How lightly the great boat drifted, the empty sky and waters stretching endlessly together.
The River of Heaven ran lengthwise and across; the Big Dipper lay sideways, then upright.
Cicadas cried in waves, making the woods seem all the more silent.
The boatman rowed with all his might.
The little boat was light as a reed, threading through the waves, swift and steady.
The rustling of reeds and the sound of the little boat cutting through the water intertwined in harmony.
An old man stood at the bow, his eyes bright and keen.
A young man sat on the deck, a jug of wine and a thick book before him.
"Grandfather, you said you traveled for over twenty years. Does that mean you've seen everything?"
"Of course!" The old man chuckled.
The young man gave his grandfather an admiring look.
In his younger days, his grandfather had gone to war with the army and traveled north and south of the great river.
As a child, his favorite thing had been to lie with his head on his grandfather's lap and listen to his stories of the past.
A bamboo raft came cutting through the water at incredible speed.
It hardly seemed like something an ordinary person could row.
"Good heavens, how is that bamboo raft so fast?"
The old boatman's eyes widened as he watched in disbelief.
Like an arrow, the bamboo raft shot swiftly toward them through the rippling water.
A young man stood at the front of the raft.
He wore a bamboo hat, its brim hanging so low it nearly covered his face, leaving his expression hidden.
He wore a blue robe that was already worn and riddled with tears.
It hung half-open at his chest, with a gourd tied at his waist and an erhu strapped