“Gentlemen, my shidi and I were on our way to Xuantian Temple on Zhenwu Mountain to take part in a religious gathering. We really did only just get here! We haven’t been in the village, nor have we had anything to eat or drink. Could you please make an exception and let us get out of here?”

Wumei and Zhang Ping, along with the old man and his grandson, were corralled into the village. Wumei pleaded with the soldiers the whole way. One soldier grinned and said, “Doesn’t matter when you showed up. It was still before we got here, and even we aren’t allowed to set foot out of the village. Where do you think you’re going? The county magistrate and our regiment commander have given the order—not so much as a mosquito may leave!” 

Wumei wanted to cry. The soldiers who had come to seal off the village were all armed, and they had with them two carts of shovels and ropes, as well as two big wooden barrels that smelled of oil.

This was serious.

Were he and a-Ping truly condemned to be infected with plague, perish in a village in the wilderness, be burned to ashes and scattered to the winds?

Wumei wept bitterly in his heart while the soldiers laughed and teased him and Zhang Ping now and again.

“Daozhangs, why are you in such a hurry to run away? Why aren’t you hunting demons?”

“What’s the right scripture to recite in this situation?”

“Now the villagers will see what use you get out of all these bald monks and long-winded priests when it really comes down to it.”

And so on.

Wumei kept his head down in agitation while Zhang Ping walked in silence beside him. The black dog, led on a rope by one of the soldiers, now glanced at Zhang Ping and Wumei, now stole a look at the old man and his grandson.

Stonybend Village was silent, all the doors and windows shut tight. Only the village’s headman and three people dispatched earlier from the county yamen greeted them. The headman saw the dog being led by the soldier and said to the young man in charge, “Commander Yu, you can’t walk dogs in the village right now.”

The black dog whined mournfully, closed his eyes, and trembled. The little boy began to cry again, and the old man gave him two fierce slaps, apologizing repeatedly. Commander Yu frowned. He looked at the skinny man in green official robes standing beside the headman. “Is it really rabies then?”

“The coroner and I have inspected the bodies,” said the man, “and so far we have seen no sign of disease. But in the interest of safety, medicinal ingredients have been distributed, and the villagers have been instructed to brew medicine for themselves. Each house is to be fumigated three times daily with vinegar vapor.”

Commander Yu nodded.

The man continued: “The village livestock also show no signs of abnormality at present. I have already asked the headman to instruct all households not to eat meat in the coming days. Water must be boiled before drinking. Dogs do not need to be killed for the moment but are to be kept on metal chains in an inner courtyard or some out of the way spot, and no one is to approach them. They are to be fed daily, and if they show signs of sickness, it must be reported at once.”

Commander Yu turned to instruct his personal guards. “We will do as Medical Official Li says. Don’t let the child touch this dog. Take it home for them.”

The old man pulled the boy to his side and bowed again and again while expressing his gratitude.

The young clerk at Medical Official Li’s side brought out several strips of cloth soaked in a medicinal brew and distributed them among the soldiers. Commander Yu said to Medical Official Li, “There’s meat in the provisions we brought with us, all bought at the county seat. There’s no trouble about eating it?”

“It must be fully cooked first,” said Medical Official Li, “and do not drink unboiled water. Please also refrain from fishing, or hunting quail or rabbit or similar game.”

The soldier at Commander Yu’s side announced Medical Official Li’s instructions to the rest of the soldiers. Wumei and Zhang Ping each received a strip of cloth as well. Zhang Ping brought the cloth to his nose and sniffed it. The soldier who had made the announcements said, “Commander, what will we do about these two priests?”

Commander Yu examined Wumei and Zhang Ping’s identity documents. “One twenty-nine years old, the other thirty-one. You two don’t look that old to me.”

Wumei smiled disarmingly. “We who lead the religious life steer clear of temptations. It makes us look young.”

Commander Yu scoffed. “A pack of nonsense! Dexin, Zichang? Are those your names? On the way here, you were calling him a-Ping, and he was calling you Mei-ge.” He shut the identity documents with a smack. “Take these two fake priests away. They can stew until we’re ready to transfer them to the county yamen!”

A number of soldiers crowded forward to restrain Wumei and Zhang Ping. Wumei said energetically, “There’s no need for you to trouble yourselves, gentlemen. My shidi and I will go give ourselves up to the county yamen at once.”

Commander Yu smiled coldly. “Put these two fake priests with the dog for now. We’ll transfer them once we’re through here.”

