EXAMPLE PAGE - EBOOKS - THE PROMISE OF THE TEA GODS - Flipbook - Page 55
the promise of the tea-gods
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“True, as I have so conveniently already proven.”
Her eyes, once more, in the kindest way, asked him to let it go.
“So, tell me,” he said, instead of letting another apology slip out,
“wise decisions—are they right up there with those ever-elusive good
choices?”
His energy was bouncing up and down like a rubber ball—currently
in descent mode; intent on taking up residence at the bottom of the sea
where it could rest comfortably until the tide changed. She gathered up
another shell then took a sideways step—out of the sea foam, into ankledeep water . . . He’s going to drown if he keeps fighting the waves, she
thought. If he would just stop struggling and let himself float . . .
She breathed in the salty air and the sun and the sound of the singingsea, then calmly replied, “I’m not sure ‘wise decisions’ are two words
that even belong together. None of us can see the whole mountain—
only the part of it we’re standing on. And most of us make decisions
based on where we’re standing. No one really knows what the wise decision is—to keep going or to stop? If there’s a hungry tiger at the top,
how wise would it be to keep going? If there’s a pot of gold at the top,
how wise would it be to stop?”
Soo-kang was sure her voice was something akin to an eternal life
force. Just listening to her speak made him feel as if he were rising into
a new world where everything that is born, blossoms.
He stopped walking and looked at her. “I understand what you’re
saying,” he said, “but we have to make decisions. So wouldn’t the wisest
decision be to take food for the tiger and a bag for the gold? That way,
you’ve got everything covered.”
K laughed. Soo-kang floated on the sound of saltwater-bells. She felt
his energy rise . . . Good, she thought, if he will just float for a while. If
he will just keep floating . . .
“All right,” she said, “you win, Mr. Logical. When you’re ready to
climb that mountain, just let me know. You can bring the food for the
tiger. I’ll bring the bag for the gold.”
He thought for a moment. Without meaning to, he smiled. “I don’t
think so, Miss Life-Force-of-the-Cosmos. The one carrying the food for
