Into the Sea

1

The day the fisherman caught his wife started just like any other.

He rose at dawn and waded out into the waves, his net thrown over his back. He pulled anchor, and sailed his small sand ship out into the bay, anchoring just behind the point. He set his nets and lines, and by midmorning he had caught enough fish for market, so he sailed around the point to the small town on the other side to sell his catch.

He moored his ship at the end of the single dock and walked into town, his fish filled net dripping water along the dock behind him.

He he stopped outside the large stone building with green shutters that was the fishmonger's. Outside were barrels and crates of fish, fresh and shining in the sun. From inside came the smell of the sea.

He entered the dark store, exchanging greetings with the mistress. The fishmonger's wife and the fisherman had been something more than friends, in their youth, and she always gave him a good price, and a warm smile. Today she gave him more.

"I am sorry, Hao Min," she said, after glancing around to make sure her husband was out of ear shot.

"Sorry for what?" the fisherman asked, accepting the coin she passed over.

"Sorry that you are all alone out there, on the cape. Sorry that you have to fish alone every day," the woman, said lowering long lashes over dark eyes. "Sorry that I could not be with you, as your wife."

The fisherman did not understand where this apology came from, after so many years, and he was not quite sure what to say.

"Don't be sorry, Hai Ling. The fault is with me. I could not give you a life like this," he gestured at the shop around them. "For that, I am sorry."

Hai Ling blushed and lowered her eyelashes further. She had been very beautiful, in her youth, the fisherman recalled. She was still beautiful, but hard work in the sun and sea wind had caused wrinkles to form at the corners of her eyes, and her once perfect hands to crack and thicken.

The fisherman did not know what else there was to say, so he thanked the fishmonger's wife, took his string of cash, and left.

When he stepped out onto the wharf a skinny man with a face like a rat was coming toward him, flanked by two larger men. The fisherman immediately turned and hurried in the opposite direction.

"Hao Min!" the thin nasally voice matched the man's face.

The fisherman froze, knowing the encounter would be over quicker if he complied in every way possible.

The rat face man drew close, his two bruiser accomplices hovering behind him. "Long time no see, Hao Min."

"Long time no see, Gao Ran," the fisherman replied obediently.

Gao Ran threw an arm about the fisherman's shoulders, as though they were old friends. Which was challenging, as the fisherman was nearly as tall as the two giant men. He was forced to drop his net and lower himself to accommodate the smaller man.

Once the fisherman's head was within reach, the man called Gao Ran ruffled the fisherman's short hair as one would a child's. "Ren Hao Min, you old sack of rocks, it's been a while since we've seen you at the Floating Flower. You don't intend to make us come visit you at home to collect this month's payment, do you?"

"I will be by before the end of the month," the fisherman replied quickly.

"Good, good," Gao Ran said. "Because I don't know what we would have to come take from you if you couldn't pay."

"Perhaps my stunning wit and humor?" The fisherman dared.

The rat faced Gao Ran paused, then decided to laugh at the joke. "The girls always did like that fast tounge and soft face of yours. Perhaps you should come work at the Flowing Flower to pay off your debt? We do get women customers every once in a while."