Boat

"What rules?" Hearing the boat captain say that, Yang Xiaohai could not help growing curious. The farmers on shore did not have nearly so many rules.

"What other rules could there be? Rules of the sea. We boat folk have a few rules too—for instance, people with certain surnames cannot board, and certain words cannot be spoken aboard. But the Tanka People have even more rules than boat folk. Even taking a shit or pissing depends on feng shui."

"I do not know much else. When you get home, remember to ask the adults in your family, so you do not break any taboos."

"So that's how it is." From the boat captain's description, Yang Xiaohai tried hard to piece together an image of the Tanka People in his mind.

"But speaking of the Tanka People, whatever else may be said, there is one thing they truly do well. Any floater on the water, living or dead, must be hauled up and looked over. They say that if they do not fish it out, their ancestors will blame them."

As he spoke, the boat captain gave the fishing rod in his hand a hard tug. A bluish-green sea fish came flying from the water, trailing crystalline seawater.

The boat captain nodded with satisfaction at his catch. Pulling a dagger from his waist, he gutted the fish on the spot and sliced it into translucent pieces of sashimi.

As soy sauce was poured over the fish, the flesh trembled slightly, as though it still had feeling.

The boat captain pinched up several slices of sashimi with his fingers and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing contentedly. "Want some? Fish has to be eaten fresh. Anything that's been out of the water for more than a quarter hour gets sold to those