《Dolphin Boy》1 / Chen Qing-Yang

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Chen Qing-Yang (Taiwan)

I. The Hidden Gold on Turtle Island

1

This story takes place on Turtle Island more than four hundred years ago. It was told to me by my grandfather, who was a ship captain, because the protagonist of the story, a young man named Dongping, was our family’s “founding ancestor in Taiwan.”

During a typhoon, the fishing boat sailed by the young Dongping and his uncle was battered by violent winds and enormous waves and driven onto Turtle Island, where it ran aground among the reefs. His uncle risked his life to push Dongping ashore, but his own calf was deeply cut by a sharp reef. Having lost too much blood and exhausted all his strength, he was swept into the sea by a huge wave and disappeared forever.

Now an orphan, Dongping was stranded on the deserted island. The island was home to sea turtles, seabirds, and several species of snakes, as well as a steaming underwater hot spring. Dongping found a rocky cave where he could shelter. Every day, he went to the shore to gather or dig up shellfish and collect sea turtle eggs. He cooked them in the hot spring and lived on whatever food he could find there. Whenever he became thirsty, he climbed coconut trees to pick coconuts, and whenever he wanted to bathe, he soaked himself in the hot spring.

Dongping had only a fish-cutting knife and some fishing line, which he had salvaged from the wreckage of the ruined fishing boat. But he had no fishhooks, so fishing was impossible. Then he remembered that there should be some iron nails or rivets in the hull of the boat. If he knocked some loose and slowly shaped them with pieces of stone, perhaps he could grind them into fishhooks. Before long, his wish came true, and he was able to catch fish, shrimp, and crabs, keeping himself from going hungry.

After only a few days, Dongping had grown tired of exploring the deserted island. The island itself was actually quite small. There were many reefs and underwater currents in the surrounding waters, so few fishing boats or merchant ships ever passed by. Standing on top of a huge rock, he could see the forests across the water and wisps of cooking smoke rising in the distance. He believed there must be a settlement over there.

He dismantled some rotten wooden planks from the boat and, on several clear days when visibility was good, built fires on an open, elevated piece of land, hoping the smoke and flames would attract the attention of people on the opposite shore or passing ships. He tried several times, but nothing happened. With no other choice, he began thinking about how to build a small boat. He started searching the island for useful timber and coarse hemp rope.

One morning, Dongping wandered into a valley where several large deciduous trees grew. Their trunks were about as thick as a person’s waist. He selected several sturdy trees with relatively straight trunks and carved marks into them with his fish knife, planning to come back every day to cut them down.

Just before leaving, he passed through a secluded mountain hollow and noticed a faint metallic glimmer coming from behind some thatch. Curious, he pushed the thatch aside and discovered a hidden cave. He stepped inside. The cave was about two zhang deep, and to his surprise, it was packed with weapons: knives and swords, cross-shaped bows and arrows, more than a hundred long spears, and box after box of yellow gunpowder and ammunition. Most of the weapons were covered with a thick layer of dust.

Dongping thought, “Was it these weapons reflecting the sunlight just now?”

At the very back stood a wooden door. The bronze lock on it had already corroded with age. Dongping easily removed the lock and opened the door. It was pitch-black inside, and several large chests seemed to be sitting there.

Dongping turned back, took a torch from the cave wall, and lit it. Sure enough, there were ten large wooden chests. He lifted the lid of one.

“Wow!”

Inside were rows of gleaming gold bars. Each one was about half the width of his palm and so heavy that lifting one took considerable effort. Every chest was filled with gold bars.

Dongping had never seen so many gold bars in his life. He thought, “It looks like these weapons and the gold have been hidden here for a very long time. But who could have hidden all this on a deserted island? Could they have belonged to pirates? If pirates hid them here, why has no one ever come back to the island?”

He decided to leave everything exactly as he had found it and put the matter out of his mind for the time being. On a deserted island, these things were of no practical use to him at all.

2

Several days later, one evening, powerful winds swept across the sea again, whipping up enormous waves. The sight brought back vivid memories of the previous typhoon.

“Another typhoon must be coming, right?”

