would never grow up, Sam Foy thought. It was a private big room they were using, very grand: A TV
there, a library here…it was spacious, with enough room for a dozen more people to dance freely.
Then, a slender waitress came in silently and asked Sam Foy in a soft voice, “Mr. Foy, Mr. Catthew offers
books for you.”
Great! Work! Sam Foy thought desperately. He received the three huge ancient manuscripts on a tray on the
waitress’s hand, thanked the waitress, and then flipped over the pages.
The first manuscript was mainly about the history of the Great Wall and other facts. The second manuscript
was all about disappearing cases and kidnappings. Sam Foy turned over the third manuscript, which had a green
cover and an old look, while Imere was eating dessert, which happened to be the red bean soup.
The manuscript was mostly about different crickets in different ages, strange. But then Sam Foy flipped to
the last page, where neat notes were jotted down.
“
The Cricket Emperor …the lost palace…The Treasure Ship…”
“
Interesting.” Sam Foy muttered quietly. “There was once a legend. There’s a legendary Chinese flute that
could control all crickets in the world, which could also make mind control possible. It was said that the soul of
the boy who died when trying to catch a cricket was trapped in the flute. Then marks were written and the words
‘
The way of trust is marked, only the patterns can survive were there too.”
Sam Foy closed the book then thought, why would Mr. Catthew give this book to me? Millions of different
thoughts swarmed through Sam Foy’s mind.
“
Mr. Foy,” The same soft voice of the waitress cut through the millions of thoughts in Sam Foy’s mind.
“
We’re here.”
Sam Foy looked out the window and saw the most magnificent view in his life.
3
Crickets
Grey stones with hints of old age stuck together to form the Great Wall, climbing through the spines of
mountains and the sand of the earth. A watchtower stood tall, every place where the snake of stone turned. The
walls were built to blend in the mountains, so they were not in a straight or any stipulated lines. It extended far
and far over mountains, but it ended in the wavy sea. The Great Wall lay flat on the beach, swam in the Buhai
Sea for meters, and then ended there.
Sam Foy had seen many different heart stopping things, but never as old, huge, or breathtaking as the Great
Wall. The ode: “He who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man,” echoed in his mind.
The train stopped, and they, Sam Foy and Imere, got out of the tube shaped train, into a transparent tunnel to
where Mr. Catthew was waiting for them. It was obvious that the train was made by secret, and it was a secret.
Mr. Catthew was a middle-aged man who seemed to be gentle and kind. He wore a suit and a black fitted
monocle. Just like the agents who found Sam Foy in the café. He stood in front of Sam Foy, crossing his hands
in front of his chest.
“
Mr. Foy, nice to meet you.” Mr. Catthew said, then shook Sam Foy’s hand firmly.
They were surrounded by trees and grasses, and beneath their feet were sand and rocks. The air was cool, as
it was near the winter now.
“
It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Catthew.” Sam Foy replied again.
“
Have you read the books I gave to you?” Mr. Catthew asked.
“
Yes.” After a pause, “but why did you give me the manuscript about the crickets?” Sam Foy couldn’t resist
adding.
“
You’ll see when you get there.” Mr. Catthew replied.
They got on a camouflaged jeep, then drove to the Shanhai Pass. After a bumpy ride, they were in front of
the Zhendong Gate.
Although dozens of disappearing cases had taken place here, tourists were everywhere. “First and Greatest
Pass under Heaven,” was written on a white board that hung on top of the gate.
They parked on a side then all went out.