Chapter 301: Nov 23 – Beijing, China (2) (Sunday)
“Wake up sleepyhead. The bus will leave in one hour.”
I rolled over and saw that it was 4 am. “Vit, did that mask cause you to have oxygen deprevation?”
“Mmm, no. I have a surprise.”
I sat up. “Vit …”
He flipped on the light nearly blinding me. “Ah!” He just chuckled … then handed me a cup of tea.
“What are you up to husband?”
He snickered. Honestly snickered. I don’t think I had ever heard such a sound out of him. Before I could form a suspicious sentence he snuggled up to me and said, “I had plans but now cannot wait to tell you. Get dressed quickly so you may eat. We are going to the velika kitayskaya steena.”
“What?”
“I said …”
“I know what you said. You said we are going to the Great Wall of China. Are … are you serious?!”
“Very. And you will need a warm coat. I am told that today is breezy and I do not wish to lose you as you fly away. You already look to levituvati.”
“I am not levitating. Are we really going to see the Great Wall?” I nearly begged.
“Yes,” he answered before kissing me. “Now hurry.”
I was not levitating but I gave a pretty good try at flying. Oh. My. Gosh!
He told me a little apologetically, “We must go with some diplomats and act as their security.”
I turned so fast my braid I had just finished nearly brained him. “I. Don’t. Care. We are going to see … wait, you said you are coming with me?”
“Yes.”
“Yeehaw! We’re going to see the Great Wall of China!”
Vit just chuckled at my antics. I’d seen it on the itinerary last month but the lead security had already been assigned so I tried to put it out of my mind. I did have to agree to the hidden camera but I am more secure in doing that and there are only three more Chinese ports after today so hopefully nothing disastrous happens. Ugh. Knock on wood.
Even starting as early as we were we would be cutting it close to get back to the ship so that sailaway could occur at 6 pm but since we were with a bunch of diplomats, I refused to worry about it. I was thrilled beyond words to have Vit by my side today. First, it allays the fears I’ve been having since overhearing things in Busan and second … the Great Wall. The bus took off from the pier 5 am to avoid traffic as much as possible and our Chinese guide when right into his spiel.
We began with a drive to the Badaling Hills, the highest point of the Guangou Gorge, the location of the section of Great Wall we were visiting. The Mutianyu Great Wall is one of the best-preserved and best-known Great Wall sections. Located 40 miles to the north of Beijing city proper, the Great Wall at Mutianyu has breath-taking scenery but fewer tourists. During our visit, we will learned the fascinating history and legend behind this engineering marvel. It once stretched for more than 6,200 miles. Today only about 600 miles of the Wall remains. And the section we visited today is of 3.4 miles in length.
It was first built in Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557). In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang, two famous patriotic generals, rebuilt it in order to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass. It served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums for generations. It is mainly made of slabs of granite. It measures 23 feet to 26 feet in height, and 4 yards to 5 yards in width.
Both sides of the Great Wall have parapets to defend against enemies. Some parapets are saw- tooth shaped instead of the regular rectangular form. Below the parapets, there are square embrasures, the top of which are designed in an arc structure, different from the traditional round embrasures.
We ascended Ming Dynasty watchtowers and for our effort were granted incredible views of the Great Wall and its surroundings. Some of the watchtowers we saw today are rare in the architectural history of the Great Wall. Examples were the Zhengguan Terrace (No. 6 Watchtower) comprised of three hollow watchtowers, and Big Corner Tower (No. 1 Watchtower), named so because only one big corner can be seen from the paths in three sides.
There are 23 watchtowers distributed at close intervals along the wall. They are located not only in the main wall but also at the distinctive "branch city". Branch cities are built on the hill ridge against the inner or outer side of the wall. For example, No. 11 Watchtower can be found on the branch wall. Zhengguan Terrace (No. 6 Watchtower) is 44 yards long, 33 yards wide, and 66 feet high. The gate is not designed in the middle, but is on the eastern side. The two-storey terrace is comprised of three hollow watchtowers, a large one in the middle and two smaller ones on two sides. It has many rooms to store grain and station troops. Big Corner Tower (No. 1 Watchtower) is connected with Mutianyu in the west, with Gubeikou in the east, and with a branch city wall in the south. The tower looks like a corner from each angle, so it is called Big Corner Tower.
Security is still looking over our thumb drives to make sure there are no hidden bugs. The found some on a few of the diplomatic staff’s thumb drives but it is my understanding from Polina that they are still trying to unencrypt them so it can be determined if it just malware or if there is a hidden message which would men with have double agents. Of course, when I heard this from Polina she revealed that it bothered her greatly, more about what it says about her than what it potentially says about the staff. And yes, we are speaking again though somewhat tentatively.
From the Great Wall Vit and I agreed to accompany those wanting the adventure of taking the exhilarating toboggan ride down while other staff were more than happy to accompany those taking the cable car down. From there we strolled the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs, situated in a valley that emperors chose as their burial place. We followed the long and beautifully manicured entrance to the tombs with its eighteen pairs of massive sculptures of elephants, lions, camels and mythical beasts. The grand marble gateway is known as the Great Red Gate. The three-arched gate is more than 400 years old and one of the largest stone archways in China.
It was difficult to accept the day ending but it was a real rush to get back to the ship and make it through security. And a relief to remember that tomorrow is a sea day. As soon as we got back on board Vit went to check on the various onboard duty stations that are his responsibility and I headed to security to get rid of the camera before I decided having a wardrobe malfunction would be a relief.
To make it look good I started my reports at a desk outside of Polina’s office. I had just finished when she stuck her head out like she was about to yell, saw me, and nodded me into her office.
