Night - Remnants of Snow Latest Works Collection

Author: Can Xue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: "She sits there and talks," A Lian pointed to the window, "The moment she speaks, there's blood in the air. A Lian, my cousin, tell me, why did she come? No, no, I know why she came. When I was working, she sat in the room next to me. Why do I keep fainting? It's because she made a terrible noise next door. That sound, that sound, I can't describe it." Her face became like a mask, her voice suddenly stiff: "You came, and I felt so awful. I didn't—no, there's nothing wrong with me. Listen, did you hear? Not one, but five, not five, but seven!" She pointed at the floor above the window, her fingers trembling. It was more like excitement than fear, because her slightly swollen face suddenly flushed. I didn't hear any strange sounds, just the footsteps of passersby. Did she say seven feet? No, I only heard two footsteps, and the person was already far away. My mind also grew hazy, and in that haze, I saw A Lian's hair still on her head, thick and glossy. She was combing her hair with a toothless wooden comb.
"A Lian, A Lian, why do things change completely the moment I'm here? At home, I imagined your illness, and I thought you were so lonely. But here, I can't help but feel ashamed. Why? Maybe it's because I see that you have a purpose in life, but I don't. You're just like someone said: all ears, clear eyes." I stood up to leave. I went to open the door, but it wouldn't budge; I pushed hard, and it felt like someone had locked the bolt from the outside. A Lian didn't look at me; she lowered her head, as if asleep.
"A Lian, I can't get out." She gave a soft laugh, raised her head, and said, "A Lian, cousin, you're in such a hurry. Didn't you just arrive?" I backed away and sat back down in the chair. A Lian turned off the light, and the room grew dim. My body seemed to float in the air. I wanted to tell A Lian about my family's concern for her, I moved my lips, but suddenly a wave of fear washed over me, leaving me speechless. This fear had nothing to do with the atmosphere in her room—it came from within me, and it was entirely fear of myself. For some reason, I felt that as soon as my throat made a sound, as soon as my hand made a gesture, something terrible would happen—I had to steady myself, not make the slightest sound. A Lian's head fell back to her chest, as if dozing, and I noticed her posture was far from comfortable. Why wasn't she lying down?