The muscles of Wumei’s legs twitched in fright. Medical Official Li swept a glance over him and Zhang Ping. “It isn’t my place to intervene in how you handle your prisoners, Commander, but at present, humans ought not to be sharing living quarters with animals.”

Wumei gave Medical Official Li a grateful look.

A soldier wrinkled his nose. “Commander, why not hold them in a tent? Keep them from running.”

Commander Yu paused to consider it. Then his brow furrowed as he looked up ahead.

A few men in peasant garb came tottering their way.

“It’s a disaster! More trouble!”

“Shuanzi and Sizhao’er have been possessed too!”

Wumei and Zhang Ping, hemmed in by the soldiers, were pushed towards the center of the village. They met many panicked villagers fleeing in the opposite direction, away from shrill wails accompanied by the sounds of flustered chickens and screaming people. The soldiers drew their weapons. The wails grew stronger, sounding like nothing human. Two big, sturdy men, naked to the waist, writhed on a patch of empty ground up ahead, foaming at the mouth, covered in blood, struggling bitterly.

“Water, quick!” cried Medical Official Li.

Commander Yu leapt from horseback and dashed into a nearby house. Out of the stunned and frozen crowd charged another figure, which scaled the fence of a neighboring house then rushed out bearing a pail of water. Medical Official Li snatched the pail away and splashed the two men.

Commander Yu, also bearing a pail, jumped atop a wall and doused the men with water. 

The men clawed at their torn and bloody flesh, emitting increasingly ragged howls. At last, after a few convulsions, they lay straight and motionless.

Wumei’s jaw trembled. When he came to himself, he realized that the other person who had fetched water for Medical Official Li was Zhang Ping.

Commander Yu hopped to the ground and walked towards the two men. Zhang Ping also approached with Medical Official Li. One of the men gave a sudden cry and sat up, blood red eyes fixed straight ahead. Then he toppled back down.

Commander Yu raised an arm to restrain Medical Official Li and Zhang Ping and instructed his soldiers to prod the two men with their pikes. Then he pushed aside his personal guards and bent to investigate.

“I don’t think they’ll move again.”

Medical Official Li checked the men’s pulses and breathing. “They’re beyond saving. You might bring them into the shed.”

A commotion rose among the crowd. Someone shouted, “Tell us, please, is it rabies or not?!”

Medical Official Li’s expression was blank. “I am unable to determine that at present.”

The crowd clamored louder.

“Either it is or it isn’t. Is it a curse or a sickness? Tell us the truth!”

“Why have you brought those priests?!”

“You have the village surrounded. Are you even planning to let us live?!"

And so on.

Wumei attempted to explain amongst the noise. “My shidi and I were merely passing by your village. We have no connection to the government or the soldiers…” Sadly, he was drowned out by the shouts; no one paid him any attention.

The headman and the soldiers called for silence. Commander Yu’s gaze swept the crowd. “I came here under orders to protect you and your families and neighbors. Whether sickness or curse, it will be dealt with!”

More shouts came from the crowd.

“The medical official’s been here two days, and he hasn’t found a thing.”

“These young priests of yours are still beardless, Commander! Can they handle this?”

“Medical Official Li just got through looking at Shuanzi and Sizhao’er, he said they were all right, and now this happens. What’re we supposed to believe?!”

Medical Official Li’s brow was deeply furrowed. Commander Yu gave the crowd a palm-to-fist salute. “Everyone, as my men and I are stationed here, our interests are aligned with yours. We will drink the same water and breathe the same air. If anything happens to any of you, do you suppose we will remain unharmed?”

The headman added his own conciliatory message. Commander Yu ordered his soldiers to bear the bodies of the two dead men away on stretchers. From the crowd came another irascible voice: “Careful, gentlemen. Shuanzi and Sizhao’er only got this way after carrying those other corpses. Have the medical official examine them, then get those little priests to chant some scriptures.”

Commander Yu turned to look into the crowd. He pointed, and a few soldiers stepped in among the villagers to seize the scrawny man who had spoken.

The man struggled with all his might. “What’s the meaning of this? You won’t even let me speak?!”

Commander Yu raised his eyebrows. “You seem quite well informed. Wait a bit, and you can tell me all about it.” He looked at the headman. “Is there some bright and roomy place we could use?”

The headman bowed. “The village school is spacious. You can rest there, Commander.”

Medical Official Li frowned. “Sir, our predicament remains uncertain. We should attempt to keep people clear of places frequented by children.”

The headman hesitated, then said, “In that case, the commander can make his way to the Medicine King Temple.”