Dongping secured the small boat to the rocky shore with thick hemp rope. He carried the dried fish and coconuts he had collected into the rocky cave, then blocked the entrance with coconut trunks, leaves, and stone slabs.

After nightfall, the violent winds and torrential rain arrived as expected. Rain and wind poured into the cave. Fortunately, the cave was deep enough that the storm did not cause much damage. Even so, Dongping spent the entire night listening to the terrifying howling of the wind, unable to sleep peacefully. Only when a faint light began to seep through the entrance and the wind and rain gradually weakened did he finally drift into a confused sleep.

After more than half a day had passed, the typhoon seemed to have gone. Dongping walked out of the cave. Outside, the sun was shining brightly, and the sea was calm and still. Judging by the shadows of the trees, it was probably around noon.

He suddenly noticed what looked like the dark gray shadow of a large fish on a narrow, shallow sandy beach along the northern shore.

Moving quickly, Dongping leaped and ran across the rocky steps. Before long, he reached the beach.

Sure enough, it was a small bottlenose dolphin with a short snout, commonly called a “sea piglet.” It had been stranded on the beach, and several scratches on its body were still bleeding.

Dongping looked into its disappointed eyes and could not bear to simply walk away without asking what was wrong.

Dongping was worried. Even though the dolphin was still young, it weighed at least sixty or seventy jin. Where could he possibly find the strength to help the little creature escape?

Just then, the little dolphin suddenly spoke.

“Big brother, please help me! I’m Lele, a young bottlenose dolphin. I got separated from my pod and lost my way. I swam too close to shore and was washed onto the beach by the huge waves raised by the typhoon.”

Dongping stared at the dolphin in astonishment. He thought, “How can this dolphin talk?”

Lele gave a bitter smile and said, “I know what you’re thinking. You don’t need to be surprised. You were born with the ability to communicate with us dolphins.”

Dongping gradually calmed down. Then he said worriedly, “I really want to help you, but you’re too heavy. I can’t pull you.”

Lele said, “When the tide comes in this evening, all you have to do is turn me around and give me a push from behind. I’ll be able to free myself. But the sun is so strong right now. If my body stays exposed to the scorching sunlight for too long, I’m afraid I won’t make it until evening. I’ll become severely dehydrated and be baked to death.”

Dongping asked, “Then what do you want me to do?”

Lele said, “Find me a large towel or a blanket, soak it in seawater, and cover my body with it. Then splash some seawater over me every so often to keep me cool. That will be enough.”

Dongping scratched his head.

“Where am I supposed to find a large towel or blanket? Look at me. I have nothing left except these clothes, and they’re already torn to pieces.”

Dongping tugged at his ragged sleeve, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Lele said, “Think carefully. You might be able to find something.”

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Dongping’s mind.

“I’ve got it! My uncle’s sail. Maybe that can be used.”

Lele said, “The sail will work.”

Dongping took off his shirt, soaked it in seawater, and placed it over the little dolphin’s belly.

“Lele, hang in there for a while. I’ll go remove the sail from the boat and come right back.”

Dongping turned and jogged toward the reef where the fishing boat had run aground.

In less than half an hour, Dongping returned with a piece of sailcloth. He soaked it in seawater and covered the little dolphin’s entire body. Then he found a coconut shell, split it in half, and used it as a scoop to collect seawater, repeatedly pouring it over the dolphin.

Concerned, Dongping asked, “Lele, do your wounds hurt?”

Lele closed his eyes comfortably.

“These are just minor flesh wounds. They’re nothing.”

By evening, the tide began to rise. Dongping lifted the sailcloth and used all his strength to turn Lele’s body around.

Lele said gratefully, “My young benefactor, from now on I’ll come back to the shore every day to keep you company.”

Dongping smiled happily.

“My name is Dongping. You’re welcome to come back and visit anytime. I live alone on this little island, and there’s no one to talk to. It’s really lonely.”

Lele said, “Let Lele become your most loyal friend. Lele will catch fish and shrimp for you.”

Dongping said, “You don’t have to do that. I can fish by myself, so I don’t have to worry about food.”

