Darkness came as the sun fell behind the mountain. Yin Su’s body ached with exhaustion. Her milk flowed and her daughter suckled nestled safely in the sling. She heard her Husband and the Traveler talking. She caught bits and pieces of the conversation. “gate working,” “writing complete,” “good day for travel.”

Sleep overcame her as she nursed the hungry child. She awoke when the full moon was high in the sky. A good omen. She would be able to walk faster with light to show the way. She would walk toward the capital city as far as she could go until the sun came up. Then find a place to rest off the road until the cover of darkness again came. The moon would aid her travel. If her Husband did try to find her, she could hide until she reached the safety of the Great House and her Mother.

As she stirred to start her journey, the child cried out. She comforted her, but it was too late. Her Husband coughed and moved around in his bed. He would not come into the birthing hut, but now he was awake. She waited to give her Husband time to return to sleep. The moon beckoned. It was time to go.

Yin Su swaddled her daughter in the cloth she had prepared for her son. The embroidered tiger purred like a kitten and promised to protect her child. She tightened the sash around her body, bringing her sleeping daughter close and secure. The vegetables in the folds of her dress gave additional comfort. She had her herb-cutting knife and a small bowl. Her breath came quickly as she tiptoed out of the birthing hut and into the courtyard. A cloud floated in front of the moon dimming the light. She walked from her courtyard and made her way to the road. With each step she relief pushed her forward, going faster and faster, almost running. How long would she have before sunrise? She did not know.

Soon she was away from her community. The flat road made walking easy, not like her usual treks up the mountainside. Her exhaustion from the birth and her bandaged hand made each step require effort but saving her child gave her the reserve strength to keep going. She would use the streams alongside the road to rest and refresh. Water would maintain her strength. Lodging houses dotted the road to the city, but they were not for her. She had no money and did not want to be detected. Instead, she would reverse her wake-and-sleep times and not arouse suspicion. A woman traveling with a child would cause gossip. Some might think she had stolen a man-child. She must remain unseen.

As the sky lightened, she looked for a place to hide for the day. She spied a line of trees, which might indicate a source of water, and went in that direction. She was right. She found a copse of trees with a small stream nearby. Others had used this spot, as the disturbed grass showed where people had lain in slumber. She remembered her initial trip to Hangu Pass.

She lay her daughter in the grass while she rinsed the tiger swaddling cloth in the stream. She hung it on a branch to dry and wrapped her child within the folds of her own garments for warmth and feeding. The sated child was soon resting peacefully. She arranged herself out of sight of anyone on the road and gathered grass to make a bed. As the sun rose over the mountaintop, she fell asleep.

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