“No doubt that we brought progress here. And you are right that the law of nature applies in this instance. But I do wonder about the whole issue of rice,” Yamada countered. “Why bleed them out? It makes them hostile and uncontrollable. Can’t there be another way?”
“But that rice is needed in Japan, the mother country. It is as when the body routes nutrients and fresh blood to the heart at the expense of a limb. Japan is the heart, and Korea is an extremity. Also, these Josenjings are too well fed and energetic and full-blooded. They will be more docile once they are bled out.” Ito was smiling. The rhythmic swaying of his body on the saddle put him in a particularly jaunty state of mind on this fine afternoon. “We bring them progress, in return they provide the rice, and exotic goods—the antique celadons, the tiger skins, and the like. It’s the same way everywhere else in the world now. Look at Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, how they divided up Africa and Asia and grow stronger. The United States in the Philippines and the South Pacific. It is the world order.” He paused a moment, then noticing a crowd gathered along the boulevard, he pointed ahead and started off at a gallop. Yamada followed, picking up his pace.
“It’s a parade of Joseon courtesans!” Ito exclaimed, beckoning him. Yamada brought his horse next to Ito’s and saw over the heads of the crowd a line of beautifully dressed women, singing and chanting and strewing flowers. Ito was laughing so heartily that his handsome black stallion stepped in place uneasily beneath him.
“Ah, and I forgot about the women, of course. Rice, tigers, and women—that’s what Joseon is good for.” Ito smirked and joined in the clapping and cheering. Turning to Yamada again, he said, “I myself am quite fond of these girls. They have a different flavor than the geisha.”
“What might that be?” Yamada asked.
“I find that they are more headstrong than our geisha, who are like water, soothing and yielding. These Joseon courtesans have fire—they will fight you with passion. But there is such a distinct pleasure to be had at overcoming their resistance. It’s like cracking the shell of a walnut to get to the meat inside.” Ito winked, making a lewd gesture with his hands.
Just then, a pair of very young apprentices walked past with linked arms, smiling winningly at the crowd, and Ito cried, “Look at those baby courtesans. Adorable, aren’t they? Charming!”
AS THEY NEARED THE END of the parade, Jade suddenly felt overwhelmed by all the strangers so pointedly looking at her. The subtle weight of Lotus’s right elbow resting on her left elbow reassured her, and she tried to suppress her anxieties. In her other arm Jade carried a basket of cosmoses and mums, cut just that morning from Dani’s garden. Once in a while, Lotus reached over to the basket with her left hand and tossed the flowers at the crowd. Each time the petals rained down, people cheered and clapped.
“Now you try, it’s really fun,” Lotus whispered, taking the basket from Jade.
“I don’t think I can throw far like you!” Jade said in a panic. Then they both giggled secretively.
“Don’t be silly, they weigh nothing,” Lotus coached. “Just don’t think about it too much and don’t throw them right at people’s faces.”
Jade took a handful of flowers in her hand and tossed them to her right. The petals were carried by a light blue breeze and floated for a moment before fluttering down, making pink, white, and violet patterns in the atmosphere. The crowd clapped, mesmerized. The city streets shot through with sunshine, the feeling of her shoes crunching on the packed sand—it all filled her lungs with something besides air. Here was something that Jade hadn’t known was possible: a sense of being free. She nearly wanted to flap her arms like wings. Resisting the fancy, she instead laughed and carelessly tossed a flower, which soared through the air and hit a boy in the face.
JUNGHO HAD BEEN WATCHING the parade of courtesans with intense fascination, standing between Loach, YoungGu, and the dog. YoungGu and JungHo had become close friends as boys often do after a good fistfight. The dog was a new addition to the group: one day in September, YoungGu found it wandering underneath the bridge, dirty and emaciated but still energetic. JungHo and Loach had both wanted to sell it to the butcher, but YoungGu looked ready to get into another fight. JungHo finally relented and let YoungGu keep the dog, as long as he fed it from his own share of food. Thereafter, YoungGu split his own meager ration with the dog and tenderly picked its fur for fleas, which he squished between his fingers. The dog was always within a few feet of YoungGu, and proved to be surprisingly useful for finding crowded places to beg. They had been roaming aimlessly when the dog led them to the parade and sat down on its haunches in front of the spectators, as if it too wanted to enjoy the sight.