The Witch's Market (28 page)

After I finished reading, I felt a deep sadness. Without being direct, the reporter had managed to completely defame the dead man. He was far from perfect—who of us is?—but he deserved better.

35

My Young Sailor Lover

T
wo days later, Alfredo was laid to rest next to Penelope in a little private cemetery behind the castle. As far as I knew, he had not received last rites, but his body was interred in sacred ground nonetheless. Perhaps Father Fernando put in a good word for him, and his bequest to the church would certainly have helped.

Only his lawyer, a Catholic priest from a nearby parish, and myself were present for the burial. Though the ceremony was simple, his coffin was lavish, perhaps specified in his will. Rich Chinese also are buried in ornate coffins. This does nothing for the dead; it only gives their family a chance to show off to the living. Sadly, Alfredo's coffin had no one to impress—his lawyer didn't care, and the display meant nothing to me.

After the funeral, I walked over to Grandpa's grave and said a quiet prayer for him, then took the rickety bus back to my hotel, feeling acutely lonely.

Once I was inside the hotel lobby, the young receptionist rushed over. “Señorita, there was a man asking for you earlier, but we couldn't find you.”

I couldn't think who it might be. I feared it was Ivan, here to propose again. Yet, embarrassing as that would be, I almost wished it were him just to have someone to dispel my loneliness.

“Is he still here?” I asked.

“No, but he left you this.” He handed me an envelope, then returned to the hotel desk.

I tore it open and recognized Luis's handwriting.

I didn't wait for the elevator, but ran up the stairs to my room to change, grab my bag, and dash to get a cab to the village. When I spotted Luis's house in the distance, its owner was sitting in the courtyard by the table, looking toward the path leading up to this little bit of paradise. Once our eyes met, he ran over to me, scooped me up in his muscular arms in one smooth movement, and then carried me into his house.

Without any exchange of words, we began to undress. More precisely Luis pulled off my clothes, then his own, in swift, cursive calligraphic movements. Quickly we began to explore each other's bodies and emotions. As our hands played mischief, I had a sudden awakening to our having been lovers in past lives.

I was certain that my young lover felt the same. Luis knew exactly where my body liked to be touched—inside my mouth, underneath my tongue, behind my ears, my armpits, nipples, and of course the valley between my thighs. And I also knew his favorite places, which was anywhere a sexual explorer could get her hands and tongue on.

Our lovemaking moved from tender caressing to titillating wrestling and, finally, fusing. Soon we both let out loud, satisfied, animal cries.

If things didn't work out for us, at least I'd tasted a man's purest, rawest, most genuine love.

Afterward, we lay on his bed, savoring each other's emotions, desires, and scents. Luis's sky blue eyes penetrated mine as his large, furniture-making hand tenderly caressed my hardening nipples.

“I love you, Eileen. You make me the happiest man on earth.”

“Thank you, Luis. You also make me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Let's go to the lake!”

“What for?” I wondered if he also knew about Alfredo's treasures.

“To see both our past and future.”

“Can you see them?”

“I don't think so. But you can.”

Could I really? Luis was already putting on his clothes and so I did also. Then he dragged me out of the house, toward our karmic destiny.

Past Life Lake looked like a pregnant belly from one angle and a socket swollen with tears from another. Tears of sadness or joy? Probably bittersweet, just like everything else in life.

We walked to the shore and without a word, knelt on the sand together. I peeked at Luis, suppressing an urge to kiss those still-innocent lips of his. Gazing at the lake, he seemed mesmerized, as if being pulled by a powerful energy emanating from the water.

I felt the same energy but was inspired by it to open my eyes wide so I could
see
—I didn't know what I was looking for, my future or Alfredo's fortune, sealed away in barrels somewhere on the lake bottom.

Soon I saw light moving on the surface of the water, making abstract patterns as if of an alternate universe—watery, dreamlike, enthralling. Then the patterns coalesced before my eyes, surprising me. The vision looked nothing like barrels of treasure, but rather a very familiar-looking woman. I sensed her busily engaging herself in different activities: doing divination with the
Book of Changes
or tea leaves; interpreting dreams; picking lucky days for weddings or funerals; blessing houses; concocting and selling herbs; performing magic tricks.

As if in a trance, I stared intensely, trying not to blink because I feared that once I did, she'd be gone from my vision. Then she spotted me and waved! Her waving caused the water to spread out in circles, ever widening into infinity. Who was this unknown woman who seemed to possess magical powers, and what was she doing underwater? Could she be Sabrina, Isabelle, Penelope, or Cecily?

Then I realized that she was me!

Was I seeing my future or my past?

Just when I was about to yell to Luis, “Look! That's me underwater!” he averted his eyes from the lake, calling out, “Eileen, let's go back home.”

And the vision was gone.

“Why?” I could hear the sharp edge of disappointment in my voice.

“I should have listened to the villagers not to come here.”

“How's that?”

“I don't know. It's . . . too weird.”

“Are you scared?”

“Maybe it's just superstition. I only like positive things and happy endings. Somehow this lake doesn't feel right to me. It holds things dark and unfathomable, and I don't like that.”

“How's that?”

“Because I only like honest things and people, like Grandpa and Juan—and you.”

