[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.”“Have her escorted to division headquarters this afternoon, along with the evidence of her crime,” Director Zhang said, his face impassive.* * *The three other women prisoners in the cell were taken away one by one until only Ye was left.The small pile of coal in the corner had been exhausted, and no one came to replenish it.The fire in the stove had gone out a while ago.It was so cold in the cell that Ye had to wrap herself in the blanket.Two officials came to her before it got dark.The older one, a female cadre, was introduced by her associate as the military representative from the Intermediate People’s Court.7“My name is Cheng Lihua,” the cadre introduced herself.She was in her forties, dressed in a military coat, and wore thick-rimmed glasses.Her face was gentle, and it was clear that she had been very beautiful when she was young.She spoke with a smile and instantly made people like her.Ye Wenjie understood that it was unusual for such a high-grade cadre to visit a prisoner about to be tried.Cautiously, she nodded at Cheng and moved to make space on her narrow cot so she could sit down.“It’s really cold in here.What happened to your stove?” Cheng gave a reprimanding look to the head of the detention center standing at the door of the cell.She turned back to Ye.“Hmm, you’re very young.Even younger than I imagined.”She sat down on the cot right next to Ye and rummaged in her briefcase, still muttering.“Wenjie, you’re very confused.Young people are all the same.The more books you read, the more confused you become.Eh, what can I say.…”She found what she was looking for and took out a small bundle of papers.Looking at Ye, her eyes were filled with kindness and affection.“But it’s not a big deal.What young person hasn’t made some mistakes? I made mistakes myself.When I was a young woman, as a member of the art troupe for the Fourth Field Army, I specialized in singing Soviet songs.One time, during a political study session, I announced that China should cease to be a separate country and join the USSR as a member republic.That way, international communism would be further strengthened.How naïve I was! But who wasn’t once naïve? What’s done is done.When you make a mistake, what’s important is to recognize it and correct it.Then you can continue the revolution.”Cheng’s words seemed to draw Ye closer to her.But after having gone through so many troubles, Ye had learned to be cautious.She did not dare to believe in this kindness, which almost resembled a luxury.Cheng placed the stack of papers on the bed in front of Ye and handed her a pen.“Come now, sign this.Then we can have a good heart-to-heart and resolve your ideological difficulties.” Her tone was like that of a mother trying to encourage her daughter to eat.Ye stared at the stack of papers silently and motionlessly.She did not pick up the pen.Cheng gave her a forgiving smile.“You can trust me, Wenjie.I personally guarantee that this document has nothing to do with your case.Go ahead.Sign it.”Her associate, who stood to the side, added, “Ye Wenjie, Representative Cheng is trying to help you.She’s been working hard on your behalf.”Cheng waved at him to stop.“It’s understandable.Poor child! You’ve been so frightened.There are some comrades whose political awareness is not adequately high.Some members of the Construction Corps and some of the folks from the people’s court employ such simplistic methods and behave so rudely.It’s completely inappropriate! All right, Wenjie, why don’t you read the document? Read it carefully.”Ye picked up the document and flipped through it in the dim yellow light of the detention cell.Representative Cheng hadn’t lied to her.The document really had nothing to do with her case.It was about her father.In it was a record of her father’s interactions and conversations with certain individuals.The source was Wenjie’s younger sister, Wenxue.As one of the most radical Red Guards, Wenxue had always been proactive in exposing their father, and had composed numerous reports detailing his supposed sins.Some of the material she provided had ultimately led to his death.But Ye could tell that this report didn’t come from the hand of her sister.Wenxue had an intense, impatient style.When you read her reports, each line would make an explosive impact, like a string of firecrackers.But this document was composed in a cool, experienced, meticulous style.Who spoke to whom, when, where, what was discussed—every detail was recorded, down to the exact date.For someone who wasn’t experienced, the contents seemed like a boring diary, but the calculating, cold purpose hidden within was very different from the childish antics of Wenxue.Ye couldn’t really understand what the document was getting at, but she could sense that it had something to do with an important national defense project.As the daughter of a physicist, Ye guessed that it was a reference to the double-bomb project8 that had shocked the world in 1964 and 1967 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]