Cuentos extraños

Capítulo 14

I looked up at the sky, and it seemed like I hadn't seen the sky for a thousand years!

My clothes were torn to shreds by the wind, and I couldn't walk around outside naked. Luckily, it was dark, and no one saw me. I stole clothes that were drying in the sun from a nearby farmhouse. The clothes these days are strange; it seems only men wear them, not women.

I can't worry about all that now, I'll just put it on first.

Suzhou should be to the south. I walked in that direction and at dawn, I saw the spire of Baoguo Temple. So, I've arrived in Suzhou, but why are there no city walls?

Some strange things chirped as they passed by me; they were black, and people sat inside them. They ran very fast.

What is this?

I stood in the middle of the road, looking around curiously, when another one of those things came rushing towards me. I stood there dumbfounded, not knowing how to dodge.

Just then, a hand grabbed me and pulled me to the side of the road. I turned around and saw him. He wasn't dead? He was still alive?

"Why are you standing in the middle of the road? You almost got hit by a car just now, that was so dangerous!" he shouted.

"A car!" I muttered to myself, immediately associating it with a horse-drawn carriage; they even looked quite similar.

"You're still alive! But I clearly killed you."

He frowned, looked me up and down, and muttered to himself, "Is she crazy? What a pity, such a beautiful girl."

I was taken aback. "Who's the madman?" I understood that question.

He laughed and said, "Have you seen me before? It seems like this is our first time meeting."

I remained silent. He had not escaped the cycle of reincarnation. He had said that the dragon was merely an unexpected product of reincarnation.

---janeadam

Reply [28]: "Maybe I haven't seen it, maybe I have, I have a bad memory."

He smiled with relief, "I'm leaving, goodbye."

He turned and walked forward, and I unconsciously followed behind him. After a few steps, he turned back and glanced at me. I smiled slightly at him, and he smiled back at me before continuing to walk forward. I still followed him, and then he stopped. "Why are you following me?" he asked.

"I..." Why should I follow him?

Where do you live?

I thought for a moment, "In the South China Sea."

"That's really far! How did you get here?"

"Of course we walked here, it took us a long time."

“It’s such a long way, of course it will take a long time to walk.” He looked me over again: “Where are you going?”

I shook my head: "I don't know."

He couldn't help but laugh again: "You don't know where you're going? How can someone be so confused?"

I smiled blankly too. He was different from before; he wouldn't have smiled so brightly before.

He looked at me carefully, staring intently at my face, and slowly his expression brightened with joy. "Do you want to be an actor?"

"Actor? What is an actor?"

He was taken aback: "You don't know what an actor is?"

I shook my head.

He laughed and said, "You must have just come from the countryside, right? Actors are just actors."

"Oh, you're an actor. I know."

"Actor?!" He chuckled. "No need to be so polite! Alright, actor it is. I'm a director at Star Film Company. We're planning to make a movie about a dragon girl. I think you're good-looking, and you have something unique about you. Would you like to play a role in it?"

"A dragon girl?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right! Do you know about Liu Yi delivering the letter? It's a very famous play, and I'd like to adapt it for the screen. How about you play the maidservant by the Dragon Girl's side?"

Liu Yi delivers the letter!

He actually wanted to make this movie; maybe he sensed his destiny! I stared at him blankly, and he became uncomfortable with my gaze, touching his face. "What are you looking at?"

I gave a wry smile. "I can't act. I don't know if I'll be able to do it."

---janeadam

Reply [29]: He laughed and said, “I will teach you, you just need to listen to me.”

Alright then, I'll go with you to play the role of Liu Yi delivering the letter. But the Dragon Girl doesn't have any maids around her. I used to hate having people follow me; I prefer to come and go alone.

He took me to a place called Shanghai, which I remember used to call Huating. We went there in one of those cars, which was great; you could travel a long distance just by sitting inside, even better than a horse-drawn carriage.

He sat beside me, staring at me, but I kept my eyes straight ahead. I was used to being silent and still, keeping myself as quiet as a stone.

He finally couldn't help but say, "How are you so amazing? It's been two hours, and you haven't moved an inch."

I glanced at him, and he looked at me with amusement. I turned my head away and ignored him. What's so strange about that? I can stay in an ancient tomb for dozens of days or even months without moving an inch.

He closed his eyes listlessly, probably hoping to take a nap.

"What's your name?" I suddenly realized I didn't know his name.

He opened his eyes: "I thought you would never ask!"

I smiled and said, "I forgot to ask."