I didn't think I was totally honest, nor totally dishonest—just human. But anyway, I was pleased that Luis felt this way about me.

“This lake has been here for centuries, they say. I think it has absorbed too many people's bad deeds and bad energy,” Luis said.

“What do you feel?”

He scratched his head. “I don't really know. Whatever it is, it's too much for me.” He took my hand. “Coming here was a bad idea of mine. I want to be with you at home, in bed, not here with a cold, gloomy lake. Let's go.”

 

Back home, we again made love, this time more slowly, savoring it, and then again for a third time. Luis was like an orphan in an abusive orphanage where all he experienced was hunger, so all he desired was food. And now I became his exotic, yummy dish. He savored every part of me like I was steaming dim sum. He couldn't get enough, even though he was already overstuffed.

I failed to resist. But I did take revenge. Instead of attacking him like a tigress, I adopted the strategy of retreating in order to conquer, until we both moaned and groaned and lay back exhausted on the rumpled sheets.

After our lavish feast of lovemaking, Luis kissed me tenderly, his big hand caressing my swollen breast.

“Eileen, will you marry me?”

“Let's just be happy together. As for marriage, who knows? There's no rush to decide.”

“We can move to the city, and I can make and sell furniture.”

“You need to finish your contract as a sailor first—”

He looked upset. “I know. After I sail, you will disappear from my life and go back to your rich boyfriend, marry, and live an easy life.”

I had not expected that this young man had already mapped out my whole life for me. However, I couldn't absolutely rule out the possibility. So I remained silent.

“Eileen, I love you.”

“Maybe it's because you've never loved a woman before.”

“No, I know I want to spend my whole life with you.”

“Because you're too young to understand what love means.”

“Then tell me.”

“Hearts can be fickle. Real love is more than just great sex. Or physical attraction. A lot more. What about when we're old?”

“So you think we're not suited to each other?”

“I didn't say that. I'm just saying love is . . . Anyway, why don't you go back to the ship, finish your contract, and then we'll talk about this, okay? It's only a few months.”

He sat up, looking very upset and very handsome. “I understand. You don't really love me.”

“Luis, let's face the facts. I'm thirteen years older than you and admit it, we live in two totally different worlds.”

He shook his head. “When we first met, you told me the story of
The Butterfly's Lovers.
”

“Yes, so?”

“It means that love conquers all.”

“But don't forget the ending is tragic, Luis.”

Now he looked completely crestfallen. “Then there's no hope for us?”

I was getting a little exasperated. A hot afternoon in bed did not guarantee a lifetime of happiness together.

“Eileen, am I just a cute puppy in your eyes?”

“Luis, how could you say this? You're not a puppy. But at thirty-three, I also can't jump into marriage just like that, you understand?”

“So you don't want to marry me because I'm poor!”

At that moment he really did look like an injured puppy, his vulnerability softening my heart.

 

The next morning I woke when dawn broke, only to discover that Luis wasn't next to me in bed. Nor was he in the house or working outside in the yard. Only when I reentered the house did I see his note on the nightstand. Picking it up, I read:

On the nightstand was a small wooden carving of a crib. A not too subtle hint that he wanted a family with me.

I sighed heavily. He wasn't giving up.

Luis had left, just like that. Sadness welled up in me, bringing to my mind Li Yu's poem:

 

I dream, forgetting I am just a trespasser on life.

Now, after an evening's stolen pleasure,

Alone, resting against the fence

The rivers and mountains going all the way to infinity,

It's easy to part, harder to meet again.

Spring is gone, like flowing water and fallen petals....

 

I didn't know if Luis and I would see each other again, but I was glad that we'd met, though briefly. He was certainly not my first lover, but he was my first virgin. The little house, a short time ago filled with lovemaking, was now empty and lonely, so I decided to go back to the hotel.

No sooner was I was back in my hotel room than the phone rang.

“This is Antonio Mendez. I'm Alfredo Alfrenso's lawyer. I'm glad you finally answered the phone, Señorita Chen.”

“Señor Mendez, please just call me Eileen.”

“I must extend my sympathy, Eileen. But there is some good news for you!”

“What's that?”

“You're going to be a very well-off woman.”

Although Alfredo had told me that he had mentioned me in his will, I hadn't entirely believed him. Now, it turned out to be true. I felt elated but also a little guilty benefiting from his untimely death.

“Alfredo has left you almost five million dollars.”

“I can't believe it! I never imagined anything like this.” And I hadn't, not in this life nor any previous or future ones. For a moment I wondered if all the strange events on the island had caught up with me and I was losing touch with reality. I shook my head to clear it, and stammered, “It's very generous of him. I'm grateful and thank you, too, Antonio!”

“You're a fortunate woman.”

“Did Alfredo leave anything for his son, Juan?”

“I'm afraid not. But he left two million to Luis.”

Luis? I couldn't believe what I'd heard! So Alfredo still wanted Luis to be his son, despite knowing the truth!

“Luis is not his son, so why would he get anything?”

“Of course it's not a free lunch. To inherit, Luis has to agree to take care of Juan for life. And the money will be paid out to him over time.”

I felt a wash of relief. “Don't worry, I'm sure Luis will agree. He is very generous and always kind to Juan. But right now he has left to be a sailor. I think he'll be back in a few months. What if he doesn't return, though?”