Lele said, “Then starting tomorrow, I’ll take you out to sea. We can go sightseeing and diving and explore the scenery of these surrounding waters.”

Dongping said, “I want to see what’s on the opposite shore. There seems to be a settlement over there. Lele, can you take me there tomorrow morning?”

A look of longing appeared in Dongping’s eyes as he imagined discovering what lay beyond the shore.

Lele said worriedly, “Master Dongping, do you really want to go to the opposite shore? The people over there actually…”

Lele stopped, unable to finish his sentence.

Dongping could tell what he was thinking.

“Yes! Lele, it sounds like you don’t want me to go over there.”

Lele said, “That’s right. Some natives live on the opposite shore, and they are very unfriendly toward us fish. They often set fishing nets in shallow bays to trap us. I’ve also heard the elders in our pod say that people from different tribes attack and kill one another with weapons. Dongping, although you are one of their kind, I’m very worried about your safety once you go ashore.”

Dongping said, “I’ll be careful.”

Lele reluctantly said, “All right. Since you’ve made up your mind to go to the opposite shore, I’ll wait for you in the reef area along the southern shore tomorrow morning. Take a seashell with you. If you encounter danger, blow the seashell while running toward the shore. I’ll follow the sound and come to the nearest part of the coast to pick you up. See you tomorrow!”

Dongping nodded happily.

“It’s a promise. See you tomorrow.”

3

At first light, Dongping finished breakfast, took his long-handled fish knife and a seashell with him, and went as promised to the reef area on the southern shore.

The little dolphin Lele was already waiting there.

“Climb on. Ride on my back and hold onto my fin. Keep a good grip on that long knife of yours, and don’t hurt me.”

Lele pressed himself close to the reef and steadied himself so that Dongping could straddle his back.

“The first time may be unfamiliar, but after that it’ll be easy. Hold on tight, Master Dongping. We’re leaving.”

Carrying Dongping on his back, Lele swam steadily out of the reef area toward the opposite shore.

It took only a short while for Lele to reach the coast, where he let Dongping into the water so he could walk ashore.

Lele said, “I’ll patrol around this area. If you run into danger, blow the seashell and let me know.”

Dongping said, “I’ll be careful.”

Dongping entered the coastal mixed forest, where the vegetation was thick with screw pines, casuarina trees, and tall sisal plants. After about half an hour, he arrived outside a village of the Basya settlement of the Ketagalan people.

There he encountered a young man and a young woman about his age. They wore yellow tops trimmed with red, blue knee-length trousers, and blue-and-white headscarves wrapped around their heads. They looked remarkably neat and well dressed.

Dongping’s clothes were torn and ragged. When the young man and woman saw that he was barely clothed, they opened their eyes wide and stared at him curiously.

The young man asked, “Where did you come from?”

Dongping pointed toward Turtle Island behind him.

“I came from that little island. My name is Chen Dongping.”

The young woman said, looking him over, “From the way you’re dressed, you must be Han Chinese, right?”

Dongping nodded.

The young man asked again, “You came from Turtle Island? Did you paddle here by yourself?”

Dongping did not want to involve the little dolphin, so he said, “Yes. I paddled here in a small boat.”

The young woman asked, “How did you get to Turtle Island?”

Dongping said, “My uncle’s fishing boat ran into a typhoon and was blown onto the island by the huge waves.”

The young man continued, “Why don’t I see your uncle?”

Dongping spoke with sorrow in his voice.

“Our fishing boat ran aground in the reef area. My uncle was swept away by a huge wave when he was pushing me ashore.”

The young woman said, “So you’re an orphan? That’s terrible.”

Then she turned to the young man and said, “Brother, I think he’s pretty pitiful. Why don’t we take him home first and introduce him to our parents and ask them to let him stay?”

The young man was considering her suggestion when Dongping calmly said, “Thank you for your kindness. I only came ashore because I was curious and wanted to walk around and see different places. I didn’t intend to cause you any trouble.”

The young woman smiled.

“It won’t be any trouble at all. Stay at our house for now. My brother and I will take you around and show you the area. These are all villages of our Ketagalan Basya people. My father is the village chief of the Little Keelung settlement. This is our territory.”

