Chapter 32: Her Own Day

"Read it," said Mei. Lord Bei didn't look up from the page. "Read it," said Mei again. "I can see my name. I can see two fives. I can see Wang. I can't see the rest. Read it to me, Lord Bei, the way you read my mother's." Her voice was calm. It didn't feel like hers. "You owe the Hong family a life. You said so. On your shell. I'm not asking for a life. I'm asking you to read." The old turtle lord sat on the bank under the dripping willows with the ruined blue book open on his knees, and his thick fingers flat on the page, and his white beard trembling. The dozen small turtles in their aprons sat round him on the bank in a half circle, looking at Mei. Even Thursday. "Girl," said Lord Bei. "Read it." He read it. "Willow Crossing," he said.…