I was no sooner in that she turned on the sound machine and started puking into a container that looked like something that you would find on an airliner.
I was going to yell for a medic but she grabbed my arm. “Neyt. Just …” She started heaving again.
When she was done I looked at her and using my best Momma voice said, “Polina Ivanov, no more putting me off. What is going on and how can I help?”
In Russian she said, “I think the damn thing failed.”
“You think what has failed?”
In Russian she explains her IUD. Remaining calm the way Derrick taught me I went into caregiver mode. “What makes you think that Sestra?” I asked, using the Russian word for sister.
She flopped back into her chair. “I am late and I’m puking. What else could it be?”
“Stress?” I asked her calmly.
She made a face. After pulling her stoicism around her she admitted, “Possibly.” After another moment she said, “Yegor and I had been talking … about trying to have another child before I became too old. Only as soon as we were back and had our checkups to get our med-cards renewed they found the cancer in him. Now, since the treatment, they say he can have no more children. Ever. I had a sadness I did not think I would and … he feels like a failure. He … er … cannot.”
“Cannot … oh. My brother Derrick … the one that is the doctor … says treatment for certain cancers and heart issues will sometimes make it difficult for men to … er … feel manly. They go through a physical and mental depression. But for most of them it gets better. If not, there are creative ways around …”
“Veta!”
“What?”
“You … you are too young to …”
I snorted. “My parents were foster parents and even if they didn’t … er … tell it like it is, I learned the facts of life early from some of the kids Momma and Poppa fostered. My parents expected me to be modest, not stupid. Now, have you taken a test?”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
“Because I am being watched.”
“Polina, you have an IUD.”
“Nyet. I took it out.”
“You …” I wanted to go Angelia on her. “Have you spotted or anything?”
She made a face like I was being too personal and then just shook her head. “You must drive your family insane.”
“You have no idea,” I told her deadpan which only made her grin sadly. Then I asked, “What can we do to get these watchers off your back and out of your life?”
“They may never, as you say, get out of my life. Once they have reeled you in, the hook …” She stopped and shook her head. “That is not your problem.”
“What does Yegor say?”
“Nothing. He does not know.”
“He … he doesn’t know? Polina, you have to talk to him.”
“I will when I am … certain. For now, it is better that he does not. He already thinks to leave me because he is no longer a man.”
I snorted. “Sex and how good at it you are is not what makes a man or woman, and why is it that only women seem to know that truth? Whatever.”
“And if he thinks the child is not his? He can no longer reproduce.”
A little surprised at her worry I responded, “Well if you
are pregnant he did a bang up job of it at some point. Unless he thinks there’s been another immaculate conception. They two of you are as faithful as the sun rising in the east. I mean the timing sure, but there’s tests for that if he wants to be a jerk. And for that matter, our Creator has a really outrageous sense of humor … if you don’t believe me think of the platypus and ostrich as a good example. He could have let your IUD fail since you and Yegor wouldn’t do anything but talk about it and He knew Yegor was going to get sick and then well again but sans a few things.”
Her mouth fell open. “Vit is going to be bald before his next decade.”
“Real women do not want men more vain about their hair than they are about their own.” Grumbling I said, “If I didn’t have to wear the blasted camera I’d stop at a pharmacy and get a home test. I’ll think of something.”
“Do … do not tell Vit.”
“And have his head catch on fire? No way. He is already extra special careful with me. Because you know, he will not leave me alone with a child, to live with the possibility of it being raised as he was.”
“He said such?”
“Has been saying such before we … er …”
“Hmm,” she said with a twinkle. Then she grew serious once again. “Things have not changed. I could be putting you in danger.”
I snorted. “If I can put up with pirates, crazy women, dingbat diplomats, the Mitkin situation, and all the rest, I can put up with this. But I also know how to keep my mouth shut. But you need to make sure and eat and rest properly. Even if you aren’t it will keep Yegor from worrying that he is too much for you.”
I was going to go back to our cabin when I spotted him crossing one of the other corridors. I caught up right as he was going into a stairwell. I grabbed his arm and just barely pinched.
“What is your problem?!”
“You. You are like my brother so I feel free to abuse you to my heart’s content. And since I’ve met your sister … consider yourself getting off lightly. You are not going to leave Polina. Her heart is breaking. God put the two of you together and you are not going to turn your back on that. I know being sick made things complicated for a bit but you are better now. She’s our strong and stoic Polina … so stay so she can keep being strong and stoic.”
“She … said something?”
“I finally wormed it out of her. Or some of it. She’s positive that you are thinking of leaving her, that she’s not enough or she’s being too much or whatever is going on. She needs you Yegor.”
“You do not understand.”
“I probably don’t understand all of it, most of it isn’t my business.” He blinked. “But you’ve heard me speak of my brother Derrick, and my brother in law Tal. They went through man-things after illnesses … Derrick with his heart and Tal had prostate issues. It messed with their heads on top of everything else. There are certain decisions you should not make until you’ve gone through the entire healing process and your brain and ego has time to rest from the stress. And please, don’t tell Polina I spoke with you. She’ll have my head. Whatever it is that the two of you make together she values above everything else.”
“You are a kikimora.”
“Fine. Whatever it takes. But I’m serious Brat Yegor.”
“Bah! Fine. I’d rather be miserable with her than without her. I just do not want
her to be miserable.”
“The only way that happens is if she doesn’t have you. She’ll always wonder what she could have done differently. And this doesn’t get back to Vit or Pollina either. This is between us.”
I hope I haven’t stepped in it, but I love them both. I don’t know how or exactly when, but they are family. I may lose their one day but that won’t change my feelings.