The young man said, “Dongping, let’s be friends. I’m Guangnan, and this is my younger sister Yunhua.”

He reached out his hand to Dongping in friendship.

Dongping followed the brother and sister into the village. They passed through a plaza where a raised, stilted house stood. Its beams and columns were made from large-diameter logs, its roof was covered with thatch, and two rows of enormous wooden carvings stood in front of the entrance. Compared with the surrounding village houses, it looked imposing and luxurious.

Guangnan explained that this was the village council house and that their home was on the terrace above.

Dongping followed the siblings along a stone-paved path made of large slabs of bluestone. Seven-mile-scent shrubs formed hedges on both sides. Inside each fenced compound stood another raised house. Cattle, sheep, pigs, and other livestock were kept beneath the houses. Chickens and ducks wandered freely around the courtyards, while dogs were tied beside the wooden stairways.

In one corner stood a well. Beside each raised house was a cylindrical granary with bamboo-woven walls coated with red clay and topped with a roof of rice straw.

Guangnan introduced Dongping to his parents and briefly explained what had happened to him.

Guangnan’s father, Yarati, had a kind and gentle face. He reached out and embraced the dark-skinned boy standing before him.

“Dongping, welcome. Why don’t you stay here and make this your own home?”

Dongping was not accustomed to such a gesture of hospitality, and for a moment his entire body stiffened as if he had turned to wood.

Guangnan said, “Father, I’ll go get a clean set of clothes for Dongping.”

He turned and went back to his room.

Yarati said, “Yun’er, take him to the bath first. When your mother comes back, I’ll have her prepare some snacks to welcome your friend.”

Guangnan returned to the living room with a set of clothes. Suddenly, Yarati’s expression darkened.

“My son, it’s not that I don’t welcome you bringing a friend home. The problem is that our Basya people are facing a great disaster. If your friend stays in the village, I’m afraid we may not be able to protect him.”

Guangnan looked surprised and asked in confusion, “What kind of disaster is it, Father, that makes you unable to take my friend in?”

Yarati said, “Ji-lung Islet to our north was recently occupied by a group of pirates. That is the traditional fishing ground of our Basya people. These pirates possess long guns and cannons of astonishing power. If we fight them head-on, we would certainly be the losers. The pirate chief has made a harsh demand of us: an annual tribute of one hundred thousand deer hides. Otherwise, he will not allow our fishing boats to operate in the waters around Ji-lung Islet. But the total amount of deer hides our Basya people export overseas each year is only around one hundred thousand hides. If we hand them all over to the pirates as tribute, what kind of maritime trade can our Basya people possibly have left? The export of deer hides and fishing are the main economic lifelines of our villages. How could we possibly let these pirates take whatever they want from us?”

Guangnan asked worriedly, “An annual tribute of one hundred thousand deer hides? That is nothing less than extortion by bandits! Can we seek help from overseas?”

Yarati waved his hand dejectedly.

“Seek help from overseas? Japanese pirates are causing trouble along the southeastern coast of the Ming Empire, while powerful foreign peoples are watching greedily from the north. The ruler is incompetent and corrupt officials control the government. Local armies plunder the common people everywhere and have themselves become nothing less than bands of bandits. Seeking help from the Ming court would be like inviting a wolf into our house and bringing about our own destruction.”

Guangnan asked, “Then what about our allied people, the Kavalan?”

Yarati said, “Don’t even mention the Kavalan. Ji-lung Islet is our fishing ground, while the Kavalan are mainly engaged in maritime trade. They do not want to provoke these vicious pirates, and they have no desire to get involved in this mess. The only ones left are the Luilang people to the south, our fellow Ketagalan people, who are willing to stand with our Basya people and fight these pirates who have come with ill intentions. As the ancients said, ‘When fighting tigers or robbing bandits, you need your own brothers at your side.’ There is truth in that saying.

