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Now Kubla was very old； so old he could hardly walk； and very frail；
and Li Po was very old； too； and gray in the face； and sadder in the eyes
than ever； and the magician's white beard had grown to his knees； but there
was no more humor in his eyes。 。 。And Marco Polo helped the old khan to
sit down。
〃Oh； sir； why did you come to me？ Sure I was going to you the
moment I had changed my riding…clothes。 。 。Sir； you should have stayed in
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your bed。 。 。〃
〃There was something on my mind； Marco； and the old do be thinking
long to get things off their mind。〃
〃What can I do sir？〃
〃Marco； my child； you mustn't take what I say amiss。 But I want you
to be going back； to be going back to Venice。〃
〃Sir； what have I done to dissatisfy you？ In all my embassies have I
been weak to the strong or bullying toward the weak？ Does an oppressed
man complain of injustice； does a merchant complain of being cheated； or
a woman say she was wronged？〃
〃Now； Marco of my heart； didn't I say not to be taking it amiss？ Is
there any one closer to me nor you； or is it likely I'd be listening to stories
brought against you？ It's just this。 I'm an old and tired man； Marco
Beag； and in a week or a moon at most I'm due to die； so the Sanang tells
me。 Don't be sorry； son。 Be glad for me。 Life has been a wee bit too
long。
〃And now； son dear； I want to tell you。 You've been closer to me than
my own sons； and you've been the dear lad。 And there's not one man in
all China can say you did a harsh or an unjust thing； but； my dear son； 'tis
just the way of people； there's a power of hard feeling against you in this
land； you being a stranger and having stood so high。
〃So when I'm dead； dear son； there's many would do you an injury； and
treat you badly； aye； in our family itself； though they smile on you now。
Let you be going now； Marco。 I'll miss you to close my eyes for me； but
my heart will be lighter。 It will so。 I couldn't sleep easy； and you ill
treated in this land of mine。 You ask him； too； Li Po。〃
〃Ah； sir；〃 Marco laughed； 〃and； Li Po； what is ill treatment to me？
Sorrow's my blood brother。 What I've suffered！ Do you think I could
suffer more？〃
〃I know； Marco； I know。〃
〃Don't you think I suffer now； sir？ Fourteen years she's dead now； the
wee one who lay by my side in sleep。 And never a word and never a sign。
In the house where we were married I can see the pool and the willows
and the hibiscus； but there is never a token of her；〃 he broke out。 〃The
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leaves of trees cover the pavilion； the hair of the musicians is silver； and
dust is on the blue and white tiles。 And she never comes to comfort pie。 I
can't sleep with waiting。 The stars never seem to wane； and the hoar frost
comes on the grass； and I'm always waiting。 Christ！ Why should I go
back？ I've forgotten Venice。 I've even forgotten my God for her！〃
〃Sanang；〃 says Kubla Khan to the magician； 〃couldn't you do
something for this poor lad？〃
It was now dusk in the garden by the Lake of Cranes。 。 。
〃I don't need any damned wizard to bring my wife to me；〃 raged
Marco Polo。 〃If she were to come； she would come； and I in the dark of
the moon and the moorfowl calling。 She would have come because my
heart needed her。〃 And he raged through the dusk by the Lake of
Cranes。 。 。
〃Now； Marco； dear lad； don't be flying off again； but remember that
there is science needed to all things。 And think； too； that maybe she was
not permitted。 The older we get； the more we understand the destiny that
rules all things； with now a nudge； with now a leading finger； with now a
terrible blow over the heart； and what we think at twenty…five was a
trifling accident； at seventy…five we know to have been the enormous
gesture of God。 We are not asked when we like to be born； Marco； nor is
it up to us when to die。
〃And again； Marco； consider。 If she were to have come to you in the
dark of the moon…time； in the strange mystic hours when you can hear
eternity tick like a clock； your eyes would have been not on this world； but
the next。 Your look would have been vacant that's now keen to discover
injustice。 Your body would have been flabby that's now whalebone and
steel。 And there would have been no memory of you in China； that's now
like sweet honey in the mouth。
〃Would a wee dead spirit be proud of a man； Marco； and he just crying；
crying； crying； and letting the days go by while even the brown bee works；
and even the grass grows that cattle may fatten and men eat？ She might be
sorry； but would there be pride on her？ Even a dead woman wants a
strong man。
〃Now； I'm not saying that the silent dead should not have a voice in
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our affairs when we need them。 But they have wisdom； else what is the
use of having died？ And if the Sanang can bring her； she'll come now
and join with us in asking you； now being the time she's needed。
〃Child； be guided by us three ancient men。 I have lived long and
have knowledge of the world。 Li Po has lived long and has knowledge of
the heart。 The Sanang has lived long； and knows the secrets of the dead。
If to our three voices； who love you； there is added a sign from Golden
Bells； will you leave China？〃
〃If there is a sign from her I'll leave China；〃 said Marco Polo。
And it was dusk in the Garden by the Lake of Cranes。
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CHAPTER XXII
The Sanang came over to Marco Polo。
〃Give me the black tress that's over your heart。〃
And Marco Polo undid his coat and his undercoat and his fine sark and
took out the perfumed hair； and gave it to the Sanang。
〃Let you sing a little song； Li Po；〃 the magician said； 〃the way she'll
be hearing and come。 I have part of her here； and let