“In the foreseeable future, if we want to reclaim our fishing ground, a war between us and the pirates will inevitably be unavoidable. Once the war begins, if the pirates force their way ashore and use their superior firepower to attack our Basya villages, your new friend could be caught up in it. So I hope you can tactfully persuade him to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible. Anywhere would be safer for him than staying here.”

4

Guangnan and Yunhua accompanied Dongping to a nearby peninsula to explore the area. Seagulls and more than a dozen species of waterbirds lived there. Dongping was not unfamiliar with these birds. On Turtle Island, they had been his neighbors.

The three young people sat on a huge rock at the cape, comfortably enjoying the warm sea breeze. Guangnan wanted to take this opportunity to tell Dongping about his father’s concerns, so he deliberately started a conversation.

“Dongping, where do you plan to go after you leave here?”

Dongping knocked a small stone loose. It clattered down the cliff, startling some of the waterbirds, which flew out from the cliffside.

“I’ve been wandering from place to place and am used to making a living on the sea. Maybe I’ll travel around and see the world, and then return to the deserted island.”

Yunhua, who still knew nothing about the situation, asked innocently, “Dongping, you still want to go back to that deserted island? You live there all by yourself, with no friends to talk to. Don’t you feel lonely?”

Dongping shrugged.

“You get used to it. The waterbirds and dolphins there are all my friends.”

Guangnan said, “You could consider going east to Kavalan, or heading south through the Luilang people, the Taokas people, and the Papora people, eventually reaching the Siraya people in the south. According to my father, that region has broad, flat grasslands. Herds of Formosan sambar deer, muntjac, goats, and wild boars roam freely across the plains. It is like a paradise on earth.”

Dongping said, “I have no plans to travel that far. I have to stay on the deserted island and wait for my uncle to come back and get me.”

Seeing the situation, Guangnan had no choice but to tell Dongping everything from beginning to end.

Yunhua said indignantly, “Why didn’t Father tell me about such an important matter?”

Guangnan said, “You’re a girl. Protecting the village is the responsibility of us men. Father only told me about it yesterday. He said he didn’t want Dongping to get caught up in it.”

Dongping remembered the weapons he had found on the island and said, “My uncle and I were once robbed by pirates while fishing at sea. Everything of value on the boat was taken. We didn’t dare resist. My uncle said, ‘As long as the green hills remain, there will be no need to worry about a shortage of firewood.’ Those pirates had long guns and short guns. You really would have a hard time driving them away and reclaiming Ji-lung Islet.”

Guangnan said, “Are you saying we have to submit to them and pay them one hundred thousand deer hides every year?”

Dongping said, “If you unite, perhaps you can drive them away. But I imagine you would also have to pay a considerable price, wouldn’t you?”

Guangnan said, “Yes. We certainly can’t let the pirates take whatever they want from us.”

Dongping said, “All right, then. I accidentally discovered a cache of weapons on the deserted island. They may have been there for many years, so I don’t know whether they can still be used. They may have been left behind by pirates long ago.”

Guangnan’s eyes lit up.

“A cache of weapons?”

Dongping said, “Yes. If you need them, come to the bay on the northern side of the island three days from now and take them. And thank you for your warm hospitality last night. I think I should say goodbye.”

Dongping stood up and prepared to leave.

Yunhua said anxiously, “Dongping, we never told you to leave!”

Dongping said, “Since these pirates have come with hostile intentions, there is no time to waste. You need to start making preparations as soon as possible.”

Guangnan said, “You have no boat. How are you going to get back to the island? Why not wait until tomorrow? I’ll ask my cousin to take you back by boat.”

Dongping said, “No need. My dolphin friend will take me back to the island.”

He then took the seashell from his waist and blew three long notes.

“Whooooo—whooooo—whooooo.”

He waved goodbye to the brother and sister.

Dongping walked quickly. By the time the two siblings reached the shore, they saw him already sitting on the back of a dolphin. They found it utterly incredible.

Yunhua said excitedly, “If we get the chance someday, could you let me ride one, too?”

Dongping smiled.

“I think my dolphin friend would be happy to.”

5

When they returned to the shore of the deserted island, the little dolphin Lele said, “Master Dongping, on this trip ashore, you met your future wife.”

Dongping said, “Stop talking nonsense. Yunhua and I only met yesterday.”

Lele said, “That little girl’s name is Yunhua? My intuition tells me she will become your wife someday.”

Dongping said, “Really? When did you become a matchmaker?”

Lele said very seriously, “I’m telling you the truth! I can already see a scene several years from now, with me carrying the two of you out to sea for a trip.”

Dongping said incredulously, “How could that possibly happen? Yunhua and I are only friends who just met.”

Lele asked, “Are you really going to give that cache of weapons to those natives?”

Dongping asked in surprise, “What? You even know about that?”

Lele said, “I heard your conversation.”

Dongping asked in disbelief, “How is that possible? You were so far away. How could you hear us?”

Lele said, “Dolphins have always had exceptionally sensitive hearing. Master Dongping, to tell you the truth, we have been watching the group of pirates occupying Ji-lung Islet for quite some time.”

Dongping asked curiously, “Oh?”

Lele said, “We dolphins deeply despise the pirates’ behavior of killing people and robbing their possessions at sea. Why can’t you humans live together peacefully?”

Dongping shook his head and sighed.

“Humans are creatures filled with selfish desires, and they are never satisfied with what they have. That is probably why they resort to every possible means to compete and fight with one another.”

Lele said, “Perhaps you are right. Humans really are frightening and hateful creatures. But you are different. You have a kind heart and are content with what you have. So in the days to come, we dolphins will wholeheartedly help you. In a few years, you will marry Yunhua. Once the two of you have children, you will become the chief of the Little Keelung settlement, and later you will rise even higher and become the leader of the Basya people.”

Dongping said, “Really? All I’m thinking about is returning to my hometown, Gulangyu, as soon as possible.”

Lele said, “Master Gulangyu, you should not go back. This is where you will put down roots and build your future. You might as well trust Lele’s prophecy.”

6

Three days later, Guangnan and Yunhua arrived at Turtle Island as promised. Several fishing boats led by Chief Yarati were anchored in the shallow bay along the northern shore.

Dongping arranged the cache of weapons neatly on the beach.

Yarati and several warriors inspected the weapons.

“These are all Mauser rifles made by the Red-Haired people. The outer layers of the rifles are wrapped in oiled cloth. They were deliberately sealed for storage, so they should still be usable. The knives and other weapons look very similar in design and appearance to those currently used by the Red-Haired naval forces. Judging from these clues, this cache of weapons should have been left behind by the Red-Haired people.”

The warriors standing nearby nodded one after another.

One of them said, “Chief, with these weapons, we won’t have to fear those pirates anymore.”

Yarati said, “Sanmiji, you are underestimating those pirates. Their ships carry powerful cannons. Out on the sea, we are still no match for them.”

At that moment, Dongping suddenly spoke, shocking everyone.

“Great Chief, I have a way to help you drive those pirates away!”

Dongping immediately became the center of everyone’s attention.

Yarati said, “Young brother, if you have a way to help us drive away those pirates, I will betroth Yunhua to you, and someday you will take over my position as chief.”

Guangnan laughed.

“Father, don’t scare my friend.”

Dongping blushed and gave an embarrassed smile.

“The Great Chief is only joking. This plan was thought up by my dolphin friends. They are willing to step forward and help you reclaim Ji-lung Islet and drive those pirates away.”

Yarati leaned closer. Dongping lowered his voice and quietly explained the general plan to him.

Yarati clapped his hands and burst into laughter.

“Ha-ha! This plan is unexpected and ingenious. It will strike them when they are unprepared. Brilliant! I’ll go back and make the preparations immediately.”

Dongping became serious.

“However, they hope that after the mission succeeds, you, Great Chief, will declare to your people that from now on, they must never hunt or kill another dolphin.”

Yarati said, “That is a perfectly reasonable request. The dolphins are our great benefactors for helping the Basya people reclaim Ji-lung Islet and our fishing grounds. Oh, no—I should say they are our great benefactor fish. How could we possibly repay kindness with cruelty?”

Everyone burst into laughter at the novel expression, “great benefactor fish.”